Go South Coast

[Andyh82]

I don’t have an issue with the Morebus livery, yes there are various different versions, some are red and blue, and some could be said to be blue and red, but it’s still all recognisably Morebus. The shelters and stops are all heavilly branded in the same consistent image in Bournemouth and Poole

In regards to the ferry, I suppose the bus jumping the queue doesn’t benefit the ferry operator, in fact it’s the opposite as making the bus look better may reduce car traffic and hence toll payments

 

[OptareOlympus]

Surely not a toll for the road as well as a charge for the ferry?!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Jul 2025 ==

It will be a ferry toll towards Studland and a road toll towards Sandbanks. £6.26 for cars each way. Cars using Ferry Road to park for the beaches will have to pay the £6.26 toll road charge even if not using the ferry (long overdue). Swanage residents will be able to apply for an annual parking only permit for £5.00 per year.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Jul 2025 ==

In regards to the ferry, I suppose the bus jumping the queue doesn’t benefit the ferry operator, in fact it’s the opposite as making the bus look better may reduce car traffic and hence toll payments

The ferry receives around £500 per day in tolls from the 50 during the summer when the half hourly service is operating. That's guaranteed revenue for them even on poor weather days. However, it appears that still isn't sufficient enough for them to accommodate any of the bus priority proposals that have been put forward by Morebus since 2021.

 

[joncombe]

I don’t have an issue with the Morebus livery, yes there are various different versions, some are red and blue, and some could be said to be blue and red, but it’s still all recognisably Morebus. The shelters and stops are all heavilly branded in the same consistent image in Bournemouth and Poole

In regards to the ferry, I suppose the bus jumping the queue doesn’t benefit the ferry operator, in fact it’s the opposite as making the bus look better may reduce car traffic and hence toll payments

I'm not sure it always seemed a bit dodgy to me. The road is 2 way with one lane each way. So on reaching the back of the ferry queue they would drive on the wrong side of the road to jump the queue. They did have an alarm and I think flashing lights on the front. But it did not account for traffic entering it or leaving the restaurant there, boat yard or car park who would then find a bus coming at them on the wrong side of the road.

As to the toll yes. Basically the ferry company want money from people driving from the Studland side to the beaches along their road but not using the ferry. Hence why they want a toll for the road. I am unclear if this will effect vehicles also using the ferry or if the ticket for that will be inclusive of the toll.

 

[OptareOlympus]

I am unclear if this will effect vehicles also using the ferry or if the ticket for that will be inclusive of the toll.

Ferry toll Studland bound will also cover use of the toll road or parking along it.

 

[nw1]

Yes they did, with no success.

I have to say it sounds rather mean-minded of the ferry company, in my opinion. They've allowed buses priority for years, so seems odd they changed it.

 

[WibbleWobble]

Surely not a toll for the road as well as a charge for the ferry?!

Technically it is a toll for the road, hence it being a toll and not a fare, but it covers the element of using the ferry. The ferry company have the right to apply it to the whole road, they just have to get parliamentary approval as it is a change to how the toll is collected.

 

[PTR 444]

Technically it is a toll for the road, hence it being a toll and not a fare, but it covers the element of using the ferry. The ferry company have the right to apply it to the whole road, they just have to get parliamentary approval as it is a change to how the toll is collected.

Will this new toll be electronic? I can imagine there’d be issues with summer traffic in Studland if the physical toll booth is moved to the Knoll Beach turning.

 

[Towers]

Will this new toll be electronic? I can imagine there’d be issues with summer traffic in Studland if the physical toll booth is moved to the Knoll Beach turning.

Some improved technology for collecting the toll is certainly overdue!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jul 2025 ==

I'm not sure it always seemed a bit dodgy to me. The road is 2 way with one lane each way. So on reaching the back of the ferry queue they would drive on the wrong side of the road to jump the queue. They did have an alarm and I think flashing lights on the front. But it did not account for traffic entering it or leaving the restaurant there, boat yard or car park who would then find a bus coming at them on the wrong side of the road.

It’s difficult not to agree that isn’t ideal, particularly with the added hazard of parked vehicles along both sides of the road and lots of folk wandering about etc.

 

[stu]

You were lucky if the 50 was only ten minutes late. That is the mis-alignment between a 30 minute bus headway and a 20 minute ferry service and the 50 timetable still hasn't been adjusted to account for this.

