HAMPSHIRE County Council has agreed to fund a bus service to replace a terminated Xelabus route.

The council will support Stagecoach to provide a service between Waltham Chase, Bishop's Waltham, and Hedge End.

The 49 service will operate from Monday, April 3 replacing the X9/X10 routes operated by Xelabus ending on Friday, March 31.

The funding was approved on ‘decision day’ on Monday, March 13 by the executive lead member for universal services Cllr Nick Adams-King.

Cllr Adams-King said: “I am pleased to agree funding to secure a bus service that will ensure connections for people travelling between Waltham Chase and Hedge End.

READ MORE: Xelabus: Hope for axed bus route from Hampshire County Council

“The county council has a limited budget available to subsidise some bus routes where passenger numbers do not make the services commercially viable but where we would like to maintain public transport links. Incorporating elements of both the X9 and X10, the 49 service will ensure existing and new passengers continue to benefit from a bus service and will offer a weekday service for students of Swanmore College who are eligible for school transport.

“Nationally and here in Hampshire bus passenger numbers are still below the levels seen before the pandemic. This is making it increasingly challenging to deliver viable services, especially with increased operating costs and driver shortages. I would urge people to take advantage of the bus network, especially at the moment when many single fares are being capped at £2.”

SEE ALSO: Work on new fire station in Hampshire town complete

The 49 service will offer five daily roundtrips to Bishops Waltham, Swanmore, Waltham Chase, Durley, West End, Botley and Hedge End as well as one round trip for eligible Swanmore College pupils and another round trip for residents of Hamble, Bursledon, Netley and Butlocks Heath.

The timetable aims to allow passengers to connect to onward journeys to Winchester, Eastleigh, Fareham and Southampton by using the wider commercially operated bus network.

CllrAdams-King approved funding for the 49 service for four years, with the option to extend it for a further two years.

Xelabus has confirmed to the county council that they will continue to operate the X9A which travels between Fair Oak and Swanmore College.