But all you will see are new operators, a change in the number of the service and a slightly changed timetable. School pupils using these services will be able to use their existing bus passes until new ones have been issued.
Bus operators will continue to go through a tender process for a particular bus route for a contracted price. The difference is that Dorset Council will receive the income from passengers and the value of the contract will reflect this change. Previously the operator collected this money.
The council will analyse passenger numbers and adjust services accordingly. The timetables are agreed by the council and the operator as part of the contract. There is also a possibility that cross operator pricing can be introduced to make it easier for people to move around.
There are four services already running with this new arrangement: Service 2 (previously X2), Service 3 (previously X4) & Service 5 (previously X11) now run by South West Coaches & Service 6 (previously 6,6A,6B) now run by First Wessex with another two services launching on Monday 30 January. They are replacements for the existing X3 (new service 7 run by Go South Coast/Damory) running between Blandford & Shaftesbury & existing X10 (new service 4 run by First Wessex) running between Blandford & Yeovil.
Cllr Noc Lacey-Clarke, Cabinet Lead Member for Environment, Travel and Harbours, said:
“This change in the way the services are managed means that we have more control on what is being offered to Dorset residents. There are further plans to look at introducing a demand response service to provide access to the inter-town services. This will depend upon funding from national Government.
“We have already seen an increase in passenger usage on at least one of these new services, which is very promising.”
Single fares on all buses in Dorset are currently capped at £2. This is part of the Government’s Help for Households and will continue until the end of March.
Information about timetables can be found at Traveline or from the bus operators.
So who will be responsible for promotions and marketing if the operator has no financial incentive in building passenger numbers?
As a reminder Dorset Council have never ever mentioned bus services in years of receiving their Transport and Travel newsletters. For DC, the car is king.
Hi Billy – firstly we did not delet your messages, comments have to be manually approved. In fact there is all incentives to build passenger numbers as it is a way to recoup from the more expensive tenders. Also we want to grow our young passengers who already use buses to get to school – therefore encouraging new users. I am in the process of drafting a marketing plan for growing passenger numbers -Fiona
X2 to Wyke, was stopped after the 1st lock down in the Wyke Peacemarsh area .The replacement that started in January doesn’t cover the whole of the old route still leaving some of the older and infirm residents cut off and having to use Taxis (ie the last stop from the original X2 was in Laburnum Way SP8 4ru which is a complex of 40 bungalows for the over 60s average age of at least half now in the 80s. also Freame way and Duncliff to is a high volume of older people. Can you look at improving this service.
Hi Pauline – this is currently a commercial service where the operator makes their own business decisions. We can only make changes when contracts are re-tendered. Fiona
We are now in April and despite receiving regular emails from DC entitled “Travel and Transport”, buses DC is funding are never mentioned. The email should either be re-titled “Cars and Roadworks” or a section added to promote public transport use.
The DC magazine dropped in my letterbox last week and again, not one jot promoting bus use, where the £2 fare cap makes buses very attractive.
And there has been no marketing for Route 6.
I live at slepe mobile home park, Sadly my husband died in December 2022 and l don’t drive and want to stay where l am, but would like to see a bus stop for the residence, As l have to walk 23 minutes on a dangerous rd to get a bus. The park was here before all the heavy traffic on dorchester rd, I think it’s only fair and for safety reasons to have a bus service for the elderly!!!
Regards Mrs wellstead
Also single fares are not all capped at £2 as some operators did not take part, due to the complexities of the scheme
In fact all operators in Dorset are taking part, so I can say that all single fares are capped because they are all taking part in Dorset – Fiona
The CB3 from Bridport to Beaminster is not part of the scheme. It’s one service but have heard some passengers arguing for their £2 fare! 🙁
My apologies Billy – I meant all Dorset’s main bus operators – the CB3 is run by the town council. This is the only service of it’s kind in the county. Fiona
Interesting Billy as the Atwest community bus in Minehead out to Exmoor villages I used has now belatedly joined the £2 scheme so presumably the CB3 could also?
The CB3 uses paper tickets and I think the paper trial, and the fact that it is run by volunteers means it was too much administration. And they don’t get the rest of the fare back from Central Government – they get a percentage of the fare difference but not the full amount.
I see my questions where deleted.
Hi billy – see my previous replies. Fiona
Is the First Weymouth-Poole X54 a full Dorset contract now (believe it had received a partial subsidy)?
If so, will it also be rendered & given a new number?
Also are the Go-Ahead Blandford X12 & 187 Dorset contracts & if so will they be also be rendered & renumbered?
Meant re-tendered!
There is no information on Traveline I can see stating:
If the X54 is also a Dorset contract (it was once partially financially supported) & if it will be also be re-numbered?
