First Hampshire & Dorset

First Hampshire & Dorset Ltd.

A First Hampshire & Dorset Volvo B7TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini on Southampton route 8a.
Headquarters	Southampton
Locale	Hampshire & Dorset
Service area
Service type	Urban and interurban bus services
Destinations	various
Operator	First Group
Website	firstgroup.com

A preserved Leyland National in the livery of People's Provinical, which was one of First Hampshire & Dorset's predecessors.

First Hampshire & Dorset Dennis Dart Marshall Capital.

First Hampshire & Dorset is a subsidiary bus company within FirstGroup, which operates buses and trains throughout Great Britain.

First Hampshire & Dorset has its head office in Empress Road, Southampton and operates bus services in the Weymouth and Bridport areas in Dorset; and services in Southampton (Empress Road Depot), Portsmouth (Hilsea Depot), Fareham and Gosport (Hoeford Depot).

History

First Hampshire & Dorset was created out of various different smaller companies which were merged once First had acquired them.

FirstBus acquired bus services in Portsmouth in 1996 from Transit Holdings trading as Red Admiral & Blue Admiral, which in turn had taken over the Portsmouth CityBus operations under the title of Southdown Portsmouth.

The former Southdown operations continue to be operated by Southdown Motor Services Limited t/a Stagecoach Coastline, or Stagecoach in Portsmouth (Portsmouth area services) or Stagecoach in the South Downs (Chichester/Worthing services).

FirstBus (later renamed FirstGroup) had previously taken over the bus services in Gosport and Fareham formerly operated by People's Provincial and Hants & Dorset and amalgamated the services in the East Hampshire area as First Provincial.

Further acquisitions of the bus operations of Southampton Citybus and Southern National were made, with the company being renamed First Hampshire & Dorset in 2003.

In December 2006 the Traffic Commissioner fined First Hampshire & Dorset £35,000 for failing to run one in five buses in Portsmouth on time. The operator received an earlier formal warning over timekeeping in June 2005. The Traffic Commissioners' nationally accepted criteria for the operation of a bus journey is running more than one minute early or more than five minutes late (otherwise the journey is deemed not to have run). In its defence, First Hampshire & Dorset had submitted that Portsmouth City Council's five year plan to resurface every street to improve street lighting had severely affected the operator's ability to maintain services, something rejected by the Traffic Commissioner. First Hampshire & Dorset now publishes reliability and punctuality data on its website.

Southampton services

First Group purchased Southampton Citybus in 1997 and after a brief period of using the Citybus name the operation was renamed First Southampton. In 1999 First Southampton was merged with First Provincial to form First Hampshire. This later became First Hampshire & Dorset. The company is facing growing competition in Southampton from Go-Ahead owned Bluestar.

