Last updated: 30 June 2020

July’s Photo of the Month features one of the ADL Enviro400s recently transferred in from First in Manchester. Having returned from long-term lone to Rotala, with the sale of the Bolton depot, First in Hampshire & Dorset have acquired twelve of the type to upgrade the fleet at Hoeford and in Weymouth. Weymouth have received seven, which in time will be painted in Jurassic Coaster livery, with Hoeford receiving five. These five have directly replaced Volvo B7TLs, which have moved on to First South West.

With few formal school and college routes in operation due to the on-going Covid crisis, the Enviro400s have settled down on to the Solent Ranger routes. At least a couple can be found each day. This shot shows fleet no. 33734 (SN12AMX) passing along Warsash Road, in Titchfield Common, en-route for Locks Heath centre. This journey is one of three ‘shorts’ from Portsmouth Hard in the evening peak to serve the area, with two terminating in Locks Heath and the other in Park Gate (there are further shorts that terminate in Fareham). Capacity of these buses has been reduced to 20, with First only able to accept approximately 1 in 4 passengers due to social distancing.

On 29^th June, these buses became active on the ‘bus tracker’. This is an independent software that is relatively new within the last 9 months or so. Created by an independent body, https://bustimes.org/ is proving to be an essential tool in the bus spotter and photographer’s armoury. Simply click on the link and then go to map, which is located in the top right. This then gives a map covering the whole country, allowing you to spot and track down buses from the comfort of your own home. This has proven extremely useful in the current Covid epidemic in tracking down certain buses. Please note: not all buses from not all fleets are on there – for example: very little of Southampton is active. Hoeford is now 100% online, with a few buses missing from Hilsea. However, it does give a good impression of the local area and is well worth a browse.

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