Bus route connecting Gunwharf Quays with the Hayling Ferry to be trialled
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Portsmouth City Council is providing funding for the new '25' First Solent service, which will provide a direct link between The Hard Interchange, Gunwharf Quays, Southsea shops, and the ferry service to Hayling Island.
Other prominent areas featured along the route include The Hotwalls, Portsmouth Cathedral and Bransbury Park.
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Hide AdThe new service replaces and extends the previous First Solent routes 6, 15 and 16, which were taken out of operation during the national lockdown.
Cllr Lynne Stagg, Portsmouth City Council's cabinet member for traffic and transportation, said: ‘I am delighted that we have been able to provide funding from the Better Deal for Bus Users to support this essential service, working closely with our transport partners at First Solent.
‘ I hope we will see a positive take up of the service which residents and visitors have been missing during past months.
‘Passenger support is vital to the success of this service so that we can continue the route past March when funding ceases.’
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Hide AdFunding for the new service was secured through a successful bid to the government’s Better Deal for Bus Users scheme.
The council’s support for public transport continues to be ‘exemplary’, according to Marc Reddy, managing director at First Solent.
He said: ‘Bus users can travel in the knowledge that First Solent has worked tirelessly since the start of this pandemic to make sure bus travel is absolutely safe.
‘We’re proud that our industry-leading coronavirus safety measures have been recognised through Visit England’s ‘We’re Good to Go’ kitemark scheme.’
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Hide AdThe 25 service will run every 45 minutes off-peak between Monday and Saturday and every 90 minutes during peak hours and Sundays, as well as bank holidays.
A review of the trial service will take place in March 2021.
Customers can find the full timetable on the First Solent website firstgroup.com/portsmouth.
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