Latest figures show the service is now carrying close to 500 passenger journeys each day, with around 160 daily journeys being made to and from Whiteley and North Whiteley alone. Passenger numbers have increased week-on-week since the route was introduced.
Councillor Steve Forster, Hampshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Highways and Passenger Transport, recently met with Bluestar General Manager Richard Tyldesley in Whiteley to review the early performance of the new Bluestar 26 route which has been operating now for two months.
Councillor Steve Forster said: "It's extremely encouraging to see passenger numbers growing so strongly on the Bluestar 26 in its first full month of operation. This service improves bus connectivity for the growing community of North Whiteley, offering a convenient, affordable, and more sustainable way to travel to employment, education, shopping and leisure destinations across the area. These early figures show that people are already embracing the new travel opportunities it provides. The aim is that as passenger numbers continue to grow, the route will be able to run as a fully commercial bus service. With the single fare cap of £3 reducing to £2 from January, there is even more incentive for people to take the bus.”
Richard Tyldesley, General Manager of Bluestar, said: "We're delighted with the response to Bluestar 26 so far. Passenger numbers have grown steadily each week since launch, which is a fantastic achievement for a brand-new route, and we're looking forward to welcoming even more customers on board in the months ahead."
Bluestar 26 operates hourly from Mondays to Saturdays, between 6am and 9.30pm, and every two hours on Sundays and Bank Holidays, from 9am to 6pm. When combined with Bluestar 3 services, there is now a bus every 30 minutes on weekdays and Saturdays between Southampton and Hedge End village and Botley village centres, with an hourly combined frequency between these locations on Sundays.
People who have not yet tried the service are being encouraged to give it a go, with single bus fares capped at no more than £3 until the end of the year. From 1 January 2027, the lower £2 fare cap for single bus journeys funded by the Government begins. Taken together with the £1 evening single fare after 6pm on Bluestar, this will make using the bus even better value for money.
The service is receiving Bus Service Improvement Plan funding from Hampshire County Council to help cover part of the operating costs of the service whilst passenger numbers build up over the next three or four years.
To view the Bluestar 26 timetable and route map, visit: www.bluestarbus.co.uk/new-route-bluestar-26