‘Scene’ in Southsea and Portsmouth 1

 

A recent short holiday at the side of the Solent gave me an opportunity to see what transport variety was on offer.

 

Apart from the buses, there are trains, Hovercraft, The Royal Navy and Merchant shipping fleets. 

 

Something for everyone I should think.

 

Buses are provided mainly by ‘Stagecoach’ and ‘First’ but in what normally are fairly standardised fleets, I found much of interest.

 

403 DCD

 

An Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) Enviro 300.

 

Formerly GX10 KZD which is one two buses painted in a version of ‘Southdown’ livery to celebrate that companies centenary.

 

‘Southdown’ was one of the constituent companies that go to make up ‘Stagecoach South’ (SS) the operator of the vehicle.

 

The bus was operating on route 23 which links Southsea to Leigh Park via Portsmouth.

 

 

SK63 KKH

 

A Wright Streetlite Max of ‘First Hants & Dorset (FHD).

 

Painted in a dedicated livery branded as ‘The Star’ serving Southsea, Portsmouth, Cosham and Waterlooville.

 

There are 26 buses in this livery carrying additional branding on the rear panels dedicated to Royal Navy warship’s both past and present.

 

This particular bus carries information relating to HMS Severn which is a River Class offshore patrol boat which joined the fleet in 2003.

 

VDL 744

 

Formerly HW58 ASX. A Scania CN270UD OmniCity of ‘Southern Vectis’ recently converted to open top and seemingly on the wrong side of the Solent. 

 

I saw it the following day in its ‘proper’ workplace which is on the ‘Isle of Wight’ (IOW).

 

Its appearance on the mainland is explained in part by its destination display which reads ‘The Provincial Society’.

 

They had held a bus rally on the mainland on the day in question for which the bus had been brought across to attend. 

 

When I saw it, it was on its way back to the IOW.

 

HY07 FTA

 

A Volvo B7TL with Wright Gemini Eclipse of ‘FHD’ which at one time worked in ‘First’ fleet livery in Southampton.

 

Seen in the  very attractive Park & Ride livery.

 

SN14 TPZ

 

An ‘ADL’ E40D with Enviro400 bodywork o ‘FHD’ similarly employed on Park & Ride services.

 

Despite the similarity of the livery, there are subtle differences.

 

GX06 DXP

 

A Dennis Trident carrying Alexander ALX 400 bodywork working for ‘SS’.

 

W703 PHT

 

Another Dennis Trident this time with East Lancs Lolyne bodywork in ‘FHD’ service.

 

At one time it worked for ‘First Bristol’.

 

YX63 GYJ

An ADL Enviro 200 working for ‘SS’.

 

Painted in a dedicated livery as the ‘HOVERBUS’.

 

Linking the hover terminal at Clarence Pier via Southsea and Portsmouth to the ‘Hard’ bus station. 

 

Adjacent to which are the Historic Ships, the Naval Dockyard, the IOW the cross channel ferries and the shopping complex incorporating the Spinnaker tower at ‘Gunwharf Quays’.

 

If you ever get chance to go up the tower, grab it, the views are spectacular.

 

 GX58 GNF

 

An ADL Enviro 300 working for ‘SS’.

Painted in the dedicated livery for route 23 which runs from Southsea to Leigh Park.

 

GX13 AOY

 

Another  ADL Enviro 300 working for ‘SS’.

 

Again working on the 23 but this time devoid of any branding and presumably a fleet spare.