First Bus closed its City Reds operation in Southampton after service on Saturday 18 February, with Bluestar stepping in to provide replacement services in what the Go South Coast subsidiary has heralded as a “new era” for the city.
When in November 2022 First announced its decision to leave Southampton, it said that its business there had “not been sustainable for some time.” First added that the city’s bus market is competitive and that revenue could not sustain the number of buses operating within it.
The final City Reds buses to return to the Empress Road depot were escorted by a Leyland Titan PD2 that was new to predecessor Southampton City Transport in 1963 and which is part of the Southampton and District Transport Heritage Trust (SDTHT) collection.
SDTHT staged a running day on 18 February to mark the end of the former municipal operation, which can trace its history to 1879. It was purchased by First in 1997. The event was staged with the cooperation of First, Bluestar and Southampton City Council.
Following First Bus’s announcement of the closure of City Reds, Bluestar wasted no time in signalling its intention to pick up the slack. It has introduced six new services and recruited over 140 staff members. Speaking soon after the transition, Go South Coast Managing Director Andrew Wickham said that he is “in awe” of the team that has delivered it.
Mr Wickham adds that initial customer reaction to the expanded Bluestar operation has been good. The operator staged a launch of the new routes on 21 February, with guests including Southampton City Council leader Cllr Satvir Kaur and The Right Worshipful Lord Mayor of Southampton, Cllr Jacqui Rayment.
Bluestar adds that bus users in one part of Southampton – members of the Harefield Bus Campaign – threw a party in celebration of the change of operator, adding that they also decorated bus stops in the area.
General Manager Richard Tyldesley says that the business “will continue to consult with people across the city to ensure that they can enjoy comprehensive and improved services across Southampton over the coming months and years.”
Bluestar has drafted in buses from elsewhere within both Go South Coast and the wider Go-Ahead Group to deliver the expanded services. Soon after closure of City Reds was announced, First confirmed that the vehicles used there would move to other operating companies. The first of those have already entered service elsewhere.
