network. The fleet of 18 buses – nine single and nine double FIRST HAMPSHIRE & DORSET Ltd 31 August deckers – with their distinctive branding, accessible low floors
and double doors, combined with a flat fare of £1.50 per journey 2008 Changes were made to the Southampton network; there are now
and smart card ticketing, have helped to make the service one of fewer cross-city routes. Some of these may be to make the
the most popular in Southampton. service more reliable, following a public enquiry by the Western Since its launch, uni-link has seen a remarkable growth in every
Traffic Commissioner and a fine of £25,080 (£60 per vehicle). year of service. Between 2006/07 and 2007/08 revenue has
increased by 11.8 per cent and passenger numbers by 8.5 per E8. Eastleigh > Shakespeare Rd > Boyatt Wood > Twyford Rd >
cent. Eastleigh. New M-S hourly evening service, interworking with A Uni-link has also won a host of awards, including the 2005 Green
Hedge End - Eastleigh. [The "forthcoming timetables" section of Gown Transport Award for the best university transport service the First H & D website shows Sa journeys as route B, but this is
in the country. In 2004 it was named as the best transport presumably an error. E8 appears to be slightly different from the
organisation in Hampshire catering for people with disabilities, in Boyatt Wood daytime journeys on Black Velvet B, due to start the first Southampton Centre for Independent Living Business
September 8.] and Community Awards.
Bluestar will take over as provider of the uni-link service from 3/3A. City Centre - Lodge Rd/RSH Hospital - Portswood -
the current operator Enterprise on 28 September 2008 to Townhill Park (D) [Orange Line]. All journeys now run via Royal coincide with the new academic year.
South Hants Hospital and are numbered 3. Sa frequency reduced from 10' to 12', but Su frequency increased from 30' to 20'.
[Lodge Road is served by 7.]

4 City Centre - Hill Lane - General Hospital - Shirley - Millbrook Roundabout (D) - Totton (M-S). [Turquoise Line] New service
replacing parts of 5A and 6. From City via former 5A route to
Lordswood Rd, then via former 6 route to Totton.
5 Lordshill - General Hospital - City Centre - Bitterne - Butts Rd
(NESu)
5A Lordshill North - Lordshill - Hill Lane - City Centre (D) -
Montague Ave (NESu). 5E Lordshill - General Hospital - City Centre - Bitterne - Butts Rd
- Weston (ESu).
[5/5A/5E Turquoise Line; continuing as 7/7A/17E respectively]
No longer cross-city. On the west of the city, 5A is withdrawn and partially replaced by new 4 and by extending 5 to Lordshill
(From left) Bluestar Operations Manager Alex Hornby, Uni-Link North. On the east of the city 5/5A and 7/7A are replaced by
Manager George Fair, Alex Carter Regional MD Go-Ahead 11A/11C/12A/12C and 5E by 13. [See also 17E.] Group, University Vice Chancellor Prof Bill Wakeham and Pete
Brunskill, Transport Manager Southampton University. 6 Weston Estate - Sholing - Bitterne - City Centre - Lodge Road -
The new contract will see a £3 million investment in the Portswood - Swaythling - Bassett Green - University - General
service, including a brand new fleet of buses to be rolled out Hospital - Shirley - Millbrook Roundabout - Totton (M-S). between September 2008 and March 2009. This will increase
6A City Centre - Lodge Road - Portswood - Swaythling - Bassett capacity on all routes and ‘through ticketing’ options for uni- Green - Glen Eyre - University (Su).
link ticket holders on Bluestar and Wilts & Dorset bus services According to the First website, these services are withdrawn
will also be trialled. "due to external circumstances". (A new excuse but what does it
mean?) Parts of 6 replaced by new 4, 11A/11C/12A/12C and new Pete Brunskill, University of Southampton transport manager, tendered Solent Blue Line 15. The inhabitants of Bassett Green
comments: "We are extremely proud of our high-quality, award- are upset because the end of the 6 removes their through service
winning bus service, which continues to go from strength to to local hospitals. strength. Last year we carried over three million passengers and
are looking forward to working with Bluestar to continue to 7 Glen Eyre - Bassett Green - Swaythling - Portswood - RSH
build on uni-link's excellent reputation for its reliable, clean Hospital - City Centre (D) - Woolston - Butts Rd (M-S).
and friendly service. 7A. City Centre - Woolston - Obelisk Rd - Montague Ave (M-S).
[7/7A Mauve Line; continuing as 5/5A respectively] “Uni-link is a vital part of the University's transport strategy and Truncated to 7 City Centre - Bassett Green; the eastern section
we are aiming to expand the service to help our staff, students is replaced by new 11A/11C/12A/12C. The revised 7 runs in a
and visitors as well as local residents leave their cars at home one-way loop via Burgess Road, Violet Rd, Honeysuckle Rd, Daisy and use public transport. This will help reduce congestion, cut
Rd, Lobelia Rd, Bassett Green and Stoneham Lane. Glen Eyre is pollution and help with efforts to tackle climate change.” served by rerouted 14.

Alex Carter, managing director for the Go-Ahead Group’s seven 11A City Centre > Woolston > Butts Rd > Bitterne > City Centre subsidiaries, including Bluestar, in southern England, says that
(NESu). the new partnership will enhance the range of services offered 11C City Centre > Bitterne > Butts Rd > Woolston > City Centre
to uni-link passengers. (NESu).
12A City Centre > Woolston > Montague Ave > Bitterne > City He adds: “We are delighted to gain this prestigious contract and
Centre (NESu). to have the opportunity to support the successful team which 12C City Centre > Bitterne > Montague Ave > Woolston > City
manages the uni-link network. The new fleet of double and Centre (NESu).
single deck buses will meet the demand for extra passenger "New" circular services, each half-hourly, but replacing the capacity. We will also be looking at ways we can offer uni-link
linked circular sections of former 5/7 and 5A/7A. Obelisk Rd is passengers additional travel privilege options on our extensive no longer served.
Bluestar and Wilts & Dorset services to encourage more bus and
fewer car journeys.” 13 City Centre > Bitterne > Montague Ave > Botley Rd > Butts Rd>
Bitterne > City Centre (ESu). Replaces most of 5E and restores Keith Lloyd has kindly provided the following detailing recent ESu service to the Montague Ave area.
changes in Southampton.

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