Buses during ABP Southampton Marathon 2025

3 weeks ago Wed 26th Mar 2025

The ABP Southampton Marathon is back and will be taking over Southampton with their marathon, half marathon, 10k and 5k races on Sunday 6 April. There will be multiple road closures throughout the city so some buses will be diverted on race day. If you're catching the bus to the start line, or coming into Southampton to support those taking part, see below to for temporary timetables and to know how your journey could be affected:

Route No.	Marathon day - Sunday 6 April	Saturday 5 April
Bluestar 1 & 2 (City Centre Area)	Before 07:30 and 13:00 to 16:00 - Buses will divert in both directions between Above Bar and The Avenue (Archers Road), not serving any stops between Cenotaph and Law Courts. Between 07:30 and 13:00 - Buses will start and finish at Debenhams (Houndwell Place) and then divert in both directions to The Avenue (Archers Road) to continue their normal routes. Buses will not serve any stops between Hanover Buildings and Law Courts. Between 16:00 and 20:00 - Buses will not serve Cenotaph. Click here to view Bluestar 1 temporary timetable. Click here to view Bluestar 2 temporary timetable.	All day - Buses will not serve Cenotaph.
Bluestar 2 Swaythling	Between 08:00 and 15:00 - Buses will divert in both directions between Swaythling Market Buildings & Mayfield Link Road. Buses will not serve stops at McDonalds and Woodmill Lane. Click here to view Bluestar 2 temporary timetable.	Normal service
Bluestar 3	Before 13:00 - Buses towards Southampton will divert after Brintons Road to terminate at Debenhams on Houndwell Place. The 09:40 and 11:00 trips towards Eastleigh will start at Debenhams on Houndwell Place. These will divert to Hedge End via the M27. Buses will not serve stops between Southampton and Moorhill Gardens. The 13:20 trip towards Eastleigh will serve Bargate Street, ASDA, Civic Centre & Park Walk as usual. The bus will then divert to Hedge End via the M27. Buses will not serve stops between Southampton and Moorhill Gardens. Click here to view Bluestar 3 temporary timetable.	Normal service
Bluestar 4	This route is only affected towards Romsey. Before 13:00 - Buses will start at Castle Way (Stop BF) and will divert via ASDA & Seacity Museum to Central Station. Between 13:00 and 20:00 - Buses will not stop at Art Gallery. Click here to view Bluestar 4 temporary timetable.	All day - Buses will not stop at Art Gallery.
Bluestar 7	Until 14:00 - The Bluestar 7 will be split into two sections: Buses towards Sholing will operate between Woolston Tollbooths and Sholing Estate only. Buses towards General Hospital/Millbrook will start and finish at Castle Way (Stops BI/BJ) then divert via ASDA and Seacity Museum to Central Station. Between 13:00 and 14:00 - buses towards Lordshill will additionally stop at Vincents Walk and Above Bar. After 14:00 - Buses will not stop at Art Gallery in either direction. Click here to view Bluestar 7 temporary timetable.	All day - Buses will not stop at Art Gallery in either direction.
Bluestar 13	Between 08:00 and 14:00 - service operates between Harefield and Woolston Tollbooths only. To get into the City Centre, change at Bitterne onto the Bluestar 3 or 18. Normal service resumes after 14:00. Click here to view Bluestar 13 temporary timetable.	Normal service
Bluestar 14	Between 08:00 and 14:30 - service operates between Hedge End and Bitterne only. You can change onto the Bluestar 3 or 18 to get into the City Centre from Bitterne Shops. Normal service resumes after 14:30. Click here to view Bluestar 14 temporary timetable.	Normal service
Bluestar 15	Between 08:00 and 14:00 - service operates between Hamble and Woolston Tollbooths only. Normal service resumes after 14:00. Click here to view Bluestar 15 temporary timetable.	Normal service
Bluestar 16	Between 08:00 and 14:30 - service operates between Townhill Park and Bitterne but frequency will increase to every 20 minutes. You can change onto the Bluestar 3 or 18 to get into the city from Bitterne Shops. Normal service resumes after 14:30. Click here to view Bluestar 16 temporary timetable.	Normal service
