Bluestar started life under the Solent Blue Line name, as a subsidiary of Southern Vectis, in 1987 to offer the people of Southampton a fresh, new alternative in bus travel with its striking yellow and blue colour scheme. Its grounding as a plucky newcomer to the local bus market quickly progressed following the acquisition later that year of the Southampton area operations of Stagecoach subsidiary Hampshire Bus and certain Eastleigh routes from the old Hants & Sussex company. Certain services until recently were operated under franchise by Marchwood Motorways of Totton, of which their bus operations now form part of Bluestar having been acquired in October 2006.
The current network of bus services makes Bluestar the main inter-urban bus operator in Southern Hampshire. We link Southampton with Winchester, Eastleigh, Romsey, Hedge End, Totton and the Hythe & Waterside area. Our frequent local services in Southampton and Eastleigh establish Bluestar as a major provider of bus services in these areas. Our commercial services are defined by frequency, simplicity and reliability, and many routes benefit from Nightstar buses running from Southampton City Centre until around 0330 on Friday and Saturday nights.
We remain keen investors in our vehicles, property and our most important asset – our people.
We remain excited at the opportunities the developing local area brings to our business. Our passion is reinforced by our belief that the bus can be an exciting product, delivered and managed locally.
Therefore there’s tremendous scope in getting many more people on board and reinforcing their choice in making us the brighter way to go.