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Bluestar has also been one of the test sites for new air filter technology which removes and captures particulates from the atmosphere.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/sep/27/uks-first-air-filtering-bus-launches-in-southampton|title = UK's first air-filtering bus launches in Southampton| website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date = 27 September 2018}}</ref> A test has been done in September 2018 for 100 days and has claimed to have cleaned 3.2 million cubic metres. It is planned that these will be fitted onto buses nationwide on Go Ahead's buses.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/global/2020/jan/24/air-filtering-bus-to-launch-across-six-regions-in-the-uk|title = Air-filtering bus to launch across six regions in the UK| website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date = 24 January 2020}}</ref> To accompany this, they have also installed solar panels onto the roof of the test bus to see if the filter can be made to run on its own power. 16 more buses have been installed with solar panels to reduce maintenance costs and fuel consumption. There are 6 buses with the air filter, including the original with the prototype air filter installed on ADL Enviro200 MMC types, wearing the Bluestar "breathe" branding.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Introducing Bluestar Breathe|url=https://www.bluestarbus.co.uk/introducing-bluestar-breathe|access-date=2020-09-30|website=www.bluestarbus.co.uk|language=en}}</ref>
Bluestar has also been one of the test sites for new air filter technology which removes and captures particulates from the atmosphere.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/sep/27/uks-first-air-filtering-bus-launches-in-southampton|title = UK's first air-filtering bus launches in Southampton| website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date = 27 September 2018}}</ref> A test has been done in September 2018 for 100 days and has claimed to have cleaned 3.2 million cubic metres. It is planned that these will be fitted onto buses nationwide on Go Ahead's buses.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/global/2020/jan/24/air-filtering-bus-to-launch-across-six-regions-in-the-uk|title = Air-filtering bus to launch across six regions in the UK| website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date = 24 January 2020}}</ref> To accompany this, they have also installed solar panels onto the roof of the test bus to see if the filter can be made to run on its own power. 16 more buses have been installed with solar panels to reduce maintenance costs and fuel consumption. There are 6 buses with the air filter, including the original with the prototype air filter installed on ADL Enviro200 MMC types, wearing the Bluestar "breathe" branding.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Introducing Bluestar Breathe|url=https://www.bluestarbus.co.uk/introducing-bluestar-breathe|access-date=2020-09-30|website=www.bluestarbus.co.uk|language=en}}</ref>


In November 2022, [[First Hampshire & Dorset]] announced the intention to withdraw their Southampton-based operations.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-11-29 |title=First Bus South to end all services in Southampton |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-63797546 |access-date=2023-02-19}}</ref> This took place on 19 February 2023 with Bluestar adding six replacement routes to its network.<ref>{{Cite web |title=End of an era: City Red to say goodbye to Southampton as Bluestar steps in |url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/23324861.city-red-bus-services-end-southampton-week/ |access-date=2023-02-19 |website=Daily Echo |language=en}}</ref> Bluestar thus gained a monopoly in Southampton, servicing the areas where the former company operated.<ref>[https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/23157228.bluestar-steps-city-red-cuts-southampton-services/?adlt=strict&toWww=1&redig=899B05DD0EF74E179C234D782710FC44 Bluestar steps in as City Red cuts Southampton services]. ''Daily Echo.'' Retrieved 12 December 2022.</ref><gallery widths="250" heights="150">
In November 2022, [[First Hampshire & Dorset]] announced the intention to withdraw their Southampton-based operations.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-11-29 |title=First Bus South to end all services in Southampton |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-63797546 |access-date=2023-02-19}}</ref> This took place on 19 February 2023 with Bluestar adding six replacement routes to its network.<ref>{{Cite web |title=End of an era: City Red to say goodbye to Southampton as Bluestar steps in |url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/23324861.city-red-bus-services-end-southampton-week/ |access-date=2023-02-19 |website=Daily Echo |language=en}}</ref> Bluestar thus gained a monopoly in Southampton, servicing the areas where the former company operated.<ref>[https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/23157228.bluestar-steps-city-red-cuts-southampton-services/?adlt=strict&toWww=1&redig=899B05DD0EF74E179C234D782710FC44 Bluestar steps in as City Red cuts Southampton services]. ''Daily Echo.'' Retrieved 12 December 2022.</ref>

