Better Bus Services for Portsmouth
It’s one week since Stagecoach introduced two improved services, in partnership with your Lib Dem-led council to improve the reliability of our local bus network, increase off-peak services, and make it easier for you to get to Queen Alexandra Hospital. On Sunday 6 April Stagecoach introduced a new number 19 service from the City Centre to Anchorage Park via Burfield Road and Ocean Retail Park, along with a more frequent and extended number 18 service running ever 20 minutes now running all the way to Clarence Pier - making trips to the seafront and connections to the Isle of Wight so much easier.
Those are just two of the changes that have been possible because of the strong working relationship between your Lib Dem council and our local bus companies. This partnership has allowed us to unlock funding from the city’s Bus Service Improvement Plan to make services work better for you, including an expanded timetable for the number 20 service connecting the city and Leigh Park which will now run more frequently, later into the evening, and on Sundays for the first time.
These improvements are part of the public transport revolution we promised two years ago. We’re dedicated to building a city that works for everyone which includes a stronger public transport network, an environmentally responsible approach to developing our city, and an increase in opportunities to engage with sport and leisure - including the Great Britain Sail Grand Prix which Portsmouth is hosting in July, and which will be brilliantly served by the new extended number 18 route.
Cllr Peter Candlish, Cabinet Member for Transport
Despite Labour’s bus tax increasing fares from £2 to £3, Portsmouth is continuing to lead in using public transport with over 12 million bus journeys in our city last year.
Everyone benefits from a stronger bus network: bus riders get where they want to go faster and simpler, car drivers face less congestion and less competition for parking spaces, and pedestrians and cyclists get cleaner air to breath (especially as we continue to adopt electric busses).
Cllr Peter Candlish and the Portsmouth Lib Dem team are passionate about our city and proud to work for it every day - let’s keep Portsmouth moving forward.