DSCF4276 The Hard Interchange, Portsmouth - 3 Aug 2018

Friday 3 August 2018 (0806) – The bus station of The Hard Interchange in Portsmouth was opened in May 2017 replacing old bus bays and shelters. Close by is Portsmouth Harbour railway station together with the landing stages for the cross harbour ferry service to Gosport and the ‘Fastcat’ catamaran service to Ryde on the Isle of Wight. Dominating the background is the Spinnaker Tower on the waterfront. This observation tower standing 560 feet (170 metres) high was opened in 2005 and, to reflect Portsmouth’s maritime history, is designed to represent a ship’s sail.

The main bus operators in Portsmouth are First Hampshire & Dorset and Stagecoach South. The four buses in this view are Stagecoach 27653 (GX10 KZF), an Alexander Dennis Enviro300 new in July 2010 which carries branding for the Coastliner service 700; First 63055 (SK63 KJU) and 63051 (SK63 KJF) both Wrightbus Streetlites new in October 2013 in ‘The Star Bus’ livery a feature of each bus has a battleship theme (63055 HMS Dauntless and 63051 HMS Atherstone); and Stagecoach 27869 (GX13 AOO), an Alexander Dennis Enviro300 new in August 2013 in their corporate livery with branding for Portsmouth services 20/21.