The 50 can routinely run up to 2 hours late on good weather days during the summer. Journeys can easily take in excess of 3 hours between Swanage and Bournemouth on summer evenings when buses are forced to join 2 hour long queues for the ferry on the Studland side. Since changes in 2021, buses are no longer permitted to pass the queuing traffic on Ferry Road in order to jump the queue. Added to that, Sandbanks gridlocks on warm evenings until around 2300. Last year's record went to an 1825 ex Swanage 50 which eventually arrived in Bournemouth at 2230, 3 hours late. It's nothing out of the ordinary for the 50 in the summer.

I often think would it not be better all round in the summer for More to run an express service between Bournemouth<>Swanage, but the long way round. I know there is no quick way round anywhere in Dorset in the summer, but even so surely that is quicker than a non-priority bus ferry queue taking 2-3 hours!

 

[Andyh82]

I’m thinking 2-3 hours might be an extreme example in a very particular set of circumstances rather than the norm

If it was the norm, it’d be timetabled like that

 

[Titfield]

I often think would it not be better all round in the summer for More to run an express service between Bournemouth<>Swanage, but the long way round. I know there is no quick way round anywhere in Dorset in the summer, but even so surely that is quicker than a non-priority bus ferry queue taking 2-3 hours!

When the ferry is out of service for its periodic maintenance (a time during which the locals await an announcement that a crucial part needs replacing and it is made only by a firm in Nepal during the Summer Monsoon only season by a time served artisan who can only work 1 day a week and relies on memory for its design) an express service is operated.

 

[RELL6L]

So if you are sitting on a bus in the queue from Swanage on a busy day, can you get off and walk up the queue to get an earlier one?

 

[Towers]

When the ferry is out of service for its periodic maintenance (a time during which the locals await an announcement that a crucial part needs replacing and it is made only by a firm in Nepal during the Summer Monsoon only season by a time served artisan who can only work 1 day a week and relies on memory for its design) an express service is operated.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jul 2025 ==

I often think would it not be better all round in the summer for More to run an express service between Bournemouth<>Swanage, but the long way round. I know there is no quick way round anywhere in Dorset in the summer, but even so surely that is quicker than a non-priority bus ferry queue taking 2-3 hours!

Part of the appeal of the current route is of course the scenery; I’m not sure being perched upstairs on an open topper doing an express run ‘the quick way round’ would hold such a marketing value!

 

[PTR 444]

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jul 2025 ==


Part of the appeal of the current route is of course the scenery; I’m not sure being perched upstairs on an open topper doing an express run ‘the quick way round’ would hold such a marketing value!

Perhaps both could operate in the summer: The 50 via the chain ferry and an express X50 via Wareham and Poole. I’m sure there would be plenty of demand at that time.

 

[Andyh82]

Perhaps both could operate in the summer: The 50 via the chain ferry and an express X50 via Wareham and Poole. I’m sure there would be plenty of demand at that time.

There is nothing stopping people using the 40 to Poole and m1/m2/60/70 onward towards Bournemouth/Sandbanks if they want

 

[Flange Squeal]

There is nothing stopping people using the 40 to Poole and m1/m2/60/70 onward towards Bournemouth/Sandbanks if they want

Provided they know before boarding the 50 that they are liable to a 2-3hour journey instead of the timetabled 1hr20, based on some posts above!

 

[PTR 444]

There is nothing stopping people using the 40 to Poole and m1/m2/60/70 onward towards Bournemouth/Sandbanks if they want

…Or the 40 from Swanage to Wareham then an SWR train from there to Bournemouth.

 

[aliceh]

So if you are sitting on a bus in the queue from Swanage on a busy day, can you get off and walk up the queue to get an earlier one?

There's probably times where it's possible. Might be a long walk in very hot weather and you'd have to pay again!

 

[Gc1986]

Just when you think the Omnidekkas have fully gone from Swindon. We have had a returnee

Swindon's Bus Company - 379 YN55 NHO "City of Truro" - East Lancs OmniDekka - DRT Wroughton - Swindon Bus Station

Swindon's Bus Company 379 YN55NHO "City of Truro" Scania N94UD East Lancs OmniDekka on DRT to North Wroughton leaving Swindon Bus Station 09/07/25

www.flickr.com

 

[James H]

BCP council consulting on withdrawing subsidy from various Morebus routes:

Bus Subsidies 2025

This consultation is now closed. Residents in Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole (BCP) are being asked to give their opinions on the council's subsidised bus services. Most bus routes across BCP run without extra financial help from the council. However, some routes

haveyoursay.bcpcouncil.gov.uk

To ensure the council remains financially viable, the council plans to gradually remove the bus subsidy budget in its Medium-Term Financial Plan.

