Thanks to quick actions of Portsmouth City Council, bus routes 13, 14, 18 and 22 will be saved following the commercial decision by First Solent to stop these services.
Portsmouth City Council has invested funds to ensure that these key bus routes continue to be run by First Solent after the 2 April. In addition, the number 18 bus service will be enhanced running every 30 minutes. These bus routes provide key links and access to services including service 18 taking people from Paulsgrove through Cosham to Southsea shops.
Cllr Lynne Stagg, Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transportation, said:
“I am delighted that these much-needed services have been secured for the people of Portsmouth. My hope is that the council’s commitment to improving bus services, and investing in routes like the 18, will in turn improve the number of people using them. Here in Portsmouth bus passenger numbers are still below the levels seen before the Covid-19 pandemic. This makes it very difficult to deliver viable services. There has never been a better time to try out the bus, especially now as many single fares are capped at £2.”
Find out more about public transport in Portsmouth at travel.portsmouth.gov.uk/public-transport/.