Bus timetable changes in Fareham and Gosport are welcomed at show

Bus operator First Solent invited customers to talk to managers ahead of its planned service changes, scheduled to take place on April 10.

The transport firm held the event next to one of its Solent Ranger buses outside Fareham Shopping Centre, in West Street.

General manager of First Solent Dervla McKay said she hoped the changes would improve the efficiency of the service in and around Fareham, particularly because more buses will now use the dedicated bus gate.

‘Most routes in the Fareham and Gosport area are having some changes to try and improve the services punctuality, especially in the peak evening times,’ she said.

The 9 and 9a service will now stop directly outside Fareham train station in an attempt to ease the strain on other routes.

‘The biggest change to the service is to the 9 and 9a which is having a route change as well as a timetable change,’ she said.

The customer service roadshow gave members of the public the chance to ask questions.

Janice Arnold, from Portsmouth, went along.

She said: ‘It’s an excellent service they offer but I don’t understand why they keep changing it.’

Fareham North West ward councillor Peter Davies said: ‘Hopefully the changes will speed up the journey and make the service more reliable. The re-routing of the 9 will now stop at Fareham train station and Fareham college which is great news and will help lots of people’

First Solent is holding another event in Commercial Road, in Portsmouth, on April 15 between 10am and 2pm.

For more information about First Solent’s bus services and the new timetables, go to firstgroup.com/portsmouth-fareham-gosport

First will also not be issuing paper tickets to concessionary pass holders.