Morebus route X3

morebus bus X3 is an express intercity bus route between Bournemouth and Salisbury via Ringwood, travelling on the A338 for most of its length.

History

• 2 September 2019: As school year began, the 08:35 Fordingbridge to Bournemouth departure was extended from Burgate departing at 08:33.
• 25 March 2020: Due to COVID lockdown, the daytime frequency on this route was reduced from half-hourly to hourly between Monday to Saturday with the exception between Bournemouth and Ringwood in morning peak which remained at half-hourly. These peak departures ran into route X6 after departing from Bournemouth to Ringwood and formed through services. Also, the Friday and Saturday late night departures at 23:32 from Ringwood to Salisbury, and 00:10 Salisbury to Ringwood were withdrawn as well.
• 5 April 2020: Departures at 06:52 Monday to Friday from Ringwood to Bournemouth and 20:40 Monday to Saturday from Salisbury to Ringwood were withdrawn as well, and 19:15 Bournemouth to Salisbury departure shortened to Ringwood. On Sundays, frequency was reduced from hourly to every 2 hours, with service hours reduced as well as follows:
  • Bournemouth to Salisbury: service hours shortened from 09:05-20:05 to 09:05-17:05
  • Salisbury to Bournemouth: service hours shortened from 09:40-18:40 to 10:40-16:40
  • Ringwood to Salisbury: service hours shortened from 08:43-20:43 to 09:43-17:43
  • Salisbury to Ringwood: service hours shortened from 09:40-21:40 to 10:40-18:40
  • Ringwood to Bournemouth: service hours shortened from 08:22-19:22 to 08:22-17:22
  • Bournemouth to Ringwood: service hours shortened from 09:05-20:05 to 09:05-18:05
• 14 June 2020: Monday to Saturday service was restored to half-hourly mostly resembling pre-COVID timetable, but the original 08:35 Fordingbridge to Bournemouth departure was cut short to start at Ringwood, and two evening round trips between Ringwood and Salisbury were not restored with buses from Bournemouth terminating at Ringwood. However, Sunday service remained at every two hours.
• 19 July 2020: Sunday service restored to pre-COVID level, i.e. hourly service.
• 6 September 2020: The whole pre-COVID timetable was restored.

Current route

This route serves the following areas in order:

• Bournemouth town centre
• Lansdowne (Bath Road, Christchurch Road)
• Boscombe (Christchurch Road, Ashley Road)
• Springbourne (Holdenhurst Road)
• Royal Bournemouth Hospital
• Ringwood
• Blashford
• Ellingham
• Ibsley
• Bickton
• Fordingbridge
• Burgate
• Breamore
• Charford
• Downton
• Charlton
• Bodenham
• Britford
• Salisbury City Centre

Service level

This route generally runs on half-hourly basis between Monday and Saturday daytime, and hourly on Sunday daytime. There is only limited evening service between Monday and Saturdays and no evening service on Sundays.

In the morning short workings depart from Ringwood to Bournemouth or Salisbury, and from Fordingbridge to Salisbury. In the evening short workings depart from Bournemouth or Salisbury and terminate at Ringwood.

Some short workings between Monday and Saturday from Ringwood to Salisbury are diverted through Britford Park and Ride.

Between Monday and Saturday, one X6 departure from Trickett's Cross to Ringwood in the morning continues as X3 to Bournemouth, and one X3 departure from Bournemouth to Ringwood in the evening continues as X6 to Verwood.

Fare

Both morebus and Salisbury Reds tickets are accepted on this route in their respective areas.

morebus zone A tickets can be used between Bournemouth and Royal Bournemouth Hospital, while Salisbury zone tickets can be used between Salisbury and Bordingham (down to Inveresk House). If travelling on the whole route on a period ticket, a morebus zone ABC ticket, or a Salisbury Reds network ticket (which are equivalent) can be used.

The route complements route PR9 by providing additional trips from Britford Park and Ride to the city centre in the morning, and from the city centre to the car park in the evening. Salisbury Reds Park & Ride tickets can be used travelling between the car park and the city centre.

Fleet

This route is served by luxury double-decker Enviro400 MMC buses with special X3 "Coast to Cathedral City" livery (1648 - 1654) from Ringwood depot. 6 buses run on Monday to Friday, 7 buses run on Saturday, and 4 buses run on Sunday.

