Southampton - Jun/Jul 2017

Saturday 1 July 2017 (0742) – First Hampshire and Dorset 63310 (SN65 OLR), a Wrightbus Streetlite DF new in October 2015, seen in Castle Way, Southampton bound for Gosport on service X5.

Saturday 1 July 2017 (0738) – Go-South Coast (Bluestar) 2423 (HF06 FTT), a Mercedes-Benz Citaro new in March 2006, seen in Castle Way, Southampton passing beneath a modern footbridge which links two sections of the fragmented old city walls.

Saturday 1 July 2017 (0737) – First Hampshire and Dorset 37164 (HY07 FSU), a Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL new in March 2007, turning into Bargate Street from Portland Terrace in Southampton.

Saturday 1 July 2017 (0737) - Go-South Coast (Bluestar) 2736 (HF65 CXJ), an Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC new in November 2015, seen in Bargate Street, Southampton. The backcloth features old and new construction. The remains of the old city walls are fragmented, a modern footbridge spans Castle Way linking two of the sections. The monolith beyond is part of a complex which features restaurants, a cinema and a shopping centre.

Friday 30 June 2017 (1732) – Go-South Coast (Bluestar) buses in Portland Terrace, Southampton. Leading is 1125 (HF58 GZP), a Scania OmniCity N230UD new in in November 2008. Behind that is 2422 (HF06 FTP), an Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC new in March 2006. It is a pity that the rear advert covers some of the Bluestar branding.

Friday 30 June 2017 (1731) – Competitors in Southampton. Left is Go-South Coast (Bluestar) 1125 (HF58 GZP), a Scania OmniCity N230UD new in in November 2008. Right is First Hampshire and Dorset 47603 (SN14 FFH), a Wrightbus Streetlite DF new in July 2014. The clock tower in the background is part of the Civic Centre building.

Friday 30 June 2017 (1727) – Go-South Coast (Bluestar) Mercedes-Benz Citaro 2453 (HW07 CXT), new in June 2007 as Southern Vectis 453, seen in Portland Terrace, Southampton.

Friday 30 June 2017 (1800) – Red Funnel operates services from Southampton to the Isle of Wight. The Red Jet passenger only fast craft services sails to Cowes whereas the car and passenger ferry service sails into East Cowes. The two towns are on opposite banks of the River Medina. Around this very day the Red Funnel company, owned by Infracapital (an infrastructure fund itself owned by Prudential) since 2007, was bought by the West Midlands Pension Fund and the Insurance Board of the Province of Ontario.

Friday 30 June 2017 (1751) – Go-South Coast (Bluestar) 3334 (381 VHX), seen in Portland Terrace, Southampton operating the ‘Quay Connect’ service which links Southampton railway station with the Red Funnel ferry and Red Jet fast craft services to the Isle of Wight. It is a Caetano Nimbus bodied Dennis Dart new in December 2001 to Accord of Southampton as HX51 LPN. The clock tower in the background is part of the Civic Centre building (not part of the bus!!).

Friday 30 June 2017 (1738) – Go-South Coast (Bluestar) 3334 (381 VHX), seen in Portland Terrace, Southampton operating the ‘Quay Connect’ service which links Southampton railway station with the Red Funnel ferry and Red Jet fast craft services to the Isle of Wight. It is a Caetano Nimbus bodied Dennis Dart new in December 2001 to Accord of Southampton as HX51 LPN. In the background (left) is Go- South Coast ‘Salisbury Reds’ 1135 (HF09 BJO), a Scania OmniCity N230UD new in March 2009. On the right is First Hampshire and Dorset 47423 (SK63 KMO), a Wrightbus Streetlite DF new in November 2013. Far right is a Go-South Coast ‘Unilink’ Alexander-Dennis (ADL) Enviro400. The clock tower in the background is part of the Civic Centre building.

Friday 30 June 2017 (1759) – Go-South Coast (Bluestar) 3334 (381 VHX), a Caetano Nimbus bodied Dennis Dart new in December 2001 to Accord of Southampton as HX51 LPN. It was seen at the Red Jet terminal at Town Quay, Southampton operating the ‘Quay Connect’ service which links Southampton railway station with the Red Funnel ferry and Red Jet fast craft services to the Isle of Wight. It was seen among the queue of peak hour and maybe weekend travellers bound for the island.

Friday 30 June 2017 (1739) – Go-South Coast (PE55 WPP), an East Lancs Myllenium bodied Dennis Dart new in January 2006 to Accord, Southampton, seen in Portland Terrace, Southampton. It carries a dedicated livery for the ‘Quay Connect’ service which links Southampton railway station with the Red Funnel ferry and Red Jet fast craft services to the Isle of Wight. Packed to the gunwales with peak hour and maybe weekend travellers bound for the island the driver pulled up to tell us he couldn’t take us on this trip.

Saturday 1 July 2017 (1007) – Go-South Coast (PE55 WPP) seen at Town Quay, Southampton. It carries a dedicated livery for the ‘Quay Connect’ service which links Southampton railway station with the Red Funnel ferry and Red Jet fast craft terminals for their services to the Isle of Wight. An outline of a Red Jet adorns the side of the bus which is an East Lancs Myllenium bodied Dennis Dart new in January 2006 to Accord, Southampton, The ‘Red Osprey’ working the 1030 sailing to East Cowes is in the background.

Saturday 1 July 2017 (1007) – Go-South Coast (PE55 WPP) carries a dedicated livery for the ‘Quay Connect’ service which links Southampton railway station with the Red Funnel ferry and Red Jet fast craft terminals for their services to the Isle of Wight. An outline of a Red Jet adorns the side of the bus which is an East Lancs Myllenium bodied Dennis Dart new in January 2006 to Accord, Southampton, It was seen at the Town Quay, the ferry departure building is on the left. The Red Jet terminal was a short way further along the road from here.

Saturday 1 July 2017 (0819) – Go-South Coast (PE55 WPP) carries a dedicated livery for the ‘Quay Connect’ service which links Southampton railway station with the Red Funnel ferry and Red Jet fast craft terminals for their services to the Isle of Wight. An outline of a Red Jet adorns the side of the bus which is an East Lancs Myllenium bodied Dennis Dart new in January 2006 to Accord, Southampton,

Saturday 1 July 2017 (0744) – Go-South Coast (PE55 WPP) carries a dedicated livery for the ‘Quay Connect’ service which links Southampton railway station with the Red Funnel ferry and Red Jet fast craft terminals for their services to the Isle of Wight. An outline of a Red Jet adorns the side of the bus which is an East Lancs Myllenium bodied Dennis Dart new in January 2006 to Accord, Southampton. The remains of the old city walls are fragmented and the bus is passing beneath a modern footbridge which links two of the sections.

Saturday 1 July 2017 (1009) – In addition to the 'Bluestar' services operated by Go-South Coast, the company also operates a group of services in Southampton under the ‘Unilink’ brand. Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 1563 (HJ63 JNO) seen near Town Quay.

Saturday 1 July 2017 (0748) - Go-South Coast (Bluestar) 2423 (HF06 FTT), a Mercedes-Benz Citaro new in March 2006, seen in Bargate Street, Southampton. The backcloth features old and new construction. The remains of the old city walls are fragmented, a modern footbridge spans Castle Way linking two of the sections. The monolith beyond is part of a complex which features restaurants, a cinema and a shopping centre. The stooped figure on the city walls is a statute of John Le Fleming (1295-1336) who was once a Mayor of Southampton.