Portsmouth City Council has collaborated with local bus companies First Bus and Stagecoach to ensure passengers can get to work early in the week, from 4.30 am, and travel later, until 1 am, on Friday and Saturday nights.

These changes were developed through engagement with the local community, which included a city-wide survey, as well as engagement with user groups and in-depth interviews with key stakeholders which took place in August 2021.

This is one of the first in a series of council led schemes funded by the Bus Service Improvement Plan, a £48 million investment of government funding designed to transform bus travel for Portsmouth residents, creating a quicker and more reliable bus service.

These changes will come into effect on the 4 December 2022, for First South bus routes, and for Stagecoach after the festive period on the 3 January 2023.

The First Bus early morning routes included in the trial are, 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 18. For later journeys on Friday and Saturday nights with First buses you can use bus routes 1, 2, 3, 7, 8. From January Stagecoach start their early morning and late services on the 21 and 23 bus routes. Stagecoach will also increase the number of services running in the evening to every 30 minutes.

More improvements to bus services across Portsmouth are due in 2023.