Bluestar obtained buses to their fleet, being 11 Wright Eclipse Geminis, 1 Optare Versas and 3 Scania N230UB Omnicities. <gallery widths="250" heights="150">
File:Solent Blue Line 554.JPG|Solent Blue Line branded [[Wright Cadet]] bodied [[VDL SB120]] in May 2008
File:Solent Blue Line 554.JPG|Solent Blue Line branded [[Wright Cadet]] bodied [[VDL SB120]] in May 2008
File:Solent Blue 706 - Flickr - megabus13601.jpg|[[Leyland Olympian]] in revised Solent Blue Line livery in January 2007
File:Solent Blue 706 - Flickr - megabus13601.jpg|[[Leyland Olympian]] in revised Solent Blue Line livery in January 2007

Revision as of 21:24, 12 December 2023

Bluestar
Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC in Winchester in December 2017
ParentGo South Coast
(part of the Go-Ahead Group)
Founded1987; 37 years ago (1987)
HeadquartersSouthampton Depot
LocaleSouthern Hampshire
Service areaHampshire
Service typeBus service
Routes72[1]
DepotsSouthampton, Eastleigh, Totton, Lymington
Fleet171
OperatorGo South Coast
Websitewww.bluestarbus.co.uk Edit this at Wikidata

Solent Blue Line Limited,[2] primarily trading under the name Bluestar, is a bus operator providing services in Southampton and surrounding areas of Hampshire. It is a subsidiary of the Go South Coast sector of the Go-Ahead Group.

History

Past Logos
Solent Blue Line logo used between 1987 and 2003
Solent Blue Line logo used between 2003 and 2008
Preserved Solent Blue Line branded Bristol VR

Solent Blue Line was formed by Southern Vectis in May 1987 to compete with Southampton Citybus on some of its major routes with some Bristol VRTs.[3]

In October 1987 Solent Blue Line purchased the Hants & Sussex[4] business from Basil Williams and the Eastleigh and Southampton routes which had previously been part of Hants & Dorset, from Stagecoach in Hampshire. This expanded the fleet from 16 to 115 buses. New buses began to be purchased with Leyland Olympians for the Southampton to Winchester service and minibuses for the Eastleigh to Winchester service. Some services were operated under franchise by Brijan Tours and Marchwood Motorways.[5]

From here the network expanded until in 2003 the network underwent a change, involving a new name and the launch of the Bluestar brand soon after, as a name for their premier services[6] with Bluestar services one and two launching in 2004,[7] the three and four service launching a year later[8] and the Waterside services eight and nine having fully launched by 2006.[9]

In July 2005 Solent Blue Line was included in the sale of Southern Vectis to the Go-Ahead Group[10][11] and subsequently the head office functions of the company were consolidated with those of the other Go South Coast companies, Southern Vectis and Wilts & Dorset, in Poole. In October 2006, Solent Blue Line purchased Marchwood Motorways[12][13][14][15]

After the withdrawal of the Red Rocket brand on 25 February 2008, most of the company's services began to run under the Bluestar brand. The fleet has recently undergone several updates, including the introduction of a smartcard system called the key,[16] the introduction of free Wi-Fi internet to all buses,[17][18] and USB charging points.[17] In June 2017, all Bluestar and Unilink buses accept contactless payment, as part of a £1.6m investment from Hampshire County Council.[19][20]

Bluestar has also been one of the test sites for new air filter technology which removes and captures particulates from the atmosphere.[21] A test has been done in September 2018 for 100 days and has claimed to have cleaned 3.2 million cubic metres. It is planned that these will be fitted onto buses nationwide on Go Ahead's buses.[22] To accompany this, they have also installed solar panels onto the roof of the test bus to see if the filter can be made to run on its own power. 16 more buses have been installed with solar panels to reduce maintenance costs and fuel consumption. There are 6 buses with the air filter, including the original with the prototype air filter installed on ADL Enviro200 MMC types, wearing the Bluestar "breathe" branding.[23]

In November 2022, First Hampshire & Dorset announced the intention to withdraw their Southampton-based operations.[24] This took place on 19 February 2023 with Bluestar adding six replacement routes to its network.[25] Bluestar thus gained a monopoly in Southampton, servicing the areas where the former company operated.[26]

Bluestar obtained buses to their fleet, being 11 Wright Eclipse Geminis, 1 Optare Versas and 3 Scania N230UB Omnicities.