We are therefore undertaking a comprehensive review of subsidised services which will be the first since BCP Council was formed. It is also important to confirm whether council subsidies are still needed to provide services and to see if viable alternatives exist. Some services may need less or no subsidy due to increased passenger numbers. Services could also be changed to better meet public needs by re-routing, combining existing routes, or adjusting frequencies.

Hope at least some of these routes can be sustained in some form

 

[Open top 80]

There was a few passengers on the Number 6 Bournemouth to Wimbourne bus tonight(approx 5.55pm ) that busy into laughter when a guy got on at Bournemouth interchange with a portable BBQ on wheels.

 

[James H]

I’ve been enjoying the BSIP funded £1 evening fares in BCP. Though boarding the m1 late at night last Friday at the station I was held up because the passenger in front of me struggled to believe the fare to Charminster was really only £1

 

[Open top 80]

I’ve been enjoying the BSIP funded £1 evening fares in BCP. Though boarding the m1 late at night last Friday at the station I was held up because the passenger in front of me struggled to believe the fare to Charminster was really only £1

Same happened to me last Friday night on the M2 from Poole to Boscombe and tonight from Canford Magna to Bournemouth on the Number 6

 

[PTR 444]

BCP council consulting on withdrawing subsidy from various Morebus routes:

Bus Subsidies 2025

This consultation is now closed. Residents in Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole (BCP) are being asked to give their opinions on the council's subsidised bus services. Most bus routes across BCP run without extra financial help from the council. However, some routes

haveyoursay.bcpcouncil.gov.uk

Hope at least some of these routes can be sustained in some form

To be honest, I’m amazed that the 32 is still running especially now that Bearwood - Merley is covered by the half-hourly 6. As with many low frequency routes in urban areas, having a sporadic bus route with 2-3 journeys per day must be pointless for most passengers when there are frequent alternative routes a short walk away.

 

[WibbleWobble]

To be honest, I’m amazed that the 32 is still running especially now that Bearwood - Merley is covered by the half-hourly 6. As with many low frequency routes in urban areas, having a sporadic bus route with 2-3 journeys per day must be pointless for most passengers when there are frequent alternative routes a short walk

It still serves plenty of places not served by bus and close to areas of elderly populations. From what I've been told, usage is actually increasing and has done since the final months of Yellow Buses as they were seen as unreliable.

 

[PTR 444]

It still serves plenty of places not served by bus and close to areas of elderly populations. From what I've been told, usage is actually increasing and has done since the final months of Yellow Buses as they were seen as unreliable.

That is a good point. Additionally, several areas which the 32 serves once had more frequent bus services. Wimborne Road in Northbourne was served by the half-hourly 4a until Yellows gave up on that route, while Slades Farm previously had the hourly 25 to Boscombe.

 

[aliceh]

Going even further back, the Kinson Park Road section was once on the main hourly route 4 up until the Transdev route recast, and the Anchor Road section in Kinson was on the 25, later 28b/2b with a much more regular service.

On my regular 20 route last night, though, there was a bit of concern amongst the regulars that the route would get cut and leave parts of Charminster (particularly Bennett Road) without a bus. My guess is that more will try and run it commercially, perhaps with a reduced timetable, if the funding goes away.

 

[James H]

I find the 20 handy as a quick(er) way of getting to Parkstone and Poole without going via the station and Lansdowne etc. I hope it continues in some form.

 

[SeveerYeliab]

Bluestar changes from 31st August

Highlights include route 1 to every 10 mins and new nighbus routes N2, N17,N18

Timetable improvements from Sunday 31 August

Reliability improvements, frequency increases and NEW nightbuses...

