Spring into action at the ABP Southampton Marathon

3 years ago Mon 27th Mar 2023

ABP Southampton Marathon Bluestar route diversions image 02 April

The ABP Southampton Marathon takes over Southampton with a marathon, half marathon, 10k and 5k races. Come and show your support for our local running enthusiasts as they take on these sporting challenges. Let us do the driving for you, and hop on one of our buses to the city centre.

Multiple roads and bridges will be closed throughout the City so some buses will be diverted. Please see below for how affected buses will be running on marathon day:

Route

Marathon Day Service changes

Bluestar 1 & 2

(Southampton City Centre Area)

Until 13:00 - Buses will start and finish at Debenhams on Houndwell Place and will then divert in both directions to The Avenue (Archers Road). Buses will not serve any stops between Hanover Buildings and Law Courts.     

Between 13:00 and 16:00 - Buses will divert in both directions between Above Bar and The Avenue (Archers Road). Buses will not serve any stops between Cenotaph and Law Courts.

Between 16:00 and 20:00 - Buses will not serve Cenotaph.

Bluestar 2

(Swaythling Area)

 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.
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.
Bluestar 4 (Towards Romsey)

Before 13:00 - Buses will start at Castle Way (Stops BI/BJ) and will divert via ASDA & Seacity Museum to Central Station.    

Between 13:00 and 20:00 - Buses will not stop at Art Gallery.
Bluestar 7

Until 14:00 - The Bluestar 7 will be split into two sections 

  • Sholing side will operate between Woolston Library and Sholing Estate only.   
  • General Hospital/Millbrook side will start and finish at Castle Way (Stops BI/BJ) then divert via ASDA, Seacity Museum to Central Station. 
  • Between 13:00 and 14:00 buses will stop at Vincents Walk and Above Bar.   

After 14:00 - All journeys will revert to normal, but buses will not stop at Art Gallery. 
Bluestar 10 NO SERVICE.
Bluestar 13 Between 08:00 and 14:00, service operates between Harefield and Woolston Library only. Normal service resumes after 14:00.
Bluestar 14 Between 08:00 and 14:30, service operates between Hedge End and Bitterne only. Change onto the Bluestar 3 or 18 into the city from Bitterne Shops.
Bluestar 15 Between 08:00 and 14:00, service operates between Hamble and Woolston Library only. Normal service resumes after 14:00.
Bluestar 16

Between 08:00 - 14:30 - service operates between Townhill Park and Bitterne only with an enhanced 20min frequency. Change onto the Bluestar 3 or 18 into the city from Bitterne Shops.
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).

  • Lordshill side will start and finish at Castle Way (Stops BI/BJ) then will divert via ASDA and Seacity Museum to Central Station. After 13:00, buses will stop at Vincents Walk and Above Bar.
  • Weston side will operate every 30 minutes between Woolston Library and Weston Estate via Wrights Hill.

From 14:00 to 20:00 - All Bluestar 17 services will revert to normal but won't stop at Art Gallery.
Bluestar 18

Before 08:00 - Buses will not stop at Art Gallery in either direction. 

Between 08:00 and 14:30 - The Bluestar 18 will be split into two sections (passengers travelling cross city will need to change bus in the City Centre). 

  • Millbrook side will start and finish at Castle Way (Stops BI/BJ) then will divert via ASDA and Seacity Museum to Central Station. After 13:00, buses will stop at Vincents Walk and Above Bar.
  • Thornhill side will start and finish at Debenhams on Houndwell Place then will divert via Mansbridge & Townhill Way to Bitterne Leisure Centre then normal route to Thornhill (stops in Northam and Bitterne Shops towards Thornhill will not be served). After 13:00, buses will stop at Bargate Street, ASDA & Civic Centre.

From 14:30 to 20:00 - All Bluestar 18 services will revert to normal but won't stop at Art Gallery.
Bluestar 19

Before 08:00 - Buses will not stop at Art Gallery in either direction

Between 08:00 and 14:00 The Bluestar 19 will be split into two sections (Woolston to City Centre will not be served during the closure of Itchen Bridge)

  • Lordshill side will start and finish at Castle Way (Stops BI/BJ) then will divert via ASDA and Seacity Museum to Central Station. After 13:00, buses will stop at Vincents Walk and Above Bar.
  • Thornhill side will operate between Woolston Library and Fairfax Court
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. Use the Bluestar 16 as an alternative route which will operate more frequently (Every 20mins) and change onto the Bluestar 18 at Bitterne Shops for travel into the City.
Quay Connect 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.

For information about diversions over the whole weekend in different areas, please see below:

North Side Diversions     East Side Diversions      West Side Diversions     Waterside Diversions

Unilink services will also be affected by the marathon events, click here for more information.