Our public transport route map includes the details of almost all public transport operating in and from Portsmouth.
Find information and links for the range of public transport in Portsmouth, including bus, taxis, train and ferry services, on the Portsmouth City Council website.
Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP)
The Portsmouth Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) is Portsmouth’s visionary delivery scheme aligned with the government’s National Bus Strategy and aims to dramatically improve bus services in Portsmouth and to encourage passengers back to the bus.
The city has been awarded £48 million by the Government to fund new tickets, reduced fares and make bus journey times shorter and more reliable. This announcement came just weeks after the government announced that Portsmouth and Hampshire would be awarded £6.5 million for zero emission buses, bringing the total funding to transform bus travel in Portsmouth, and the wider area, to £54.5 million.
The Portsmouth Bus Service Improvement Plan 2024 has been developed collaboratively with local bus companies First Bus and Stagecoach, whilst also ensuring local priorities for the bus service are considered through engagement with the local community. This has included a city-wide survey with over 1,100 responses, engagement with user groups and in-depth interviews with key stakeholders.
The plan aims to create more frequent and reliable services on a better fleet of buses, improve the integration with other ways of travelling, develop ticketing options to make travel simpler, and provide more accessible information for passengers and those considering taking the bus. Examples of the changes needed include buses running from 4.30am to 11pm to benefit shift workers, buses operating until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays to support the night-time economy, and additional services operating in parts of the city that don’t currently have a bus service, or have a poor one.
Improvements will be measured by targets for journey times, reliability of services, passenger numbers and passenger satisfaction. The document will be reviewed annually to ensure it reflects the changing needs of the city as the council strives to achieve its vision to become a greener city with excellent air quality and easy travel.
Read the first Bus Service Improvement Plan annual review and progress report 2022.
As part of the Bus Service Improvement Plan, the council and local bus companies First Solent and Stagecoach have signed an agreement, the Portsmouth Bus Passenger Charter, making passenger experience the number one priority.
Find out more about the latest Portsmouth Bus Service Improvement Plan initiatives by visiting our dedicated BSIP page.
Pompey Link
Pompey Link is an on-demand and pre-bookable local minibus service. It links Paulsgrove and Port Solent, an area of the city which is not currently served by any other bus connections.
We stop at bus stops in Paulsgrove and Port Solent. You can also travel between Port Solent, Queen Alexandra Hospital, and Cosham Interchange, where you can connect to other transport services. Book a journey and our minibus will pick you up and drop you off at your closest bus stop.
Pompey Link is funded by Portsmouth City Council as a pilot project for a 10-month period, with funding from the Portsmouth Bus Service Improvement Plan. The service is operated by Community First.
Enhanced Partnership for Portsmouth
The Enhanced Partnership is a key part of the National Bus Strategy for England published in March 2021. The Enhanced Partnership for Portsmouth will see Portsmouth City Council and local bus operators working together to increase bus use across the city and improve the quality of life of residents and visitors.
The Enhanced Partnership provides an opportunity for buses to support City Council objectives for health, economy, air quality and access to employment, education and training. It supports the Imagine Portsmouth objectives of a green city with excellent air quality and easy travel.
For more information read the Updated Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme March 2024
South East Hampshire Rapid Transit
Working in partnership with Hampshire County Council, the Isle of Wight Council and local transport operators, we are delivering a programme called South East Hampshire Rapid Transit. Through a network of bus priority routes, direct rapid transit services have reduced journey times for those travelling into the city by bus.
In September 2020 the Portsmouth city region was successfully awarded just under £56 million from the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF). Part of this investment will fund the next phase of South East Hampshire Rapid Transit, while supporting a number of active travel schemes across the region.
Portsmouth City Council focused its £26 million share of the investment on bus priority measures across the city to reduce journey times and improve reliability of services, making travelling by bus an even more attractive option.
Projects addressed congestion pinch points on key bus routes along Lake Road, Southampton Road, in the city centre, at Rudmore roundabout and Portsbridge area junctions.
