As part of our 70th anniversary, BOB HIND continues from Hastings to Brighton and Portsmouth on the third part* of a journey inspired by regular contributor John Gillham’s description of a seven-day tour of southern England in Buses Illustrated No.1 in 1949
*Part Three last month
John C. Gillham — JCG to his friends — could have travelled from Portsmouth to Fareham by any number of bus routes in 1949 but he chose to join the Gosport Ferry for the 4min ride across the Solent.
The current ferry company has been providing this link since 1863 although there has been some sort of crossing here since 1603. It runs every 7.5min at peak times (every 15min during the day) so it must have great demand. Intriguingly, the ferry company does not offer single fares; it must believe that no one goes to Gosport to stay.
It is a bright sunny but still cold Friday morning as I cross the Solent and find Gosport bus station a few yards from the landing stage. This was Provincial bus territory but the network is First’s now.
Another shabby bus terminal is brightened by Eclipse, the brand name First gives to its main route between Gosport and Fareham. The heavily branded vehicles are equipped with leather seats, Wi-Fi, USB …