There is only 1 bus running at night on this route on Monday to Saturday, which starts running at 20:45 from Ringwood after refuelling at the depot, carrying passengers over from the 20:15 departure from Bournemouth. All other buses return to the depot between 19:00 and 21:30. There is no evening service on Sunday.

Buses out of depot generally starts service at Ringwood in both directions, with one starting service at Trickett's Cross to Bournemouth on Monday to Saturday. Bus returning to depot generally ends service from Salisbury to Ringwood, or from Bournemouth to either Verwood or Trickett's Cross in evening peak, and to Ringwood for the final departure on Monday to Thursday. The Monday to Friday departure starting from Burgate is run using a bus from a school service.

On weekends, there is 1 bus which dead runs from the depot to Bournemouth in each direction in mid-day to provide extra layover time.

On weekdays, there is one departure serving Trickett's Cross to Ringwood on X6 before entering this route, and one departure serving Ringwood to Verwood on X6 after finishing this route. In additional, the 17:45 X6 departure from Bournemouth to Trickett's Cross on Saturday is also run by a bus on this route, but it does not serve Boscombe.

As of July 2021, the roster of the buses are likely to be following, in sequential order on the route:

Monday to Friday

Salisbury					06:12 from Ringwood	06:47 from Ringwood
Bournemouth	05:57 from Ringwood		06:42 from Ringwood		06:50	07:25
Salisbury	06:40	07:00 from Trickett's Cross	07:30	08:33 from Burgate	08:40	09:10
Bournemouth	08:05	08:35	09:05	09:35	10:05	10:35
Salisbury	09:40	10:10	10:40	11:10	11:40	12:10
Bournemouth	11:05	11:35	12:05	12:35	13:05	13:35
Salisbury	12:40	13:10	13:40	14:10	14:40	15:10
Bournemouth	14:05	14:35	15:05	15:35	16:05	16:35
Salisbury	15:40	16:10	16:40	17:10	17:40	18:15 to Ringwood
Bournemouth	17:20	17:50	18:15	18:45 to Verwood	19:15
Salisbury	18:55	19:15 to Ringwood	19:45 to Ringwood		20:40 to Ringwood
Bournemouth	20:15 to Ringwood					20:45 from Ringwood
Salisbury						21:45
Bournemouth						23:00 to Ringwood / Salisbury
Salisbury						00:10 to Ringwood

Saturday

Salisbury					06:22 from Ringwood
Bournemouth	05:57 from Ringwood		06:42 from Ringwood		07:05	08:12 from Ringwood
Salisbury	06:40	07:12 from Trickett's Cross	07:40	08:52 from Ringwood	08:40	09:10
Bournemouth	08:05	08:35	09:05	09:35	10:05	10:35	11:05
Salisbury	09:40	10:10	10:40	11:10	11:40	12:10	12:40
Bournemouth	11:35	12:05	12:35	13:05	13:35	14:05	14:35
Salisbury	13:10	13:40	14:10	14:40	15:10	15:40	16:10
Bournemouth	15:05	15:35	16:05	16:35		17:15	17:45 X6 to Trickett's Cross
Salisbury	16:40	17:10	17:40	18:15 to Ringwood		18:50
Bournemouth	18:15	18:45 to Verwood	19:15			20:15 to Ringwood
Salisbury	19:45 to Ringwood		20:40 to Ringwood
Bournemouth		20:45 from Ringwood
Salisbury		21:45
Bournemouth		23:00
Salisbury		00:10 to Ringwood

Sunday

Salisbury			08:22 from Ringwood	09:22 from Ringwood
Bournemouth	08:43 from Ringwood		09:05	10:05
Salisbury	09:40		10:40	11:40
Bournemouth	11:05	12:05	13:05	14:05
Salisbury	12:40	13:40	14:40	15:40
Bournemouth	15:05	16:05	17:05
Salisbury	16:40	17:40 to Ringwood	18:40
Bournemouth	18:05		20:05
Salisbury	19:40 to Ringwood		21:40 to Ringwood

See also

• morebus route X6
• Salisbury Reds route PR9