The end before it began?

VOSA have confirmed that Xelabus' X57 will be cancelled in twelve days' time, on the 20th August. I will be sad to see the service go that has brought a bit of colour and nostalgia to the Fareham bus scene.

The X57 was introduced by Xelabus after First withdrew their own route 57/X57 and replaced it by the X4. The X4, rather than going all round the houses, offered a new, fast, direct link between Fareham and Portsmouth. Areas such as Linden Lea, just to the west of Portchester, lost their bus service (albeit the 63 still went via the nearby Dore Avenue, and the X4 still went via the main road). Xelabus introduced their X57 to serve that community, and provide new links to the QA Hospital at Cosham, and Anchorage Park. Xelabus tend to use Darts on the service, as illustrated by former Plymouth Citybus M128HOD, Xelabus fleet number 401.

The route was likely to only take marginal gains. First had withdrawn a number of services from Linden Lea, and their own 57 was only routed via the community after route 25A was withdrawn. However, I cannot help but feel that the route could have been more of a success, than its withdrawal in 12 days time suggests. 

I've always found Xelabus excellent online. Their website and facebook page are of great help. Also, in Eastleigh bus station, the company have produced very professional timetable guides which are very user friendly. However, very little of this made its way to the bus stops around Portchester or along the route of the X57. Therefore, at a guess, people didn't realise the new service was operating.

Furthermore, opportunities have not been capitalised on. Rarely a fortnight goes by when someone doesn't ask for an increased service between Fareham and QA Hospital on the facebook site. Xelabus could have branded this as the new link to the QA Hospital, adding to First's route 63.

Finally, through no fault of Xelabus, we seem to have one of the best managed areas of First, in Hampshire, with new initiatives and new networks. The Solent Ranger branding has been rolled out across the new 4, 4A and X4 routes, and now 4 Dart SLFs wear the livery as illustrated by 42138 (S638XCR) on the right. Loads seem to be increased. Furthermore, passengers occasionally request for double deckers along the length of the X4 route, with Darts not coping on some journeys. The Solent Ranger has come in alongside the new Fareham-Gosport Eclipse route and the new Southampton network. First certainly appear strong in Hampshire, and the new network may have been another contributing factor to the Xelabus57's withdrawal.

At least Xelabus aren't out of Fareham bus station. Their nostalgic and attractive green livery still graces Fareham on the Newgate Lane ASDA free-bus route, which regularly sees one of their Dennis Tridents on the scene.