Thu 09th May 2024
Recently Bluestar buses in Southampton which is owned by Go ahead company Go South Coast have recently been introducing a fleet of buses for it's network.
It comes after Bluestar taking over from First bus or more known as City Red back in February last year. when Bluestar took over from First they acquired some a tempory fleet of buses some its sister companies that are part of the Go South Coast family as well as the wider go ahead group these included buses from Swindon bus company in Swindon, Southern Vectis on the Isle of wight & Go North East based in Newcastle. however shortly it wouldn't take long for the first lot of complaints to pile through there were mainly about the Volvo gemines (the ex go north east buses) and the amount noise they made. however I was told by a driver that they would soon to be withdrawn in September and replaced with ADL Enviro 400 City's the same buses that are used on the Bluestar 18 route between Thornhill & Millbrook but that slighty did not happen and was instead replaced between August & September was instead replaced with Ex go ahead london Dennis Trident Optare Olympus more commonly known as DOE'S which then ment some the Volvo gemines were either sent down to morebus in Bournemouth & Poole or was sent for storage on the isle of wight whilst some stayed and was used for the Bluestar 7 route along with others routes that are based at Empress Road. But in September bus operator morebus received their first batch of brand new Enviro 400 MMC from Alexander Dennis which saw a massive brand new interior, Southern Vectis on the isle was shortly not long the next Go South Coast company to receive their batch as well with them entering service in November last year however a month before Southampton City Council pot a post out stating that Bluestar had ordered a batch of 16 Enviro 400 MMC for it's Bluestar 2 service between Southampton & Fair oak via Eastleigh and for its Bluestar 7 route between Sholing & Lordshill previews of the new fleet was shown on twitter by Bluestar managing director Andrew Wickham in march however the began to enter service in the end of April with the full fleet to be rolled out in service by June.
In may a couple of weeks into the new fleet rolling into service. Bluestar hosted a launch event at Southampton guildhall which I was able to attend
The event saw 2 of Bluestar's brand new Enviro 400 MMC fleet "1748 & 1749" the event was for members of the public to come and see the new fleet and to get up close & personal to them as well as ask management any questions in regards to the fleet or general inquires they may have there was also goodies on offer including a pen, a paper 3D bus model, water bottle & a bag. I personally quite enjoyed myself it was a great opportunity to get up close and personal to the new buses and was even lucky enough to sit in the driver seat and was able to speak to the friendly management team at Bluestar.
Pictures I was able to get of the event
Please ask permission before using
My video on the new fleet