Routes

No.	Route	Other Notes
1	Southampton City Centre - Woolston - Weston Estate Via Swift Rd
1A	Southampton City Centre - Woolston - Weston Estate Via Redrow Estate
3	Southampton City Centre - Royal South Hampshire Hospital – Portswood - Townhill Park	"Overground" Orange Line.
4	Southampton City Centre - Hill Lane - Aldermoor - Southampton General Hospital - Shirley - Millbrook - Totton
5	Lordshill – General Hospital - Southampton City Centre	"Overground" Turquoise Line.
7	Southampton City Centre - Portswood - Bassett Green	"Overground" Mauve Line.
8	City Centre - Lordshill via Central Station - Shirley - Coxford	"Overground" Light Brown line.
8A	Hedge End - West End - Woolston - City Centre - via Chartwell Green - Bitterne -Peartree Avenue	"Overground" Light Brown line.
9/9A/9B	Southampton City Centre – Northam - Bitterne – Harefield - Thornhill - Hightown	"Overground" Pink Line. 9A is Off-Peak Service; 9B operates in the evenings
10	Lordshill – Aldermoor Road – General Hospital – Central Station – Southampton City Centre – Woolston – Kathleen Road - Thornhill	"Overground" Red Line.
10A	Lordshill – Lordshill Way – General Hospital – Central Station – Woolston – North East Road - Thornhill	"Overground" Red Line.
11A/C	Southampton City Centre - Northam - Bitterne - Butts Road - Sholing - Southampton City (Circular)
12A/C	Southampton City Centre - Northam - Bitterne - Botley Road - Sholing - Southampton City (Circular)
16	Southampton City Centre – Woolston - Netley – Hamble	"Southampton - Hamble Connection".
16X	Hamble - Netley - Woolston - Southampton City Centre - St Annes School - St Georges School	Schooldays Only
17	Lordshill – Millbrook – Shirley – Southampton City Centre	"Overground" Green Line.
17A	Lordshill – Aldermoor – General Hospital – Millbrook - Shirley – Southampton City Centre	"Overground" Green Line.
21	RSH Hospital – Southampton City Centre – General Hospital – Lordshill
21A	RSH Hospital – Southampton City Centre – General Hospital – Lordshill - Nursling
56	Windhover - Lowford - Botley - Bishopstoke - Eastleigh	Thursdays only, run under contract to Eastleigh Borough Council (Operated from Hoeford Depot)
72	Gosport - Lee-on-the-Solent - Stubbington - Titchfield - Warsash - Woolston - Southampton	Operated from Hoeford Depot
78C	Fareham - Titchfield - Locks Heath - Warsash - Sarisbury Green - Bitterne - St Annes School - Southampton	Schooldays only (Operated from Hoeford Depot)
80	Fareham - Titchfield - Locks Heath - Sarisbury Green - Woolston - Southampton	Operated from Hoeford Depot
154	Springhill School - Southampton Centre Centre - Thornhill	School Service.
158	Springhill School - Portswood - Swaythling - Bassett Green - Glen Eyre	School Service.
605	St Annes School - Southampton City Centre	School Service - PM only
607	St Georges School - Southampton General Hospital - Lords Hill	School Service - PM only
616	Hamble School - Netley - Sholing Girls School	School Service - PM only
A	Hedge End - Moorgreen Hospital - Mansbridge - Parkway Station - Eastleigh	Evenings only
B1	Bitterne - Middle Road - Kathleen Road - Bursledon Road	Bitterne Shoppa Hoppa.
B2	Bitterne - Witts Hill - Midanbury	Bitterne Shoppa Hoppa.
B3	Bitterne - Bursledon Road - Thornhill - Harefield	Bitterne Shoppa Hoppa.

