Dear Keith
You may be aware that our Service 1, which operates between Camberley, Farnborough and Aldershot, is scheduled to receive new electric double-deck buses from May 2026.
The service currently operates via Queen's Avenue in North Camp, crossing a canal bridge owned by the Ministry of Defence. This bridge is currently signed to a maximum gross weight limit of 17 or 18 tonnes (depending on direction of travel), which is suitable for the existing diesel buses.
However, the new electric buses are slightly heavier, with a maximum gross weight of 19.2 tonnes when at full capacity. Since last year, we have been working closely with Hampshire County Council (HCC) and the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) —the Ministry of Defence's body responsible for managing and maintaining infrastructure-to identify a solution that would allow continued use of the bridge.
We understand that strengthening works may have been carried out on the bridge in the 1990s, and that the current signed weight restrictions may pre-date these improvements.
However, this has not yet been formally confirmed. If no evidence of strengthening can be established, HCC is expected to undertake a full structural assessment to determine the bridge's true weight capacity.
In the meantime, it will be necessary to divert Service 1 from Sunday 3 May 2026, when the new buses enter service. In the northbound direction, buses will divert from Queen's Avenue via Alison's Road, the A325 Farnborough Road, and Lynchford Road, before rejoining the normal route at Alexandra Road. The same diversion will apply in the southbound direction.
This change is required avoids passage across the canal bridge on Queen's Avenue.
As a result, the following stops will not be served during this period: St Andrew's Church, Prince's Avenue, Hammersley Road, and Napier Gardens. Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide an alternative service to these stops at this time. We will ensure that clear and timely information is displayed at all affected bus stops.
We hope to reinstate the normal route for Service 1 at the earliest opportunity, subject to confirmation that the bridge can safely accommodate vehicles with a gross weight of 19.2 tonnes.
Stagecoach will be publishing information to customers over the coming weeks to explain the change or route and reasons behind our decision. I wanted to ensure you were fully informed of this situation in advance of these notices.
If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely
M. C. Ready
Marc Reddy
Managing Director