X53 First bus Exeter to Poole

[Greenback]

It does look better having the buses in the same column, but...stating 'Guaranteed Conenction' still implies that a change of bus may be necessary. Unless I've missed something, which I may have as I am tired, it doesn't make it clear that you don't need to get off the bus.

 

[trentside]

Western Greyhound also show connections on their timetables, but add that journeys are normally worked by the same bus, with no need to change. See here. That's probably the best solution I've seen, though might still confuse some!

 

[Statto]

Here's a Dorset County Council timetable book with the X53 times included but with none of the splits in the First timetable. Scroll down to page 41 for the X53 times http://www.dorsetforyou.com/media.jsp?mediaid=101160&filetype=pdf

X53 is one route i'd like to do one day, got to be a contender for England's longest bus route. Maybe go from Margate to Exeter on the bus, although i think an overnight stop somewhere may be needed.

 

[bb21]

I remember that you used to be able to do, at least in theory, Exeter - (First Southern National X53) - Weymouth - (Wilts & Dorset 187) - Poole - (Wilts & Dorset X33) - Southampton - (First Provincial 78/79) - Fareham - (First Provincial 1/5) - Portsmouth - (Stagecoach Coastline 700) - Brighton all on one Explorer ticket issued by certain operators. I have done Portsmouth - Exeter before on a First Provincial Explorer ticket, but not sure if it was possible to cover the whole area.

Now the connection between Ringwood and Southampton is a little dodgy I reckon.

 

[Oracle]

I think that there is a service still from Ringwood-Southampton...there is a timetable for the route stuck in the parish info box at Ashurst's Wellcome Stores.

 

[starrymarkb]

I think that there is a service still from Ringwood-Southampton...there is a timetable for the route stuck in the parish info box at Ashurst's Wellcome Stores.

Nope - only National Express - the company that ran the Ringwood route went bust IIRC

 

[bb21]

Nope - only National Express - the company that ran the Ringwood route went bust IIRC

Dorset Sprinter I think they were called?

There are still bus routes linked together after a little thought, only taking much longer. You have to go Poole - Bournemouth - Lymington - Southampton.

 

[Oracle]

The local newsboard says it is or was Route 35 run by Go South Coast. Seems as though no-one has taken it out. I occasionally see the Bournemouth NE coaches but the ones to London are I think early morning so have not yet seen one. They stop at Lyndhurst, which is three miles away. However, as they stop/pick-up at Hammersmith and not Heathrow, are a fat lot of use for my family...my parents live near the latter.

 

[mancnq]

Southampton-Ringwood restarts on 9th July, when Gardbus launch the 39, but the new route won't pass through Ashurst. The nearest it will get is either Totton or Cadnam.

http://sotonbus.blogspot.com/2011/06/ringwood-relinked-summer-solstice.html

Wilts & Dorset X3 can be used for the Bournemouth-Ringwood section. I don't think Gardbus will be accepting Explorer tickets however, as they seem to be limited nowadays to Go Ahead (Bluestar/Wilts & Dorset/Damory) and occasionally First (excluding Southampton) and Stagecoach.

 

[Oracle]

Thanks..but regrettably an infrequent service again. At leats they are having a go!