Services

The company itself holds the original name of Solent Blue Line, however none of the buses it operates currently use this branding, the last few buses using this branding was incorporated into the Bluestar network in 2008.[27] As a result, a number of sub brands are used for the company's bus services.

Bluestar

Mercedes-Benz Citaro and East Lancs Lolyne in Bluestar Livery in August 2010.

The Bluestar service was originally launched in 2004 running the main routes with destinations outside of Southampton. However, since 2008 the service has become the main brand for the company with the vast majority of the bus routes running under it. Most of these services terminate in or pass through Southampton City Centre, with the exception of school/college contract services which may start in the suburbs of the city or may not reach the city limits, and a few services such as service 5 (Boyatt Wood to Romsey via Eastleigh) thus not going near the city centre.[28]

QuayConnect

QuayConnect bus approaching Southampton Central Station in November 2018

The QuayConnect shuttle service runs a service around the city of Southampton, stopping at Southampton Central railway station, Westquay Shopping Centre and Town Quay, for the Hythe Ferry and the Red Funnel ferries to the Isle of Wight.[29] The service was started as City-Link, under the previous operator, Enterprise, but the operation was taken over by Bluestar on 28 September 2008. The first two buses used on the service were Dennis Darts inherited from Enterprise, and were repainted in a new two-tone blue livery with the interiors re branded. In May 2016 the service was re-branded as QuayConnect with a new red and white livery featuring the newest Red Jet which came into service for Red Funnel shortly after. Originally the service was free to use for all passengers, but a change in May 2014 saw fares introduced for all except Red Funnel ticket holders. The frequency of the service was also cut down to every 30 minutes, but with a duplicate bus running on some morning services and a 15-minute frequency between 4-7pm, or when local events take place in Southampton or the Isle of Wight, such as Cowes Week or Bestival.[30] The service was upgraded with an Alexander Dennis Enviro400 City in November 2018.[31]

Main article: Unilink

The Unilink service is run under contract by Bluestar, on behalf of the University of Southampton.[32] The contract was extended for a further ten years in December 2017 and the company ordered 32 new buses for the Unilink fleet.[33]

New Forest Tour

Main article: New Forest Tour

The New Forest Tour is a circular open-top bus service running around the New Forest, between Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst, Lymington, Beaulieu and Exbury.[34][35]

It commenced in 2004, using distinctively branded yellow and orange Bristol VRs (in the same livery as the old Southern Vectis open-top services). The service was reversed in 2005, to run in the opposite direction. For the 2006 season, two low-floor East Lancs Myllennium bodied Volvo B7TLs from Wilts & Dorset were used, retaining the Wilts & Dorset livery but with "New Forest Tour" vinyls added. In 2007 the buses passed to Solent Blue Line and were repainted in a new green and orange livery, with ponies on the side. Again, this is similar to the Southern Vectis livery which that company uses on their open-top buses.

Former Services

Nightstar

The Nightstar services used to run on Friday and Saturday nights and were aimed at people who had a night out in Southampton. The service commenced alongside the new bluestar services and ran from 00:45 until 03:45.[36] All services began at Leisure World, Southampton and made their way past other large clubs before completing its route. These routes generally followed those of their daytime number counterparts with additional stops to take into account destinations served by other routes. In February 2014, all but the Unilink U1N ceased to run due to council funding cuts.[37]

Baby Bluestar

Optare Solo in Baby Bluestar livery in May 2008

Between 2008 and 2010, Bluestar used Baby Bluestar branding for their local services. There have been twelve Baby Bluestar services, of which the H1, H2, T3 and T4 all still run, albeit under the Bluestar name. Five of the other services have since been dropped and reverted to the normal Bluestar services.[citation needed]

Red Rocket

Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart in Red Rocket colours with a subsequently added Baby Bluestar logo in August 2008

