Late-night bus service needs a lift

Bosses at Stagecoach, which runs the Night Xpress service, say it ran without a hitch over the festive period, but they want to see more people using it in the coming months.

The service, which costs £3, operates on Friday and Saturday nights to help people get home from the town centre safely, but average passenger numbers currently reach only 20 or 30 a night.

A partnership of Stagecoach, Basingstoke Town Centre Management, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Basingstoke police, Liquid nightclub and the Pub Watch scheme developed the service.

Operators planned to trial the scheme for three to six months, depending on its popularity, and want more people to use the bus to ensure its long-term success.

Andrew Dyer, managing director of Stagecoach in Hampshire, said: "At this stage, we are quite optimistic that numbers will grow towards the spring and the service will be able to become a permanent feature.

"I think those people who have used the service already have really appreciated it. The message we want to give out to everybody else in Basingstoke is to give it a try."

Mr Dyer added that there had not been any anti-social behaviour on the buses, and the presence of security personnel had helped make passengers feel secure.

He said: "We have had no unpleasantness on the buses at all. We have got security staff on all the buses, and for women or people on their own, it is a safer way to travel."

The bus sets off from stand one at the bus station in Basingstoke and has two routes covering different sides of the town.

Route one, which leaves at 1.45am, has drop-offs in Norn Hill, Oakridge, Popley, Chineham, Lychpit and Old Basing.

Route two, which departs at 2.30am, also picks up revellers at Webbers in New Road at 2.35am before heading to South Ham, Buckskin, Kempshott, Hatch Warren and Brighton Hill.

For more information, call Stagecoach bus information line on 0845 121 0180.

First published: Wednesday, February 1, 2006