The Jurassic Coaster is a bus service operated by the Weymouth branch of First Hampshire & Dorset, running around the Jurassic coastline of the county of Dorset.[1] It features five routes, stretching from Axminster in the west to Poole in the east, with one of the routes in TripAdvisor's 2018 poll of most scenic bus routes coming in 12th place.[2]
 | |
 A First Hampshire & Dorset Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 on route X53 at Axminster Station in September 2019 | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Operator | First Hampshire & Dorset |
| Vehicle | Closed Top Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 Alexander Dennis Enviro400 Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC Open top Volvo B7TL Wright Eclipse Gemini Volvo B7TL Alexander ALX400 |
| Began service | November 1998 |
| Former operator(s) | Southern National |
History
editThe X53 route was introduced in November 1998 by Southern National, and operated at a frequency of one bus every three hours between Exeter and Dorchester via Seaton, Lyme Regis, and Bridport. In May 2001, the route was changed east of Bridport to instead serve Abbotsbury and Weymouth. In May 2003, the frequency of the route was increased to two-hourly, the Sunday service became year-round, and some summer services were extended beyond Weymouth to Wareham.[3]
In April 2004, the route was branded as CoastLinX53. The following month, the route was extended to Poole, with some buses continuing to Bournemouth. While the existing service was council-funded, the extensions to Poole and Bournemouth were operated on a commercial basis.[4] However, the Bournemouth extensions were cut in April 2008.[3]
After fifteen years of financial support from Devon County Council and Dorset County Council,[5] in March 2013 the route began being operated entirely on a commercial basis for the first time. A new livery was launched, together with the Jurassic Coaster branding.[3] By the following year, the route was running at an hourly frequency between Lyme Regis and Weymouth.[6]
Split-up of the X53 and rebranding by First Wessex
edit
In 2016, the X53 was split into multiple routes, with the X53 itself being shortened to only run between Axminster and Weymouth. Two new service were introduced numbered X52 and X54. The X52 ran between Exeter and Lyme Regis, avoiding Axminster,[7] while the X54 ran between Weymouth and Poole. The X52 service was reduced in frequency, and withdrawn in 2018, marking the end of First bus services in Exeter.[3][8]
During the COVID-19 pandemic
editSunday services were cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic, but were reinstated in July 2020.[9] The Sunday service continued to run during the winter, unlike in previous years.[10]
In 2021, the logo and livery for the routes was updated. Route 501 was brought into the network with "Portland Coaster" branded open top buses and the X52 number was relaunched and reworked for a new route running between Bridport and Monkey World.[1][11][12]
Routes
edit
The Jurassic Coaster network is formed of six routes, stretching from Axminster in the west, through Weymouth to Swanage in the east.[13] Each of the six routes generally run to a two-hourly frequency.[14]
Route X50
editRoute X50 operates between Weymouth and Swanage via Preston, Osmington, Lulworth Cove, Wool, Bovington, Wareham and Corfe Castle.[13]
The route is operated using a mixture of Wright Eclipse Gemini and Plaxton President open-top buses. The route operates during the summer months (between May and September) only.[15][14]
Route X51
editRoute X51 operates between Weymouth and Axminster via Dorchester, Poundbury, Winterbourne Abbas, Bridport, Charmouth and Lyme Regis.[13]
The route is operated using a mixture of Wright Eclipse Gemini 2, Alexander Dennis Enviro400 and Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC closed top buses. The route runs throughout the year, although the Sunday service does not operate during the winter months.[14]
Route X52
editRoute X52 operates between Weymouth and Bridport via Chickerell, Abbotsbury, Swyre, Burton Bradstock and West Bay.[13]
The route is operated using a mixture of Wright Eclipse Gemini and Plaxton President open-top buses. The route operates during the summer months (between May and September) only.[15][14]
Route X53
editRoute X53 is the original Jurassic Coaster service and operates between Weymouth and Bridport via Chickerell, Abbotsbury, Swyre, Burton Bradstock, West Bay, Bridport, Charmouth and Lyme Regis.[13]
The route is operated using a mixture of Wright Eclipse Gemini 2, Alexander Dennis Enviro400 and Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC closed top buses. The route runs daily throughout the year.[14]
Route X54
editRoute X54 operates between Weymouth and Wareham via Preston, Osmington, Lulworth Cove and Wool.[13]
The route is operated using a mixture of Wright Eclipse Gemini 2, Alexander Dennis Enviro400 and Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC closed top buses. The route runs throughout the year, although the weekend service does not operate during the winter months.[14]
Route 501
edit
Route 501 is branded as The Portland Coaster and operates between Weymouth and Portland Bill via Wyke Regis, Fortuneswell, Easton and Southwell.[16][13]
The route is operated using open-top Alexander ALX400 buses. The route operates during the summer months (between May and September) only.[15][17]
Vehicles
edit
When the original X53 was introduced in November 1998 by Southern National, the route was operated with three Plaxton Paramount coaches.[3]
After the takeover of the company the same year and the rebranding of the route in 2004, the route was served with Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvos for the Coastlinx53. In May 2021, the route network and livery was revised and modified open top Transbus ALX400s and Wright Eclipse Geminis as well as closed top Enviro400s were put into its colours and used on the network.[11][12][18]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "New open-top bus route comes to Dorset in time for summer". Dorset Echo. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ^ "Most Scenic Bus Routes in Britain - United Kingdom Message Board - Tripadvisor". www.tripadvisor.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Cruising the Jurassic Coasters". Buses Magazine. 15 August 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "New look buses for X53 Jurassic Coaster". Dorset Transport and Travel. 29 July 2013. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "Extra journeys for X53 coastal bus service". Sidmouth Herald. 14 May 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "Annual Review" (PDF). Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site Partnership. p. 2. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ Carson, Chris (18 April 2016). "Jurassic Coaster bus to run six times a day". Sidmouth Herald. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ Lea, Martin (30 November 2017). "First Wessex to withdraw bus route 5 to Crossways and X52 Lyme Regis to Exeter". The Bolton News. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ Evans, Francesca (30 July 2020). "'Jurassic Coaster' Sunday service reinstated". LymeOnline. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ Whtie, Bradley (21 November 2020). "Changes made to Service 1, Service 10, X51 and X53 bus routes". Dorset Echo. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ a b Klein, Josie (27 May 2021). "Jurassic Coaster open top bus in Dorset". Bridport & Lyme Regis News. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ a b "Wayback Machine | Weymouth & the Jurassic Coast bus guide" (PDF). 14 June 2021. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ a b c d e f g "Jurassic Coaster and Portland Coaster Network Map" (PDF). First Hampshire & Dorset. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "Jurassic Coaster Timetable" (PDF). First Hampshire & Dorset. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ a b c "New open-top bus route comes to Dorset in time for summer". Dorset Echo. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- ^ "The Portland Coaster". First Bus. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
- ^ "Portland Coaster Timetable" (PDF). First Hampshire & Dorset. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ Carter, Christopher (3 June 2021). "Jurassic Coast bus boost". Buses Magazine. Retrieved 14 June 2021.