Uni-link

Uni-link is the brand for bus services run under contract for the University of Southampton in Southampton, Hampshire, England, by existing bus companies. Created in 1998, Uni-link services are primarily for use by students at the university, although anyone is able to use them.

History
The idea first started in 1996, when a shuttle service was started by the university, which ran between the main campus at Highfield and the new at the time Oceanography Centre in Southampton Docks. This was available only to university students.

In 1998, the university wished to expand the service, so made a contract with local bus operator First Hampshire & Dorset to provide the services, using the "Uni-link" branding. After some bad experiences, a move was taken to improve the image of the services.

Minerva Accord
In 2001, the university set up its own company called to run the routes, in association with Minerva Accord, still using the "Uni-link" name. The chosen name provided continuity with the branding of the former university bus routes.

The services began with nine Caetano Nimbus-bodied Dennis Dart SLF buses in a new Uni-link livery, with five routes numbered U1, U2, U3, U4, U5. These route have since varied.

Route U1 has always been the most heavily used, and because of this Uni-link received a government grant in 2004 which was used to purchase four new Scania OmniDekka double-decker buses and improve the route. A further OmniDekka was purchased in 2005, and Uni-link also leased two Alexander Dennis Enviro300s while planning the introduction of a Scania OmniCity (which has entered service).

In September 2005, the uni-link operator Minerva Accord was awarded a five-year contract to run the free City-link shuttle service from Southampton Central railway station to Town Quay, to connect with Red Funnel ferries. With the award of this contract, the company nearly doubled its passenger use, the city-link having one million passengers per annum. To meet the anticipated demand, the company bought two Myllennium-bodied Dennis Dart SLF buses in January 2006. Before these arrived, the line used two Caetano Nimbus-bodied Dennis Dart SLF buses - one of its own and one leased.

April 2007 brought a new MCV Evolution into the fleet. In June of that year, Uni-link trialled an articulated Scania OmniCity on route U1. This was blinded as not operating via the Central Station (due to the restricted turning space there), however there were reports of drivers going there and successfully turning while in service.

Since July 2007, Wi-Fi was tested on one of the OmniDekka (fleet no. 35) buses on the U1 route. It was intended that if the trial went well, wi-fi would be added to the rest of the U1 buses. Between the start of October 2007 and January 2008, there were over 200 different sessions on the single vehicle. The Wi-Fi equipment on the bus is supplied by Moovera Networks.

Fleet
Whilst Minvera Accord was running the service, the fleet contained the following. When the services was started, a number of different buses were leased.
 * 9 Caetano Nimbus-bodied Dennis Dart SLF, numbered 10 &mdash; 18
 * 1 MCV Evolution, numbered 19
 * 5 East Lancashire-bodied Scania OmniDekkas, numbered 31 &mdash; 35
 * 1 Scania OmniCity, numbered 37
 * 1 Alexander Dennis Enviro300, numbered 38 (leased)
 * 2 East Lancashire Myllennium-bodied Alexander Dennis Dart SLF, numbered 51 and 52 (for city-link)
 * 2 Mercedes-Benz Citaro O530s, numbered 79 and 80 (long term lease from Wilts & Dorset, who numbered them 179 & 180)

Bluestar
In early 2008, it was announced that Bluestar had won the contract to run the services. They took over operations on September 28, 2008, to coincide with the new university year.

A fleet of brand new vehicles was ordered, an investment of £3 million, the first of which arrived in the area just before Bluestar were due to take over operations. These are all Scania OmniCitys, with nine each of the single- and double-deck model, which were put into service between September 2008 and March 2009. Initially Bluestar operate the existing fleet on loan. Compared with the previous buses, they wear a slightly lighter shade of blue.

Fleet

 * 9 Double-deck Scania OmniCity, numbered 1301-1309
 * 12 Single-deck Scania OmniCity, numbered 2001-2010, and two more 2011 examples numbered 2011 and 2012
 * 1 East Lancashire-bodied Scania OmniDekka, numbered 1035
 * 4 Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President, numbered 1310-1313 (Ex London General)

Routes
Uni-link operates four routes: U1, U2, U6 and U9.

U1
Runs every day, all year between National Oceanography Centre and Southampton Airport, extending on to Eastleigh in the early morning and early evening. Stops in between at Town Quay, West Quay shopping centre, Southampton Central railway station, Southampton Civic Centre (for the Marlands shopping centre), Inner Avenue (for New College), Portswood, and the university (Highfield Campus and Wessex Lane Halls). The route towards Southampton Airport is the U1A, the route towards the National Oceanography Centre is the U1C, and the route towards Eastleigh Bus Station is the U1E.

U2
Runs every day all year (with a reduced service during University vacations), between Southampton Civic Centre in the city centre, and the Crematorium, calling at London Road, New College, Avenue Campus, Boldrewood, Highfield Campus, Glen Eyre Halls and Bencraft Court. The route towards Glen Eyre Halls is the U2B, and the route towards Southampton Civic Centre is the U2C.

U6
Runs every day all year, between Southampton General Hospital, and National Oceanography Centre. Stops in between at Boldrewood, Highfield Interchange, Wessex Lane, Portswood Junction, Royal South Hants Hospital, Southampton Solent University, Southampton Civic Centre (for the Marlands shopping centre), West Quay and Town Quay. The route towards the National Oceanography Centre is the U6C, and the route towards the Southampton General Hospital is the U6H.

U9
Runs rush-hour only all year, between Townhill Park and the West Wing of Southampton General Hospital. Stops in between at the Mousehole Lane roundabout in Bitterne, Witts Hill, Bitterne Park Triangle, Portswood (The Mitre), Highfield Interchange, Boldrewood and Taunton's College.

City-link shuttle service
This service runs every 15 mins, every day and all year. The free shuttle bus service runs between Southampton Central railway station and Town Quay, via West Quay shopping centre and the Marlands shopping centre. Uni-link operator Minerva Accord was awarded the five-year contract from Southampton City Council (previously operated by First Hampshire & Dorset). New dual door East Lancs Myllennium buses were purchased, which increased the route's capacity by 52%. If a Myllennium is out of action, a Caetano Nimbus takes its place. The Nimbus is a spare specifically for this route. When Enterprise lost the uni-link contract, Bluestar agreed to take over operation of the service. The two buses were put into a new livery for the service.

Glen Eyre shuttle bus
This was an experimental service from the interchange to the Halls, to take pressure off the U2. As of January 2007, Uni-Link decided not to continue this service.