Red Rocket was launched on 3 September 2006 as a high frequency network centred on Eastleigh, extending to Winchester in the north and Hamble-le-Rice in the south. There were originally eight Red Rocket routes, lettered to avoid confusion with the Bluestar and Solent Blue Line service in operation at the time. Red Rocket services were either withdrawn or re-branded to Baby Bluestar on 24 February 2008, to enable Solent Blue Line to trade under the Bluestar name.[38][39]

Solent Shuttle

East Lancs E Type bodied Volvo Olympian in Solent Shuttle livery in November 2008

The Solent Shuttle was an express bus link that ran between Portsmouth and Southampton. The service itself was established in 1976 as a joint venture between Hants & Dorset and Southdown Motor Services, between passing on to other operators including Southampton City Bus, First Hampshire & Dorset and Tellings-Golden Miller; First branded the services as the 727 and the 747 while Tellings-Golden Miller branded it the Solent Clipper, under the service names the X27 and the X47.

Solent Blue Line took over the service, but ran into difficulties following the cessation of funding from Portsmouth and Southampton City Councils. The service was due to close on 2 June 2007, but by popular demand and with the support of pensioners associations in both cities, the service continued on a two-hourly basis.[40] However, the service ceased two years later on 21 February 2009.

Do the Docks

ECW bodied Bristol VRT in 'Do the Docks' livery in June 2007

The 'Do the Docks' tour was an open-top bus tour of Southampton docks, using open-top buses from the New Forest Tour and a debranded Wilts & Dorset Leyland Olympian. The service changed on 29 July 2007 as a result of low passenger numbers following poor weather during the 2007 summer season, with the service losing its "turn up and hop on" format and becoming a chartered service.[41] The route saw a brief reprieve in April 2008, when the service ran for two days on 26 and 27 of that month, as part of the Caribbean festival in Southampton. As Solent Blue Line no longer had the open-top buses for the routes, a hired Southern Vectis open-top bus was used.[42]

Competition against Black Velvet

See also: Velvet (bus company)
Northern Counties Palatine bodied Volvo Olympian in Beep! Bus livery in September 2008

Competition between Black Velvet and Bluestar began when the latter commenced its Beep! Bus service between Eastleigh, Boyatt Wood, Velmore and Southampton on 8 October 2008 which operated in direct competition with the rival Black Velvet B service operating on the same route and timetabled three minutes behind those of the Beep bus.[43]

The service was initially registered as a Wilts & Dorset route to begin on 15 September 2008 with VOSA, but this was later cancelled and replaced with an identical Bluestar registration.[44] The service began a full week before its registration date to match the start date of Black Velvet's service, but was unable to take fares and so operated as a free service until their start date a week later. Normal fares were slightly lower than Black Velvet's on some journeys but local journeys were more expensive.[43]

Black Velvet's former managing director Phil Stockley claimed that Bluestar was being aggressive and attempted to "squeeze them out" with its new Beep buses.[45] Bluestar operations director Andrew Wickham said that the decision was "a business decision pure and simple", adding that they "are not scared of competition" but Velvet were "deliberately creaming off" some of their passengers.[45]

The rival Black Velvet service ended on 10 January 2009 because of low passenger numbers.[46] However Black Velvet's managing director said that he would instead target Bluestar's more profitable services with them introducing the route 500, which would run off a similar direction to its former route B, though it would serve Chestnut Avenue before heading to Southampton; as well as the Fair Oak flyer to run between Eastleigh and Fair Oak.[47] Bluestar then announced their intention to withdraw Beep! Bus from 22 February 2009, citing similar reasons to Black Velvet.[48]

Black Velvet then undercut Bluestar in its bid for two college services between Eastleigh, Hiltingbury and Chandler's Ford and was awarded the contract on 19 February 2009. Bluestar operations director in response, said they would not be responding to it, claiming there was not enough passengers for one bus service let alone two.[49]

