Cabinet Statement

Cabinet Member for Transport

Xelabus Route Changes

From the 17 February will be making significant changes to a number of their services. These arise for commercial reasons, changes in local authority financial support and changes to school and college requirements. New timetable books are available. The biggest change is to the X6/X7 with services beyond Fryern now limited to shopping hours only. To achieve this less frequent service County Council has actually put in more financial support. The late evening journeys which Borough Council funded have also been withdrawn as passenger numbers have been exceedingly low. The Eastleigh - Velmore - Fryern section of the route will now only be hourly, a commercial decision. All roads that had a bus service still have a bus service. The 503 school bus to Thorndon which has had wide publicity about withdrawal is a commercial journey. Bluestar are to operate a replacement bus from Templar’s Way at 7.30am arriving at the school at 7.55am. The Developer funded Boorley Park Link bus X5 will only operate until the 22 March. This route that makes connecting links with trains at Hedge End station has not performed as expected.

Xelabus Fleet Changes

This year 14 of the double deck fleet will be retro fitted with equipment to reduce emissions as part of a Government funded scheme to make buses in cities cleaner. They have taken delivery of the first of 10 new Euro 6 engine Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 single deck buses.

Bluestar Timetable Changes

Bluestar 3 will run to a new timetable from the beginning of April. The service will be extended from Boorley Park to Horton Heath, Fair Oak and Eastleigh. Weekday frequency is approximately hourly. The extension is funded by developers. This is a welcome addition to the local network.

Sustainable Transport

The Council now has a permanent Sustainable Transport Officer in post, Cali Sparks. She joins the Council from County Council.