Portsmouth & Waterlooville bus services

No.	Route	Other Notes
1	Paulsgrove (Deerhurst Crescent) - Cosham - North End - Portsmouth City Centre - Palmerston Road - Southsea (South Parade Pier)	"Overground" Red Line. Continues as 1C to Paulsgrove.
1A	Fareham (Bus Station) - Portchester - Paulsgrove (Deerhurst Crescent) - Cosham - North End - Portsmouth City Centre - Palmerston Road - Southsea (South Parade Pier)	"Overground" Red Line. Continues as 1C to Paulsgrove.
1C	Portsmouth City Centre - Palmerston Road - Southsea (South Parade Pier) - Eastney - Milton - Copnor - Cosham - QA Hospital - Paulsgrove (Deerhurst Crescent).	"Overground" Red Line. Originates as 1/1A from Paulsgrove or Fareham respectivley.
3	Paulsgrove (Portsdown Inn) - Queen Alexandra Hospital - Cosham - North End - Fratton - Palmerston Road - Southsea (South Parade Pier)
5	Fareham (Bus Station) - Portchester - Paulsgrove - Cosham - Stamshaw - Portsmouth City Centre - Gunwharf Quays- Clarence Pier - Palmerston Road	Evening and Sunday service 5A contiunues to Southsea (South Parade Pier) instead of Palmerston Road.
6	Tipner - North End - Copnor - Milton - Eastney - Southsea (South Parade Pier) - Palmerston Road - Old Portsmouth - Gunwharf Quays	"Overground" Blue Line.
6A	Hilsea - North End - Copnor - Milton - Eastney - Southsea (South Parade Pier) - Palmerston Road - Old Portsmouth - Gunwharf Quays	"Overground" Blue Line.
8	Paulsgrove - QA Hospital - Cosham - Highbury
9	Highbury - Lower Wymering - Cosham - Paulsgrove
11A/11B	Cosham - QA Hospital - Paulsgrove - Northarbour - Port Sotent - Northarbour - Cosham [Sundays only]	Service 11 withdrawn after operation on 5 June 2010
12	Farlington - Drayton - Cosham - Northarbour - Port Solent	Extended to Port Solent replacing service 11 from 7 June 2010
13-14	Gunwharf Quays - Portsmouth City Centre - Fratton Road - Goldsmith Avenue - Milton - Furze Lane - Eastern Road - Baffins - Copnor Bridge - New Road - Lake Road - Portsmouth City Centre - Gunwharf Quays
15	Hayling Ferry - Devonshire Avenue - Fawcett Road - Elm Grove - Middle Street - Winston Churchill Avenue -> Cambridge Road -> Gunwharf Quays -> Portsmouth City Centre -> Winston Churchill Avenue -> Middle Street - Elm Grove - Fawcett Road - Devonshire Avenue - Hayling Ferry	Portsmouth end of route runs in a loop, in the direction shown.
16A	Hayling Ferry - Eastney - Southsea Sea Front - Old Portsmouth - Gunwharf Quays - Portsmouth City Centre	Sundays only
17-18	Gunwharf Quays - Portsmouth City Centre - Bradford Junction - Albert Road - Eastney - Milton - Goldsmith Avenue - Bradford Junction - Portsmouth City Centre - Gunwharf Quays	"Overground" Orange Line. Route runs in a loop, numbers indicating direction. (Route 17 anti-clockwise, route 18 clockwise)
19	Portsmouth City Centre - Old Portsmouth - Clarence Pier - Pyramids - Palmerston Road - Strand - Waverley Road - Albert Road - Winter Road - Fratton Way - St Mary's Hospital - Langstone Road - Baffins - Moneyfields - Stubbington Avenue - North End Junction
38	Fareham - Wickham - Southwick - QA Hospital - Cosham	Irregular
38A	Fareham - Wickham - Soberton Heath - Newtown - Southwick - QA Hospital - Cosham	Irregular
40	Wecock Farm - Milton Road - Waterlooville - Stakes - Crookhorn - Cosham - North End - Portsmouth City Centre - Southsea	"Overground" Green Line.
40C	South Downs College - Crookhorn - Cosham - North End - Portsmouth City Centre	School and college days service.
X40	Catherington Lane or Wecock Farm - Waterlooville - A3(M) - M275 - Portsmouth City Centre or Southsea	Limited Stop operating in the morning and inwards only.
41	Clanfield (Drift Road Shops) - Horndean - Cowplain - Waterlooville - Purbrook - Widley - Cosham - North End - Portsmouth City Centre - Gunwharf Quays	"'Zip' branded service, in conjunction with Hampshire County and Portsmouth City Council. Peak hour journeys extended to serve Clanfield (Rising Sun).
X41	Clanfield (Rising Sun) - Horndean - Cowplain - A3(M) - M275 - Portsmouth	Limited Stop service, Monday to Friday peak service.
X42	Gunwharf Quays - Portsmouth City Centre - M275 - Q.A. Hospital - Widley - Purbrook - Waterlooville - Crookhorn - South Downs College	Does not serve Crookhorn or South Downs College during the Morning Peak (including Saturday) from 7th June 2010. Saturday service withdrawn from 23rd January 2011.
X43	Clanfield - Horndean - Waterlooville - Widley - QA Hospital - M275 - City centre - Gunwharf Quays
43	Portsdown - Cosham - North End - Fratton - Southsea	Works service
45	Hambledon - Denmead - Waterlooville - Stakes - Cosham - Stakes - Cosham - Stamshaw - Portsmouth City Centre - Portsmouth Civic Offices
45A	Denmead Green - Waterlooville - Stakes - Cosham - Stakes - Cosham - Stamshaw - Portsmouth City Centre - Portsmouth Civic Offices
52	Fareham - Portchester - Cosham - South Downs College	Schooldays only
57	Warsash - Locks Heath - Titchfield - Fareham - Linden Lea - Portchester - Port Solent - Cosham - North End - Portsmouth City Centre	Service revised from 23rd January 2011.
X57	Warsash - Locks Heath - Titchfield - Fareham - Portchester - Port Solent - M275 - Portsmouth City Centre	Peak hours only
63	Fareham - North Portchester - Paulsgrove - QA Hospital - Cosham - Drayton - Farlington - Leigh Park - Havant	Service reduced to 2 hourly from 23rd January 2011.
138	Fareham - Wickham - Southwick - Denmead - Waterlooville	Irregular
139	Fareham - Wickham - Soberton Heath - Newtown - Southwick - Denmead - Waterlooville	One PM journey
145	Emsworth - Havant - Bedhampton - Crookhorn - Waterlooville - Denmead	Schooldays only
625	Highbury - Cosham - Springfield School	Schooldays only
640	Clanfield - Horndean - Cowplain - Oaklands School - South Downs College	Schooldays only
641	Warblington - Leigh Park - Oaklands School	Schooldays only
649/650	King Richard School - Paulsgrove - Cosham	Schooldays PM only
651/652	Wallington - Old Turnpike - Highlands - Fareham - Portchester - Cosham - Widley - Oaklands School	Schooldays only