www.bluestarbus.co.uk

Route	Information	Timetables
Bluestar 1	Daytime frequency will increase to up to every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday (currently every 15 minutes). This is funded by Hampshire County Council through the Bus Service Improvement Plan. Sunday daytime frequency will increase to up to every 20 minutes (currently every 30 minutes). This is funded by Hampshire County Council and Southampton City Council through the Bus Service Improvement Plan. New earlier journey Monday to Friday leaving Winchester at 05:05. Last Sunday bus journeys will be later, leaving Southampton at 00:10 and Winchester at 00:05. General reliability improvements. Stand change in Winchester Bus Station to stand G.	Coming soon...
Bluestar 2	Sunday daytime frequency will increase to up to every 20 minutes (currently every 30 minutes). This is funded by Hampshire County Council and Southampton City Council through the Bus Service Improvement Plan. Monday to Friday, between 07:55 and 08:55, buses will be more frequent leaving Southampton to boost capacity during this busy period. New earlier Sunday journey leaving Southampton at 06:20. Later last buses on Sundays leaving Fair Oak at 23:13 and Southampton at 00:20. General reliability improvements. NEW N2 Nightbus will start, running 7 nights a week. It will follow this loop: Hanover Buildings, Above Bar, Cenotaph, Giddy Bridge, RSH Hospital Bevois Valley, Portswood, Highfield Interchange, Burgess Road, Swaythling, Portswood, Lodge Road, Giddy Bridge, Cenotaph, Above Bar, Vincents Walk. This will run in partnership with Southampton City Council with funding from the Bus Service Improvement Plan.	Coming soon...
Bluestar 4	General reliability improvements. First journeys from Southampton Monday to Friday will be retimed to leave earlier at 06:00. New earlier Saturday journey leaving Southampton at 06:05.	Coming soon...
Bluestar 5	General reliability improvements. 1 Morning and 1 afternoon College Day journey will start/finish in Salisbury and serve Whaddon, Landford and Wellow. Additional Saturday morning trip between Romsey and Eastleigh. 20:10 journey from Romsey Monday to Saturday retimed to 19:45 to better coordinate between Romsey and North Baddesley. Stand change in Romsey bus station to stand B.	Coming soon...
Bluestar 7	General reliability improvements. Some earlier and later Sunday journeys will be introduced to help workers getting to and from Southampton General Hospital. This will run in partnership with Southampton City Council with funding from the Bus Service Improvement Plan.	Coming soon...
Bluestar 10	General reliability improvements. Saturday afternoon frequency changed to every 75 minutes - this will better reflect the challenging traffic conditions in the city on Saturdays.	Coming soon...
Bluestar 13	Some further Monday to Friday peak journeys revised to follow the school day diversion avoiding Bishops Road.	Coming soon...
Bluestar 15	NEW later evening journeys added Monday to Saturday. The last bus from Southampton will be at 23:35 and the last bus from Hamble at 00:10. This is funded by Hampshire County Council and Southampton City Council through the Bus Service Improvement Plan. General reliability improvements.	Coming soon...
Bluestar 16	Route change in Townhill Park. Wakefield Road will no longer be served. Instead, buses will do an anti-clockwise loop of Mousehole Lane, Witts Hill, Woodmill Lane, Forest Hills Drive, Meggeson Avenue and Townhill Way. Anyone previously using Wellburn Road or Chester Road bus stops can use alternative stops at Meggeson Avenue or Witts Hill. General reliability improvements.	Coming soon...
Bluestar 17	General reliability improvements. NEW N17 Nightbus will start, running 7 nights a week. This will follow the normal 17 route, but additionally serve Nursling Industrial Estate. This will run in partnership with Southampton City Council with funding from the Bus Service Improvement Plan.	Coming soon...
Bluestar 18	General reliability improvements. NEW N18 Nightbus will start, running 7 nights a week. This will follow the normal 18 route. Please note, some late night journeys from Millbrook will terminate in the city centre on Bargate Street. This will run in partnership with Southampton City Council with funding from the Bus Service Improvement Plan.	Coming soon...
Bluestar 20	General reliability improvements and slight retimings to co-ordinate with the updated Bluestar 16. Earlier trips Monday to Saturday leaving Townhill Park at 04:20 and Southampton at 04:53. New earlier Sunday round trip leaving Townhill Park at 05:10 and Southampton at 05:50.	Coming soon...
Bluestar 21	Reliability improvements with significant changes to the current timetable.	Coming soon...
Bluestar 23	General reliability improvements with most buses leaving Eastleigh 5 minutes earlier.	Coming soon...
Bluestar 24	General reliability improvements. First journey towards Eastleigh Monday to Friday will go via Barton Peveril.	Coming soon...
Bluestar 35	Minor timing amendments.	Coming soon...
H1/H2 & T3/T4	Reliability improvements with significant changes to the current timetables.

 

[Vexed]

The website says coming soon for timetables, but if you manually edit the URL on bustimes.org to be dated after the change then you can see the new timetable. For example weekday and Sunday timetable on the 1.

This works for quite a lot of operators as well as Bluestar, if they've updated the data. The timetables exist for the application of a variation to the Traffic Commissioner, I imagine it says coming soon on the website as they haven't done the public-facing pretty ones yet.

Great to see frequency improvements and more night busses, I can see the 1 needing it as it can get quite busy. I'm particularly pleased about the N2, I'll probably use this myself when I get the 0105 train from Waterloo to Southampton, which I do more often than I'd like to admit...

I wonder why the N1 isn't being made 7 days a week like the N2, N17, and N18. It will be interesting to see if there are changes to the U1N when Unilink is released.