In May 2009, the MP for Eastleigh Chris Huhne accused Bluestar's behaviour of being appalling and called for new laws to allow the local authorities to regulate bus companies.[50] Later in July 2009, he asked for an investigation into allegations of anti-competitive behaviour of Bluestar against Velvet's over their implementation and subsequent removal of extra services, which operated between Eastleigh and Fair Oak, to rival Velvet's service, the Fair Oak Flyer.[51] The latter service which commenced earlier in 2009 ran 55 trips per day. However, Black Velvet claimed the service became unviable when Bluestar increased the frequency on its competing route and later cancelled its service on 23 May 2009.[50]

The competition warring between Bluestar and Black Velvet later came to an end in March 2010 when Bluestar announced frequency cuts to its route 3 between Hedge End and Botley and made a deal with the latter to run a service to fill in the axed time slot with both of them accepting each other's tickets on the same route corridor. Eastleigh Borough council was working with both companies to negotiate this deal.[52]

Incidents

  • In March 2007 whilst being used as a rail-replacement bus a double-decker member of the Red Rocket fleet drove under a low bridge at Barnham causing the top to be ripped off, in addition to minor damage to the bridge.[53] It is now with Southern Vectis as an open-topper. A similar incident occurred at Romsey in May 2015, when a double-decker bus had its roof removed after colliding with a railway bridge[54]
  • On 22 March 2011, a car drove into the front right of a Bluestar bus on route 2 between Southampton and Fair Oak, resulting in a single fatality of the car driver, and injuries to the car passenger, the bus driver was treated for shock. Only one passenger of the 10 on board the bus were treated for minor injuries.[55][56]
  • At around 16:30 on 7 February 2012, a Marchwood Motorways Mercedes-Benz Citaro caught fire on Calmore Roundabout, Totton. The bus was being driven Not In Service by a mechanic at the time - there were no injuries but the bus was destroyed.[57] A similar incident occurred on 9 October 2020 at around 17:30 with an East Lancs Omnidekka bodied Scania N94UD on the M27, heading towards Fareham. The smoke from the fire could be seen from as far as the Isle of Wight.[58][59]
  • On 3 April 2012, two buses on service 18 collided at the junction of Little Lances Hill and Peartree Avenue in Bitterne. The leading bus had to brake sharply to avoid another vehicle and the second bus ran into the back of it. Three passengers were slightly injured.[60]