Fareham and Gosport bus services

No.	Route	Other Notes
1A	Fareham (Bus Station) - Portchester - Paulsgrove - Cosham - North End - Portsmouth City Centre - Palmerston Road - Southsea (South Parade Pier)	"Overground" Red Line. Continues as 1C to Paulsgrove.
5	Fareham (Bus Station) - Portchester - Paulsgrove - Cosham - Stamshaw - Portsmouth City Centre - Gunwharf Quays- Clarence Pier - Palmerston Road	Evening and Sunday service 5A continues to Southsea (South Parade Pier) instead of Palmerston Road.
26	Fareham - Highlands - Segensworth - Park Gate - Botley - Hedge End - Netley - Hamble
28	Fareham - Highlands - Segensworth - Whiteley - Locks Heath - Winnards Park - Fareham Community Hospital
29/30	Gosport - Alverstoke - Gosport	Circular service, numbers indicate direction of travel.
31	Fareham - Redlands Lane - Fareham College
33	Fareham - Asda - Stubbington - Hill Head - Stubbington - Asda - Fareham	Circular service.
34	Fareham - Rowan Way - Stubbington - Lee-on-the-Solent - Cherque Farm - Gosport
34A	Gosport - Lee-on-the-Solent - Stubbington	Single AM journey
35	Fareham - Rowan Way - Stubbington - Hill Head - Stubbington - Rowan Way - Fareham
35A	Fareham - Asda - Stubbington - Hill Head - Stubbington - Rowan Way - Fareham	Mon-Fri AM only
36	Fareham - Asda - Peel Common - Cherque Farm - Lee-on-Solent
52	Fareham - Portchester - Cosham - South Downs College	Schooldays only
56	Windhover - Lowford - Botley - Bishopstoke - Eastleigh	Thursdays only, run under contract to Eastleigh Borough Council
57	Warsash - Locks Heath - Titchfield - Fareham - Linden Lea - Portchester - Port Solent - Cosham - North End - Portsmouth City Centre
57A	Warsash - Locks Heath - Fareham	Early mornings only
X57	Warsash - Locks Heath - Titchfield - Fareham - Portchester - Port Solent - M275 - Portsmouth City Centre	Peak hours only
72	Gosport - Lee-on-the-Solent - Stubbington - Titchfield - Warsash - Woolston - Southampton
78C	Fareham - Titchfield - Locks Heath - Warsash - Sarisbury Green - Bitterne - St Annes School - Southampton	Schooldays only
80	Fareham - Titchfield - Locks Heath - Sarisbury Green - Woolston - Southampton
81	Gosport - Spring Garden Lane - Criterion - Brockhurst - Hoeford - Fareham	"Gosport - Fareham Connections". Early morning journey only.
82	Gosport - War Memorial Hospital - Brockhurst - Hoeford - Fareham	"Gosport - Fareham Connections".
83	Gosport - Spring Garden Lane - Criterion - Brockhurst - Hoeford - Fareham	"Gosport - Fareham Connections".
85	Gosport - Criterion - Brockhurst - Bridgemary - Hoeford - Fareham	"Gosport - Fareham Connections".
86	Gosport - Criterion - Elson - Brockhurst - Bridgemary - Hoeford - Fareham	"Gosport - Fareham Connections".
87	Gosport - Elson - Rowner - Peel Common - Fareham
87A	Gosport - Elson - Rowner - Lee-on-the-Solent - Stubbington
88	Gosport - Stokes Bay - Rowner - Woodcot - Fareham
93/93A	Fareham - Hill Park - Highlands - Maylings Farm - Fareham	Circular service
94/94A	Fareham - Funtley - Knowle - Wickham
95/95A	Fareham - Maylings Farm - Highlands - Hill Park - Fareham	Circular service
101	ASDA - Brockhurst - Elson - ASDA	Tuesdays only
102	ASDA - Bridgemary - Elson - ASDA	Tuesdays only
103	ASDA - Gosport - Alverstoke - ASDA	Fridays only
104	ASDA - Lee-on-the-Solent - Cherque Farm - ASDA	Fridays only
610	Highlands - Maylings Farm - Old Turnpike - Cams Hill School	Schooldays only
651	Fareham - Portchester - Cosham - Widley - Oaklands School (Short Duplicate of 652)	Schooldays only
652	Wallington - Old Turnpike - Highlands - Fareham - Portchester - Cosham - Widley - Oaklands School	Schooldays only
683	Brockhurst - Elson - Cambridge Road - Bay House School	Schooldays only

