Cosham, via market towns such as Salisbury, Tunbridge Wells and
Editor Rodney Barnes, 13 Whimbrel Close, Southsea, Hants, PO4 8YP. Wrexham to Singapore! From the description of Salisbury on
Tel: 023 9273 1061 e mail rodneybarnes20@hotmail.com market day (Tuesday) it seems there is a selection of routes descending on the city from all points of the compass. Salisbury
would seem to provide a weekly bus rally! It also shows the vast
Editorial variety of buses that operated in and around our smaller towns
Welcome to newssheet 173. The summer of anticipated new buses and cities. Thanks to everyone who contributed to these meetings.
locally has mostly slipped into autumn, which is probably best described by the advent of “58” registrations although the
autumnal weather seemed to start in late July. Unilink passed to "A reminder that the 2009 Annual General Meeting will be held
Go Ahead’s Bluestar on 28 September with the promise of new slightly later than in previous years, on 6th February 2009.
single and double deckers by March 2009. Bluestar’s announcement on the matter appears in Bits and Pieces. Recent Although many members are unable to attend our AGM in person
observations show that nine all Scania double deckers are being for a variety of reasons, it is important that the subjects discussed
delivered imminently following on from 17 with Southern Vectis reflect the views of as many members as possible. Every member should have the opportunity to raise items for inclusion in the
and seven to be based at Ringwood. Keep a look out for First’s forthcoming new buses due at Portswood and Hilsea towards the agenda, and to be aware of items other members have raised so
end of the year. that (if necessary) they can send in written comments before the
meeting takes place.
There is a trend towards increased bus usage as a result of higher fuel prices. Are we really looking at a growth in bus usage which This is your opportunity to raise such items formally: please send
has not been seen since post war days? Go Ahead’s company any agenda proposals to reach the Secretary at 65 East Lodge Park
report on 5 September drew attention to this and as reported in Portsmouth PO6 1BZ by 22 November 2008 at the latest, and these
Buses September, a report “Routes to Revenue Growth” looked at will be published for the benefit of all members in the December Brighton and Bournemouth, where both Wilts and Dorset and issue of Solent Bus News.
Transdev Yellow Buses are seeing significant growth.
Derek Jones
First in Southampton have gone in for some contraction and Keith Chairman" Lloyd’s report on their revised Southampton routes appears in this
edition. The an hour at survey at Portsmouth shows First
contraction and Stagecoach expanding and contracting in the city Quiz
Fuel prices are currently a big issue with the bus industry realising 1. The first production Leyland Atlanteans entered service this could be a paradigm shift. However massive bus fare 50 years ago this autumn. Who was the owner?
increases are tempering the potential benefits for the bus 2. On what chassis did Wrightbus build the Crusader body?
industry, but for the over 60s, leaving the car at home can be a 3. There are many Volvo B10s running in our area? What
great attraction. The collapse of used car prices can be attributed three model numbers prefixed by ‘B’ do Volvo currently in part to these changes. The provision of evening bus services construct?
can be a major factor in leaving the car behind. London, 4. What made the AEC Regal IV different from other A.E.C
Blackpool and Southern Vectis provide good evening frequencies, Regals?
whilst hourly or irregular services at best are offered in much of 5. In which country is the Hispano coach company our area. What do you think the bus industry should do in current manufactured?
circumstances to maximise their opportunities? 6. In which town do buses operate to Bishop’s Hull, Pyrland
and Wellsprings?
Club News 7. Who primarily operates local services in Luton? 8. Which operator is based at Wellesley House, 204 London
August Meeting Despite pessimistic productions the August meeting at Portchester Road, Waterlooville?
was well attended considering it was the holiday high season. The 9. What was Hants ands Dorset’s UEL727?
evening’s theme ‘free for all’, gave members a chance to choose 10. What is the route number of the First service from Gosport to Southampton?
their own topic, this produced a diverse range of subjects. John Bulman kicked off the evening by reminding us how difficult
it was to use a manual SLR camera with external light meter, but On the Net
despite this still managed to produce a selection of views in West Not least because I have had limited computer access over the last
Sussex and Portsmouth. Chairman Derek Jones celebrated the two months, I make no apologies for repeating the Club’s tenth anniversary of his move from Kent to Portsmouth with a
involvement on the world wide web! collection featuring Operators between the two locations. Robert Go to www.freewebs.com/solent-omnibus-club. The photo album
Martin took the opportunity to continue his recent theme of local has over 60 illustrations and the archive section will provide you
operators in the 1980’s, including an appropriate summer view of with some fascinating material. A feature on the club’s history Hayling Island in the snow, and followed later by a selection taken
and abstracts from newssheets make this a major achievement. on Rodney Barnes London tours. Roger Watts, as ever, came up
with an off-beat theme, ‘slides I should never show’, proving that
even the best photographers can get it wrong, with Parisian Bits and Pieces lamppost hiding a double-decker, inquisitive children filling the The following has been taken from Bluestar’s news web page.
lens and night views of …..?. Finally I took the lazy route with a Uni-Link Southampton joins forces with Bluestar
selection from the last three rolls of film returned from the The award-winning Southampton bus service uni-link is set for
developer including a recent trip to Glasgow. further improvements following agreement of a ten-year deal The original suggestion for a ‘free for all’ came from Roger Watts between the University of Southampton and Bluestar which makes
and proved a success as it also gave members a chance to chat the Eastleigh-based bus operator the provider for the popular uni-
creating a friendly convivial evening. link network.
Barry T Uni-link is the University of Southampton’s bus service, linking its campuses and halls of residence with Southampton General
Our September meeting was a member’s theme evening inviting Hospital, the Docks and the city centre through four city-wide
illustrations from member’s photographic spots where they return routes.
to time and time again. Hopefully the choices did not reflect Launched in 2001 to help the University’s staff and students travel members’ relative prosperity but the chosen venues ranged from around the city, more than three million passengers a year,
including staff, students and the general public, now use the
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