Operator to axe all services

The main bus operator in Southampton has announced plans to axe all of its services in the Hampshire city.

First Southampton said it would close its bus depot in Portswood and withdraw all its City Red services from Sunday 19th February 2023.

First said its operations were ‘not sustainable’, and that the pandemic and changing travel patterns had made things worse.

Rival operator Bluestar — part of Go-Ahead’s Go South Coast division — said it intended to take over the routes.