EUROPEAN legislation is set to cull the popular Guildford to Winchester bus, with two services set to replace it. From December 9, the X64 bus route will be run in two legs, with two buses and two drivers; one travelling from Winchester to Alton, the other from Alton to Guildford. Unable to offer a through ticket, should a passenger wish to travel from Farnham to Winchester, they will be forced to buy two tickets. Currently, if a pensioner wishes to undertake that journey, they are able to do so without charge. But until April 4, they will have to purchase a ticket for the second Hampshire-based leg of the journey. Edward Hodgson, commercial director of Stagecoach South spoke of the company's "frustration" at the decision. "The change is actually coming about as there is a change of EU regulation, and this is something not just affecting us, but the change is up and down the country." New EU law requires journeys of over 50 kilometres to have tachometers installed on buses and a limit on driver hours. With the X64 route in excess of that distance, Stagecoach has been forced to alter the service. "We have to fit tachometers to vehicles and we are faced with a situation of seeing a substantial increase in cost, which places a particular effect on rural bus services. "It is a source of great frustration to us, that a busy local bus service falls under legislation meant for long continental coach journeys, and it is an added burden which we could well do without. "In practice most of the people who use the X64 shouldn't notice a difference, but inevitably people who travel through Alton will have to change bus." Speaking with regard to pensioners who will soon have to pay for a journey to Winchester or Alresford, Mr Hodgson remarked: "That is a temporary problem. From April 1 next year concessionary passes become valid across the country. But there will be a temporary restriction, which is unfortunate for those travelling to Winchester." With a predicted seven-minute spell between services, Mr Hodgson also spoke of fears of missed connections, which could easily occur should a bus become delayed in traffic in busy towns such as Farnham. "Inevitably the road network can be unpredictable, and Farnham is a classic example. People could miss the bus at Alton due to a delay, but it should not be a problem in the vast majority of journeys."
