Absolutely not.
Mark Reddy, regional director for First tells us that, from November 18th in Portsmouth (and Fareham) ...
Services 4/4A/X4,15, 19/19A, 26, 52, 145, 649, 651/ 652, X40, X41 and E1/E2 will remain as they are but 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.
The press release announcing these changes was distributed yesterday (September 26th) and at the same time all the timetables were published on-line. The boss gives the caveat that minor changes may yet take place before new booklets are reddy (ouch!) in mid October. Neverthless it is a remarkable effort by First, and totally different from fbb's experience as blogged yesterday!
The changes are so substantial that even the agile mind of fbb (?) cannot entirely take it all in at a first reading. The old bloke desperately needs a "before and after" set of maps. Mark Reddy writes thus:-
The current bus network in Portsmouth and the wider East Hampshire area has evolved bit by bit over several years largely since buses were deregulated in the 1980s. While it works to an extent, we feel that our network is overly complicated with buses running, in some places, at irregular frequencies, and following complicated routes.
To address these issues we're taking what we would consider to be quite a bold step. Instead of continually tweaking individual routes, we have instead taken a step back, wiped the slate clean and developed something which we think will offer people what they need and which better matches the demand for travel overall.
If we were to liken this approach to household DIY, instead of just painting over the cracks in an old house to make it a bit better, we're creating something new that we think will address our needs and last well into the future, delivering against our hopes and aspirations for years to come.
Followed by the thunderous tones of "I vow to thee my country"? It brings a lump to your throat!
And, to show our sense of humour and make traditional bus people squirm on their top decks, we are going to have a route 0 (zero). [that's fbb writing, not Marc Reddy!]
In advance of a more detailed assessment of what has happened and where, this blog will recognise (probably) the first ever use of a zero as an official route number for a normal and hopefully long-term service. Kings Cross Station ...
... has its Platform 0, and Sheffield Transport ran a bus service 000 for part of one day on 8th October 1960.
That illustrious date marked the end of Sheffield's original tram service. There was a grand parade of trams on the Saturday afternoon so bus route 000 ran from Tinsley to Beauchief until the new services took over on Sunday 9th.
But this is different. As the boss suggests, this may be one timetable that is perhaps not (yet) presented in the best possible way. So fbb has made an attempt to unravel it all with a full timetable to download (here) or a visual to look at. [click to on the image to enlarge it.]
And here is a simple map of the route (hopefully correct).
The fbb cartographical composition also shows the ancestry of this zero route. The 6 and 6A from Tipner and Hilsea originally ran to Portsmouth centre. The 3 continued beyond Hilsea to Paulsgrove.
If our readers wish to beat fbb's brains (not difficult), the whole caboodle collection of timetables can be enjoyed on First's web site (here).
A few minor niggles with the Service 0 timetable, corrected in fbb's version.
"The Strand" is Clarendon Road, "Hanway Road" is just off Milton Road, and "Outram Road" is (possibly?) Campbell Road. Maybe First should choose point time names that are more familiar to Portsmothian passengers?
If our readers wish to beat fbb's brains (not difficult), the whole caboodle collection of timetables can be enjoyed on First's web site (here).
A few minor niggles with the Service 0 timetable, corrected in fbb's version.
The Southampton revision was "interesting" and, apparently, commercially successful whilst the Norwich re-jig is less "interesting", and time will tell if it makes good business sense; but this Pompey scheme is a truly amazing effort. First will needs lots of knowledgeable staff on hand to explain; lots of good publicity and (if fbb dares suggest in response to yesterday's debacle) a dedicated local phone line for enquiries. Lets hope the company's bravery and commercial acumen pays off!
Please, please, Mr Reddy and Mr Fearnley
don't leave this in the hands of Traveline
Maybe, as a special treat, First will only be charging 0p fares on Route 0? Maybe not!
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Fat Bus Blokes Bible Blog is "Discovering Darwin's Designs" (read here)
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Fat Bus Blokes Bible Blog is "Discovering Darwin's Designs" (read here)
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Next Bus Blog : Friday 28th September
Yes, all credit to First for publishing the timetables well in advance. At first sight, the new network looks just as complicated as the current one - but maybe it depends what you're used to. I'm looking forward to your analysis of the changes.
ReplyDeleteA few comments on route number 0 (Is zero a number? Discuss):
- Despite what First's timetable says, I'm not convinced that northbound journeys will reach Hilsea Lido. For the current 6A, the terminus is shown as Northern Parade (as for southbound journeys). If buses go on to the Lido, it's then a long way round to reach the southbound stop. Of course, the buses may interwork with another service, but the timings suggest they don't need to.
- On your map, I think the junction of the two branches may be Alexandra Park (top end of Gladys Avenue), not North End - as on the current 6/6A. But it's hard to be sure.
- It seems unwise to use a single route number for a service with two branches and a large loop. Traditionally, each Portsmouth Corporation route had two numbers (or two letters), depending on direction of travel. I've always assumed that this was because some Portsmouth routes were circular, or consisted mainly of large loops. It certainly avoided the confusion of having buses from the same stop with the same number following different routes. I think the only surviving example is the 17/18. It looks as though there will be no dual-numbering in the new network, although there will still be some loops.
Excellent points, Steve. The service zero does seem a little too clever for its own good. One stated aim is to give a link to St Mary's Hospital from as many bits of Portsea Island as possible; hence its "hook-shaped" identity. Further comment may ensue as Joe Public gets to see what is happening.
ReplyDeleteI think Stockport got its (permanent) platform zero before King's Cross
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