Weymouth, Bridport & Dorchester bus services

First services in Dorset were formerly those of Southern National. Unlike First services in Hampshire the Weymouth and Dorchester routes have been debranded and so routes are no longer referred to by colour under an "Overground" scheme. The X53 however retains its Jurassic Coast branding on buses and stops.

Routes

No.	Route	Other Notes
1	Weymouth - Wyke Regis - Portland
2	Weymouth - Radipole - Littlemoor - Radipole - Weymouth
2A	Granby Industrial Estate - Weymouth - Chalbury Corner - Littlemoor
3	Weymouth - Hereford Road - Weymouth	Circular service. Evening 3A journey runs via Radipole Village.
4	Weymouth - Oakbury Drive - Preston Seven Acres - Weymouth
4B	Weymouth - Oakbury Drive - Preston Spice Ship - Sutton Poyntz - Weymouth
5	Weymouth - Radipole
6	Weymouth - Wyke Regis
8	Weymouth - Chickerell
9	Weymouth - Lanehouse Estate - Weymouth
10	Dorchester - Radipole - Weymouth - Wyke Regis - Portland Southwell	Wyke Regis and Portland served during peak hours only.
31	Weymouth - Littlemoor - Dorchester - Bridport - Lyme Regis - Axminster	See also service 631 below. The "Jurassic Coast Link" service, using specially liveried buses
40	Bridport - Bradpole - Beaminster
40A	Salway Ash - Bridport - Bradpole - Beaminster School	Schooldays Only
44	Bridport - Valley Road - Bothenhampton - Gundry Road - Bridport
45	Burton Bradstock - West Bay - Bridport - Court Orchard - Bridport Hospital
45A	Bridport - Colfax School	Schooldays only
47	Bridport - Beaminster - Crewkerne - Yeovil
71	Lyme Regis Town Service via the Square	Town Service.
79	Portland Royal Manor School - Portland - Victoria Square - Wyke Regis	Schooldays only
88	Preston - Littlemoor - Broadwey - Budmouth Technology College	Schooldays only
89	Upwey - - Budmouth School - All Saints School	Schooldays only
90	Overcombe Corner - Preston - Littlemoor - Broadwey - Wey Valley School	Schooldays only
91	Ferrybridge - Wyke Regis - Westham - Southill - King's Statue - Radipole - Broadwey - Wey Valley	Schooldays only
92	Preston Seven Acres - All Saints School - Budmouth School	Schooldays only
92A	Preston Seven Acres - Weymouth	Schooldays only
94	Poxwell - All Saints School	Schooldays only
94A	Poxwell - Weymouth	Schooldays only
101	Dorchester - Broadmayne - West Knighton - Crossways
108	Weymouth - Bovington Swinton Avenue - Wool	Schooldays only
210	Bridport - Walditch - Puncknowle - Shipton Gorge - Litton Cheney	Limited service.
216	Dorchester South Railway Station - Dorchester - Poundbury - Cerne Abbas - Sherborne - Yeovil	Runs Monday to Friday
253	Beaminster - Bridport - Abbotsbury - Rodden - Langton Herrin - Weymouth	Runs once a day Monday to Friday.
601	Weymouth College - Weymouth - Wyke Regis - Portland	Collegedays only
631	Bridport - Lyme Regis Woodfoffe School	Schooldays only
753	Beaminster - Bridport - Weymouth - Weymouth College	Collegedays only
X53	Exeter - Seaton - Lyme Regis - Bridport - Weymouth - Wareham - Poole	The "Jurassic Coast" service, using specially liveried buses.
X54	Exeter - Seaton - Axmouth - Colyton

