Is Uni-Link Breaking Down? :: Wessex Scene Online

Is Uni-Link Breaking Down?

17th October 2003
Christine Vann

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Mar 02 - Uni-Link sucks - scream stricken students
Oct 03 - Students Stranded
Jun 02 - Road to success for University's bus service
May 08 - Uni Link’s Bleak Future
Oct 08 - What mode of transport?

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Uni-link services has are being swamped, with sheer numbers overwhelming the thirteen strong fleet, despite the two standby vehicles. With the current addition of the new freshlings the interchange becomes clogged with too many people trying to get the most out of their obligatory uni-link card, even when their halls may only be ten minutes away.

Student helpers in their yellow shirts have helped ease first years into the confusion of learning new bus routes, though many point out it can be quicker to walk to your goal. One student said “With buses refusing to stop for students when only half-full, or not turning up at all, the claim that 95 percent arrive no more than five minutes late seems dubious.”

A new addition this year offers a permanent shuttle service between Wessex Lane and Highfield, giving a theoretical seven buses an hour on that part of the network alone. Some users feel that, whilst in theory this is impressive, in practise if it is anything like the supposed six buses per hour from the Civic Centre to Highfield then a wait of under half an hour is fortuitous.

John Waugh, Transport Services Manager said “There is no doubt that uni-link is at full stretch during the first couple of weeks of the session while new students find the full benefits and limitations of the operation.” He continued, “All our current problems stem from the demands that our customers rightly make to access the services and we are totally committed to meeting and surpassing them.”

The most common complaint levelled against uni-link however, is that the compulsory pass, costing first years one hundred and fifty pounds, grants access to a service that is arguably less reliable than other services. There are also suggestions that the service is fairly pointless if you are on a campus other than Highfield. Avenue students will find a journey only half completed, and Winchester no longer have a service at all.

The pressure to provide a strong bus service for Southampton is mounting, and there are few University bus services to compare it to. Bournemouth University’s Uni-linx for instance, charges 30p for journeys not much shorter than our own.

Most universities seem to offer discounts on normal city lines rather than running a separate service. Together with its partner Accord Uni-link does appear to be attempting to rectify the problem with its service and it is clearly beneficial to have our own buses, yet with costs increasing only a single new bus has been added to the fleet this year. Anyone who has to be at a location for a specific time may find a taxi far more reliable.