Building on the success of the Quality Bus Partnership for service 23, Hampshire County Council, Havant Borough Council, Portsmouth City Council and bus operator Stagecoach signed up to a Quality Bus Partnership for Service 21 on Monday 26 January 2004. At the same time as signing up to the partnership Stagecoach launched the new easy access buses for the route.

 

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The signing ceremony was attended by local Councillors, council officers and Stagecoach representatives. Front row, left to right: Councillor Keith Estlin (Hampshire County Council), Councillor Alex Bentley (Portsmouth), Councillor Nigel Tarrant (Havant); back row, left to right: Stuart Reynolds (Assistant Director, Design and Implementation, Hampshire), Alastair Norton (Head of Technical Services, Havant), Andrew Dyer (Managing Director, Stagecoach South)

 

In 2003 the frequency on service 21 was increased to every fifteen minutes during Monday to Saturday daytimes. This was further increased in 2007 to operate every 10 minutes, but this was reduced again in 2008 when the route was amended to operate every 30 minutes within the Borough (retained as every 10 minutes within Portsmouth) with the provision of extra 'short' journeys (service 20) within the Borough to maintain the combined 15 minute frequency. This was further changed in September 2009 when service 20 was extended into Portsmouth via Queen Alexandra Hospital.

 

The partners signed up to provide :

• At least fifteen minute frequency.
• Improving information at bus stops.
• Improvements in integration between bus and rail, including ticketing initiatives.
• To fund and construct a new bus station at Havant.
• Install bus departure information at the new bus station at Havant.
• Provide and maintain infrastructure improvements along the route, which will include new bus shelters, individually named bus stops, raised easy access kerbs.
• Implement measures to improve bus movement and priority where possible.
• Joint marketing initiatives to promote bus travel.