Depots

• Bridport (Tannery Road)
• Fareham (Gosport Road, Hoeford)
• Portsmouth (Hilsea West, London Road, Hilsea). Due to the depot allocation size; many buses are also parked overnight in The News Centre, London Road Hilsea.
• Southampton (Empress Road). Yellow School Bus department also operates 3 of its School Buses from an outstation located in Dummer, Hampshire.
• Weymouth (Edward Street)

Fleet

First services in Southampton utilise a mix of single and double deck buses.

The backbone of the double decker fleet is a large number of Volvo Olympians with Northern Counties Palatine 1 bodywork. All of these are second hand, the double door vehicles coming from Go-Ahead's London operations and Stagecoach. The company also has sixteen Volvo B7TLs with Alexander ALX400 bodywork. Most of these carried branding for service 17/17A but this has been removed and the vehicles can be found operating across the network. In March 2007 the Portswood Depot received a small number of 07 registration Volvo B7TLs with Wright Eclipse Gemini bodywork for use on service 8/8A.

The single deck fleet is composed of Dennis Dart SLFs with Plaxton Pointer 2 and smaller MPD versions for service 16, Volvo B10BLE with Wright Renown bodywork and a number of Mercedes-Benz based minibuses.

A small number of American style yellow school buses are also allocated to Portswood Depot for use on school contracts, a pair of Leyland Olympians with East Lancs bodywork are also frequently used on school services.

First inherited a large number of Leyland Atlanteans from Southampton Citybus along with Leyland Lynxes and gas powered Dennis Darts. All of these have now been withdrawn from the Southampton fleet. An unusual vehicle acquired from Provincial was the first ACE Cougar, one of just two built, which has also been withdrawn. First introduced a number of bus types that are also no longer in service in Southampton; these include Wright Solar Fusion bendy buses introduced in 2000 but transferred to First Glasgow in 2003 after they proved unsuitable for a number of Southampton roads, former First Capital Dennis Arrows proved unpopular in Southampton and moved onto First Manchester in 2006. First had operated Optare Solos on the free City-link service between Southampton Central Station, West Quay Shopping Centre and Town Quay, these left the Southampton fleet when First lost the City-link contract to Uni-link, which subsequently lost its Uni-link bus services to Solent Blue Line in 2008.

External links

• First Group homepage
• First Dorset and Hampshire Southampton and Portsmouth services
• First Dorset and Hampshire Weymouth and Dorchester services