Whether the X12 & 187 will also be re-numbered with the council keeping the fares?
Changes will be made and communicated when contracts are changed. Fiona
Thanks
So no changes just yet for X12 & 187 but is the First X54 now a Dorset contract or still receiving deminimis partial county funding (for winter period as an older timetable stated)?
Hi – you will be able to find all this information at Traveline. Fiona
Whether the First X54 receives any council funding hasn’t been clarified yet?
Trinity Street Stop C1 Dorchester
It is most confusing, especially to visitors, that two services numbered 5 use this stop. How or why did this happen?
As a regular bus user I know the times but up to date times at bus stops are conspicuous by absence*. How can this promote the use of buses?
*Except by First buses, whose services are largely commercial rather than supported.
The information at bus stops will be updated shortly. Fiona
Is consideration being given to reinstating the Saturday service on x11 now route 5? This is when young people living in rural locations ideally need to be able to access Sherborne/Dorchester.
How will you identify this need from passengers numbers when there currently isn’t a service?
Hi Lynn – We have lots of information about where we can implement a ‘dial-a’bus’ service and we are looking at the inter-town routes too. Fiona
So where is the bus service that serves Canford Bottom Roundabout via Wimborne Road West and Leigh Road to Wimborne? It could ‘round Robbin’ back via Colehill’?
No car, no mobility, NO BUS.
Unforgivable.
Hi Martyn – we can only look at changes when contracts end. Until then commercial routes will make their own business decisions. Fiona
Fiona, when is the No4 Weymouth – Preston & No4A to Sutton Poynts bus routes up for re-tender? And who do we contact with regard to these routes please?
Hi – I will ask the team and get back to you about timings for thos contracts. Or you can email dt@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk. Fiona
I wish to comment on Route 3 journey round Gillingham.
Over the past few weeks I have seen the number 3 bus riding round Gillingham EMPTY. I have looked at the time table and note there are at least two stops that are at an area of the town that even a person who has lived most of their life in Gillingham did not recognise, these places are Woodsage Road and Shires Gate. Also the timings of stops appear to have been taken from a map that shows Wavering Lane as a through Road.
I understand that the route was put on for the school traffic but the timings do not match the school times.
If we are to have a bus route that serves our town then this route could be expanded to suit the estates that we have.
We are continuously being told that we need to save money, Dorset Council needs to save millions scrapping this route round Gillingham would save fuel, drivers time when they could be usefully employed, unnecessary were and tear on the vehicles.
I wish to know who is funding this service and how much it is costing to run.
Hi, does this affect the pensioners bus passes?
Hi Aubrey – no it doesn’t affect bus passes. Fiona
This is quire scary…..please keep us all updated every step of the way. We all rely on buses all over the county and country.
Please take another look at Pauline Bryant’s comments on 4th Feb 2023. Every word is true … we have been isolated at the high end of Common Mead Lane and surrounding areas.
The furthest bus stop is still there but no buses have come near us for almost 3 years. The vast majority on that route are pensioners, many of whom are disabled. Please help us to get our bus service back as soon as possible.
I live in Verwood. We mostly rely on our car but a few years ago my OH lost his driving licence for a few months. There was no way that he could get a bus to work as the buses did not arrive early enough, and he would have had to leave work early to get home. You talk about growing young customers – my daughter used to use the buses at weekends and school hols to get to bournemouth shopping, it cost her a small fortune each way which I had to subsidise. It was galling to see OAPs getting free bus rides, especially the ones we recognised had plenty of money when my 16 year old had to pay. it must be difficult to run a service to and from a rural area. its chicken and egg, we get cars because the buses are rubbish, so then dont need buses. Please look at providing services for young people, (weekend service to tower park would be popular) and to get people to work if you want to raise an income.
My name is Karen wellstead and l live at slepe mobile home park, I have lived here since 2019 And myself and husband enjoyed the peaceful surroundings. Unfortunately my husband passed away in December 2022 and l don’t drive and could never afford to keep a car on the road.
l retire in November and look forward to having my bus pass,But there are no buses near by! And for me to get to the nearest bus stop farmer Palmers, Which takes me 25 minutes to try and walk on uneven grass and and dips and when l feel that is safe, l will walk on the road facing the traffic, but sometimes have to cross the road because l can’t see round the corner.
l have osteoporosis and arthritis in my right knee , So it would be helpful, not only for myself, but others that live on the site to have a even path to the nearest bus stop or to have a bus stop near by! And would help the environment not having to many cars on the road.
Regards Mrs Karen wellstead
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Why cannot I find any information or links to information on bus timetables on this site?
Hi – you can find bus timetables at https://www.travelinesw.com/