Bluestar 17	Before 08:00 - Buses will not serve Art Gallery in either direction. Between 08:00 and 14:00 - The Bluestar 17 will be split into two sections (Woolston to City Centre will not be served during the closure of Itchen Bridge): Buses towards Lordshill will start and finish at Castle Way (Stop BF) then will divert via ASDA and Seacity Museum to Central Station. After 13:00, buses will stop at Vincents Walk and Above Bar. Buses towards Weston will operate every 30 minutes between Woolston Tollbooths and Weston Estate via Wrights Hill. From 14:00 to 20:00 – Buses will not stop at Art Gallery in either direction. Click here to view Bluestar 17 temporary timetable.	All day - Buses will not stop at Art Gallery in either direction.
Bluestar 18	Before 08:00 - Buses will not stop at Art Gallery in either direction. Between 08:00 and 13:00 - The Bluestar 18 will be split into two sections (passengers travelling cross city will need to change bus in the City Centre): Buses towards Millbrook will start and finish at Castle Way (Stop BF) then will divert via ASDA and Seacity Museum to Central Station. Buses towards Thornhill will start and finish at Debenhams on Houndwell Place then divert non-stop via Mansbridge & Townhill Way to Bitterne Leisure Centre then resume normal route to Thornhill. Stops in Northam and Bitterne Shops towards Thornhill will not be served. From 13:00 to 20:00 – Journeys will return to normal except: Buses towards Thornhill will divert after Solent University Non-Stop to Bitterne Leisure Centre until Northam Bridge reopens approx 14:30. Art Gallery will not be served in either direction. Click here to view Bluestar 18 temporary timetable.	All day - Buses will not stop at Art Gallery in either direction.
Bluestar 19/19a	Before 08:00 - Buses will not stop at Art Gallery in either direction Between 08:00 and 14:00 - The Bluestar 19/19a will be split into two sections (Woolston to City Centre will not be served during the closure of Itchen Bridge): Buses towards Lordshill will start and finish at Castle Way (Stop BF) then will divert via ASDA and Seacity Museum to Central Station. Buses towards Thornhill will operate between Woolston Tollbooths and Fairfax Court every 30 minutes. Between 13:00-14:00 buses towards Lordshill will revert to serving Vincents Walk and Above Bar but will not serve Art Gallery or Central Station. Passengers travelling from Thornhill into the city centre are strongly advised to use the Bluestar 18. Between 14:00-20:00 - Buses will revert to normal except: Art Gallery will not be served in either direction until 20:00. Click here to view Bluestar 19/19a temporary timetable.	All day - Buses will not stop at Art Gallery in either direction.
Bluestar 20	Before 08:00 - Buses will not serve Cenotaph. Between 08:00 and 15:00 - there will be NO SERVICE due to multiple closures at Cobden Bridge and Bitterne Park. You can use the Bluestar 16 as an alternative route which will be running every 20 minutes, and change onto the Bluestar 18 at Bitterne Shops to travel into the City. Click here to view Bluestar 20 temporary timetable.	All day - Buses will not serve Cenotaph or King's Park Road.
Bluestar 61	Until 20:00 - Buses will not serve art gallery.	All day - Buses will not serve art gallery.
Quayconnect	Between 08:00 and 13:00 - Buses will divert via West Quay Road. Normal stops at ASDA, West Quay, Holyrood Church and Telephone House will not be served. Click here to view Quayconnect temporary timetable.	Normal service

Unilink services will also be affected by this event. Click here to find out more.

During big events like this, it is more important than ever to plan your journey. We recommend you download the Bluestar app where you can plan your journey, track buses in live time and receive travel alerts, straight from our app to your phone.