10 new buses for Bluestar 1

Passengers travelling between Winchester and Southampton can now enjoy 10 brand new double decker buses to serve the area - thanks to a £2.9 million investment by Bluestar. 

The move builds on the close partnership we have with Hampshire County Council - with £245,000 invested this year through the Government’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) to increase service frequency and introduce night buses. BSIP funding comes with strict criteria on how it can be spent, with a focus on initiatives that make bus travel faster, more frequent, reliable and greener. The fund should not be used to subsidise services that have no long-term prospect of being commercially viable. 

Each of the new vehicles, which will serve the Bluestar 1 route, has a smart new look and sports the latest Euro 6 low emissions engine - the newest and cleanest standard for diesel.

“We’re proud to operate this flagship service between Winchester and Southampton - and our £2.9m investment is designed to make travelling by bus even more attractive,” said Andrew Wickham, Bluestar managing director.

“It is vital for those living and working in the region to have access to a first class bus service - both for convenience and to help reduce congestion across the two cities. 

“To achieve this, we have worked very closely with Hampshire County Council on enhancements for this service. These include an increase in frequency and night buses for our popular Bluestar 1 route - which was made possible by funding from the Government’s Bus Service Improvement Plan.

“And these latest buses have a striking new look on-board - with a more comfortable and spacious seating layout, and lighter flooring. The upper deck is laid out in a similar way to a coach, and there is a ‘stop’ button on the back of every other seat.

“This is another important step into making sustainable transport an attractive alternative to the car, and I’m looking forward to seeing these brand new vehicles out on our roads over the coming days.”

Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Nick Adams-King, said: “Investment into a greener fleet will offer an even better experience for passengers using the Bluestar link between Southampton and Winchester, as well as delivering positive environmental benefits. As part of a series of recent improvements, it is more convenient than ever to hop on board, travelling affordably by bus rather than by car. This includes later running services to enable people to enjoy an evening out in both city centres, which is a welcome boost to the region’s economy. It’s a great example of how we are working with Hampshire’s bus operators to make travel by bus a more convenient and comfortable choice.”

We officially launched the new buses at a special event outside The Great Hall in Winchester, with representatives from Hampshire County Council also in attendance.