Portsmouth X Files (2)

PSVAir Or PCVAIR : P.S.

Following fbb's piece on some intrusive technology to comply with the upcoming "Access Information Regulations", correspondent Keith reports:-

What is even worse is the fitting of next stop screens for wheelchair users to see when they are in the wheelchair bay. A laudable aim but absolute hell for the vast majority of able bodied passengers. These screens are fitted to the near side and completely block the forward vision for all passengers sitting on this side of the bus. The offside forward vision is already blocked by the driver’s screen. So we can’t see where we are going anymore.

Please see photograph above of the rear of one of these screens as fitted to a new electric Stagecoach bus on the service from Kingswear to Brixham in Devon on which I travelled on recently.

So, to help the disabled, in this case a wheelchair user, a significant number of ambulant passengers become disabled as they can no longer see the road ahead and thus suffer a more unpleasant journey.

Back To The X Files!

The story so far ...

... concerns First Bus route 3 from Fareham via Paulsgrove, Queen Alexandra Hospital. London Road, The Hard and South Parade Pier at Southsea.

It is a slow urban grind taking a little over 90 minutes for the full stimulating journey. As is so often the case with First Bus timetables, the frequency is "varied" ...

... but on Saturdays it does start from Fareham every 10 minutes, clock face. Such a clear-cut and helpful frequency later adopts scheduled unreliability further down the line.

The X4 and X5 become "Xpress" for the last few miles by taking the M275 from junction 12 into the city.

It is not much of an express, especially at peak times when the M275 clogs up dramatically.  But from Fareham it is much quicker than route 3 ...

... 38 minutes to The Hard vice 73 minutes on route 3. But the X4 and X5 do not run to Southsea.

From 26th July

This is how First explains the changes.

We're making some adjustments to our Solent network from Saturday 26th July

These changes include revised frequencies on Services 1 and 3, the introduction of a new express service, the X3, and timetable updates to Services X4 and X5. 

The new X3 service will provide a direct link between Fareham and South Parade Pier, offering a faster journey and serving customers travelling to and from Southsea.

We've also reviewed running times on the X4 and X5 to improve reliability, with some evening X4 journeys being replaced by the X3 service.

We recommend checking your journey before travelling to see how these changes may affect you. 

Here is the new route 3 timetable showing a frequency reduction from every 10 to every 12 ...

... again with the caveat that every 12 at Fareham becomes less structured (and potentially more confusing!) as the route progresses. 

But you will probably get a posh electric bus for your delectation!

The new X3 is shown as extra journeys on the X4/X5 table following the same route from Fareham ...

... but extended fron The Hard to Southsea, just like route 3. 

But notice a typical First Bus daftness.

The new 3 calls at "The Hard/Gunwharf on its way to Southsea whist the X4 and X5 terminate at The Hard Interchange [D].

Somebody should tell First Bus that they are the same place.

So to help the passengers the times could be shown in the same line!!

Once branded (optimistically) Solent Express ...

... later generic 'Solent' ...

... the X4 and X5 are now also provided with new buses.

First Bus has also given us pictures of similar vehicles to pre-launch the X3; at Gunwharf/The Hard ...

... and at Southsea.

The only branding in these buses is a small, almost imperceptible 'Solent'.

It is good to see something positive from First Bus, when so much emanating from HQ is about withdrawals and timetable reductions. Whether a fast-ish bus every 15 min from Fareham to Portsmouth can be justified remains to be seen.

A similar result could be achieved by extending the X4 /X5 from The Hard to Southsea!

Time will tell.

  Next B Bus Blog : Weds 8 July