The new Portsmouth network

The new, long-awaited Portsmouth network has been announced. Copied below is the press release from First Hampshire & Dorset...

Some of the key features of the changes are: 
� More frequent services on key corridors, making it easier to catch buses without having to remember to consult timetables;
� More interchange points. The regions three transport hubs - The Hard, Commercial Road South and Cosham - will be better used. Many buses will pass through these points and customers will be able to transfer easily onto other services, as required, from them;
� Emphasise is being placed on timing buses, where possible, to create better interchanges with the Gosport Ferry; 
� Some new links between key destinations will be established, many following customer requests - for instance improved access to the QA Hospital from Fareham and Gosport;
� Overall there will be more buses operating on a commercial basis during the evening, replacing, in many respects, some of the journeys that were lost when local authority funding for evening journeys was reduced in 2011. 

Specifics of the changes in East Hampshire:

While Services 4/4A/X4,15, 19/19A, 26, 52, 145, 649, 651/ 652, X40, X41 and E1/E2 will remain as they are, the following services will all change: 1/1A/1C, 3, 4, 5/5A, 6/6A, 8, 9, 11/11A, 12, 13 14, 16A, 17/18, 28, 33, 34, 35, 36, 40, 41, 45/45A, 53, 63, 83, 85, 87/87A, 88, 93/93A, 94/94A, 95/95A, X42, X88. Instead of these the following will be created: 

Service 0: A new Service 0 will be created. Operating between Hilsea / Tipner, North End, Copnor Bridge, Southsea and Fratton it will provide a link between most parts of Portsea Island with St Marys Hospital, and will also establish a new link between Tipner and Fratton. Buses will run every 30 minutes in each direction during the day (Monday to Saturday), and every 60 minutes in each direction on Sundays and weekday evenings. 

Service 1: Operating between The Hard, the City Centre, Fratton, Eastney, Highlands Road, South Parade Pier, Southsea and Old Portsmouth, buses will run every 10 minutes during the day (Monday to Saturday), every 20 minutes on Sundays and every 30 minutes during the evening. It will offer a frequent service linking a number of the main shopping districts, and evening journeys will be timed to connect with both the arrival and departure of the Gosport Ferry. 

Service 2: Serving The Hard, the City Centre, Albert Road, Eastney, Copnor, Hilsea, Cosham, the QA Hospital, Paulsgrove and Hillsley Road, buses will operate every 10 minutes during the day (Monday to Saturday), every 20 minutes on Sundays and every 30 minutes during the evening. There will be a direct link between St Marys Hospital and the QA Hospital and evening journeys will be timed to connect with both the arrival and departure of the Gosport Ferry. 

Service 3/3A: Buses will operate between The Hard, the City Centre, Lake Road, North End, Hilsea, Cosham, the QA Hospital, Paulsgrove, Portsdown Inn / Portchester, with some journeys on Service 3 extended to Fareham, via White Hart Lane and journeys on 3A extended to Fareham via North Portchester. Buses will run every 10 minutes during the day Monday to Saturday (every 20 minutes to Fareham on Service 3, and hourly on Service 3A), every 20 minutes on Sundays (hourly to Fareham) and every 30 minutes during the evening (hourly to Fareham). As a result the frequency of buses serving Portsdown Inn will be improved, while regular journeys will also operate between Fareham and the QA Hospital and between Paulsgrove and The Hard " responding to passenger demand for services in these areas. In addition the combination of Services 2 and 3/3A will collectively improve the frequency of buses between Paulsgrove and Cosham as a whole, with buses running along common sections of the route every five minutes during the day Monday to Saturday. 

Service 5/5A: Serving Gosport, Cherque Farm, Lee-on-the-Solent, Stubbington, Greyshott Avenue and Fareham, the new Service 5 will follow the same route as the current Service 34. Taken in tandem with the new Service 5A though, which will operate between Fareham, Greyshott Avenue, Stubbington and Hill Head, customers will find buses between Stubbington and Fareham running every 30 minutes during the day.

Service 6: Running between Highlands, Fareham, Asda, Cherque Farm, Lee-on-the-Solent and Gosport, Service 6 will operate every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday. On Sundays buses will run hourly between Fareham and Gosport only. The introduction of this route vastly improves the frequency of buses to Lee-on-the-Solent as, when seen in combination with the existing Service 4 (Gosport - Warsash - Southampton) and the new Service 5/5A (as detailed above), it will increase the number of buses serving the area (from three buses an hour to four buses an hour). The new Service 6 will also provide a direct link from Highlands to Asda, Lee-on-the-Solent, the War Memorial Hospital and Gosport, and will connect more effectively with the ferry service. 

Service 6A: Operating between Highlands and Fareham, the new Service 6A will combine much of the existing Services 95 and 95A. It will run in the opposite direction to Service 6 and will help to maintain a 15 minute frequency of buses to and from Highlands. 

Service 7/7C: Operating between South Parade Pier, Southsea, the University of Portsmouth, the city centre, Lake Road, North End, Cosham, Crookhorn, Waterlooville and Wecock Farm, Service 7 will be the new number assigned to what is, at present, Service 40. Buses will operate every 10 minutes during the day (Monday to Saturday), every 20 minutes on Sundays and every 30 minutes during the evening. The changes constitute an improvement in frequency from one bus every 15 minutes, to one bus every 10 minutes. When taken in conjunction with the new Service 3 the two routes will offer a combined frequency of one bus every five minutes between Cosham, North End and the City Centre. Additionally Service 7C will also provide a dedicated link between South Downs College and Cosham, running every half an hour during the college day.