See also

References

  1. ^ "bustimes.org".
  2. ^ "SOLENT BLUE LINE LIMITED". Companies House. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  3. ^ Bruce, Geoff (1990). Bus Handbook 8: South West England. Harrow Weald: Capital Transport. pp. 60–3. ISBN 1-85414-125-2.
  4. ^ Companies House extract company no 3203900 Hants & Sussex Omnibus Limited
  5. ^ "Solent Blue Line History". 1999. Archived from the original on 18 January 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  6. ^ "What is Bluestar?". Bluestar. 2006. Archived from the original on 24 June 2006. Retrieved 25 September 2012. (Please Note: due to archiving problems, the text is white and therefore not visible without highlighting the text)
  7. ^ "Solent Blue Line Network Map". Solent Blue Line. 2004. Archived from the original on 10 April 2001. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  8. ^ "Solent Blue Line Network Map". Solent Blue Line. 2005. Archived from the original on 10 April 2001. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  9. ^ "Bluestar network map". Solent Blue Line / Bluestar. 2006. Archived from the original on 17 June 2006. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  10. ^ Recommended Cash for Southern Vectis plc Archived 15 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Go-Ahead Group 11 July 2005
  11. ^ "Deregulation". Meeting needs in a competitive sector - A Go-Ahead case study. Times 100 Business Case Studies. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  12. ^ Companies House extract company no 2201331 Marchwood Motorways (Services) Limited
  13. ^ Companies House extract company no 1622531 Marchwood Motorways (Southampton) Limited
  14. ^ Acquisition of Marchwood Buses Archived 15 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Go-Ahead Group 24 March 2006
  15. ^ "Go-Ahead purchases Marchwood Motorways". Bus and Coach News. Plum Publishing. 26 October 2006. Archived from the original on 6 November 2007. Retrieved 15 April 2009.
  16. ^ "The Key". Bluestar. Archived from the original on 2 October 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  17. ^ a b "our bluestar". Bluestar. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  18. ^ "£7.4m scheme to fit free Wi-Fi on buses in Hampshire". Southern Daily Echo. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  19. ^ "we're now accepting contactless payments!". Bluestar. 22 June 2017. Archived from the original on 7 August 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  20. ^ "All aboard for the latest technology on Hampshire's buses". Hantsweb. Hampshire County Council. 7 February 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  21. ^ "UK's first air-filtering bus launches in Southampton". TheGuardian.com. 27 September 2018.
  22. ^ "Air-filtering bus to launch across six regions in the UK". TheGuardian.com. 24 January 2020.
  23. ^ "Introducing Bluestar Breathe". www.bluestarbus.co.uk. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  24. ^ "First Bus South to end all services in Southampton". BBC News. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  25. ^ "End of an era: City Red to say goodbye to Southampton as Bluestar steps in". Daily Echo. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  26. ^ Bluestar steps in as City Red cuts Southampton services. Daily Echo. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  27. ^ "bluestar | website update". 25 February 2008. Archived from the original on 25 February 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  28. ^ "Timetables & Maps - Bluestar". www.bluestarbus.co.uk. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  29. ^ "Citylink". Bluestar. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  30. ^ "Citylink changes 12th May". Archived from the original on 28 May 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  31. ^ Island Echo (2 November 2018). "New double decker bus to operate QuayConnect service in Southampton". Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  32. ^ "about us". unilink. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  33. ^ "BlueStar Bus | Welcome..." www.bluestarbus.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  34. ^ "The New Forest - "The New Forest Tour 2008 - Open Top Bus"". www.thenewforest.co.uk. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
  35. ^ "New Forest Tour - "The route"". www.thenewforesttour.info. Archived from the original on 10 March 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
  36. ^ "Clubbers' bus run proving so popular". Daily Echo. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  37. ^ "Night bus services set to finish". Daily Echo. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  38. ^ "Latest News". Solent Blue Line. Archived from the original on 25 February 2008. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  39. ^ "Service Changes this February 2008". Solent Blue Line. Archived from the original on 9 February 2008. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  40. ^ "Solent Shuttle saved". Solent Blue Line. 2 July 2007. Archived from the original on 26 August 2007. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  41. ^ Docks Tour - Service changes Archived 20 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  42. ^ "Do the Docks tour". Bluestar. Archived from the original on 21 April 2008. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  43. ^ a b "Bus wars hot up as operators vie for custom on city route". Southern Daily Echo. 28 September 2008. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  44. ^ "Omnibuses2.0 - "Market Forces or Market Farces?"". www.omnibuses.blogspot.com. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
  45. ^ a b "Bus wars". Daily Echo. 20 September 2008. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  46. ^ "Black Velvet Travel - "January 2009 service changes"" (PDF). www.velvetbus.info. Retrieved 25 November 2008.[dead link‍]
  47. ^ "Southampton bus wars II ...the revenge". Daily Echo. 1 January 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  48. ^ "Feuding bus firms both cancel route". Daily Echo. 10 January 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  49. ^ "Bus wars hot up in Hampshire". Daily Echo. 19 February 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  50. ^ a b "Change laws over bus wars, says MP". Daily Echo. 19 May 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  51. ^ Adams, Melanie (8 July 2009). "Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne demands investigation into Bluestar". Daily Echo. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  52. ^ "Bus wars are over". Daily Echo. 1 March 2010. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  53. ^ "The Argus - "Bus Roof Ripped Off in Crash "". www.theargus.co.uk. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
  54. ^ Ford, Emily (28 May 2015). "Roof ripped off bus as it crashes into bridge in Romsey". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  55. ^ Russell, Tara (21 March 2011). "Car driver killed in traffic accident involving bus on Lodge Road in Southampton". Daily Echo. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  56. ^ "Man killed in Southampton bus crash named". BBC News. 22 March 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  57. ^ "Driver flees as bus bursts into fireball". Daily Echo. 8 February 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  58. ^ "Double-decker bus bursts into flames on M27". Daily Echo. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  59. ^ "@dailyecho Could see the Smoke from across the Solent in #Cowes Isle of Wight". Twitter. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  60. ^ "Buses crash in Bitterne". Daily Echo. 3 April 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
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