Service 8: Serving The Hard, the City Centre, Stamshaw, Cosham, Waterlooville, Cowplain, Horndean and Clanfield, the new service 8 will operate every 15 minutes during the day Monday to Saturday and every 20 minutes on Sundays. In the evenings buses will run every 30 minutes between The Hard and Cosham, extending to Clanfield on an hourly basis. 

Service 9/9A: A new Service 9/9A is being created to serve West End, Fareham, Bridgemary, Rowner, Alverstoke, Elson and Gosport. Buses will operate every 15 minutes during the day (Monday to Saturday) along core sections of the route, with buses running every 30 minutes on Sundays and during the evening. The changes mean that a new link between Alverstoke and Fareham is being created, and that the frequency of buses between Rowner and Fareham will improve, from one bus every 30 minutes at present, to one bus every 15 minutes from 18 November onwards.

Service X9: Running between The Hard, the City Centre, along the M275, to the QA Hospital, to Purbrook, Waterlooville, Denmead and Hambledon, the new Service X9 will provide a fast, frequent connection six days a week. Designed to appeal to commuters and those who want to get in and out of the city quickly, buses will operate every 30 minutes throughout the day (Monday to Saturday). Every other journey will be extended to serve Hambledon, giving residents there an hourly service. Service X9 wont operate during the evenings or on Sundays. 

Service 10: Serving Fareham, Bridgemary, Rowner Road, Spring Garden Lane and Gosport buses on this service will operate on an hourly basis Monday to Saturday daytime. The route, which will run in addition to the highly successful and popular Eclipse BRT service, which operates close by, is intended to complement the other bus routes in the area - specifically Services E1 and E2 - and give people a choice over which service they catch. The company considers though that majority of commuters will prefer to catch services E1 and E2 if they wish to travel to Gosport or Fareham though. 

Service 11: A new Service 11 is being created to serve Fareham, Royal Clarence Yard and Gosport. Operating via the A32, buses will operate hourly during the day Monday to Saturday. The route will work in conjunction with Service 10 (detailed above) to provide buses every 30 minutes between Gosport and the Brockhurst Roundabout though. The creation of the service establishes a new bus link between Royal Clarence Yard and Fareham. 

Service 12: Operating under contract to Portsmouth City Council this service will provide a link between Port Solent, Paulsgrove, the QA Hospital, Cosham and Highbury. Buses on Service 12 will operate every 30 minutes throughout the day Monday " Saturday and hourly on Sundays. 

Service 13/14: Following the route of the existing Service 13/14 there will be fewer changes here for customers to get used to. Service 13 will continue to serve the City Centre, Fratton, Milton, St Marys Hospital while Service 14 will operate between The Hard, the City Centre, Arundel Street, North End, Copnor Bridge and Baffins. The frequency of buses will change slightly though as both services will run every 30 minutes Monday " Saturday daytime, and every hourly on Sundays from 18 November. The change in frequency represents a slight reduction (from one bus every 20 minutes to one bus every 30 minutes) for people who currently use the existing Service 14.

Service 16: Operating on Sundays only, under contract to Portsmouth City Council, Service 16 will serve The Hard, Old Portsmouth, Clarence Pier, South Parade Pier, Eastney and the Hayling Ferry on an hourly basis. Buses will no longer serve Commercial Road South on this route (as the current Service 16A does) but instead customers wishing to travel to that part of Portsmouth will need to change buses at The Hard to connect with any of the following: Services 1, 2 or 3. 

Service 20: Serving Fareham, Highlands, Funtley, Knowle and Wickham, Service 20 will be the new number assigned to what is, at present, Service 94/94A. Buses will, however, follow a slightly revised route from the current Service 94/94A calling at Knowle Village on all journeys before travelling on from Knowle to Wickham via the A32. The frequency of buses will remain roughly the same, with buses running hourly throughout the day Monday " Saturday. Notably one morning and afternoon journey will be extended to serve Wickham School, as per the current arrangement. 

Service 21: Serving Fareham, Newgate Lane, Stubbington and Hill Head, Service 21 will cover what is, at present, Service 33. It will operate during the off peak only (ie between circa 0920 and 1905 hours Monday to Friday). 

Service 22: Serving Farlington, Drayton, Cosham and on an alternate basis either Medina Road or the QA Hospital, Leominster Road and Paulsgrove Shops, this new service will provide a regular, half hourly service (Monday " Saturdays) along common sections of the route. On Sundays buses will operate between Farlington and Paulsgrove Shops only, running hourly throughout the day. 

Service 28: Taking into account customer feedback First is amending its existing Service 28 route, which operates between Fareham, Highlands, Whiteley and Locks Heath, and is extending the route to also serve Warsash. In doing this it has also included a loop around Church Road (taking into account the local residents requests for it to do so) and similarly has created some journeys that operate both earlier and later in the day than at present. Overall the frequency of buses remains roughly the same with buses running every two hours during the day Monday to Saturday. 

To support the launch of the new East Hampshire network First intends to hold a number of customer-facing events in Portsmouth, Gosport and Fareham over the October half term (week commencing 29 October); details of these events will be made available on this website in the coming weeks, and will be publicised locally through the Travel Shops.

We'll be looking at more of how the changes affect key corridor frequencies, and remembering the existing network over the coming weeks.