COMMUTERS from outside Petersfield are set to have a new transport solution, which should ease the burden on town car parks. South West Trains has this week announced the introduction of a new bus service linking Waterlooville with Petersfield station. With an average of three trains per hour from Petersfield to London and Portsmouth, Petersfield provides the perfect destination for people in Waterlooville to link into South West Trains' mainline services. East Hampshire District Council's youth and community portfolio holder Hilary Ayer said: "Many East Hampshire residents are employed outside the district and depend on good transport links to get to work. "We have been pushing for the integration of bus and rail for some time and it's great that South West Trains has responded so positively." South West Trains' area manager, Mark Dunn, said: "The Waterlooville area is one of the largest parts of Hampshire without a railway station, so this bus service will act as the perfect link between Waterlooville and Petersfield. "We are committed to providing the best service we can for our passengers and the introduction of this bus service is a major improvement in this area." Parliamentary candidate Adam Carew said: "This is fantastic news. The service is due to start in December and from January 2008 you will be able to buy your rail ticket on the bus. The only downside to the scheme is that it does not stop at Clanfield." The Waterlooville to Petersfield bus link will start on December 9, selling tickets to Petersfield station. From January, passengers will be able to buy rail tickets on the bus and will be able to buy tickets direct from Waterlooville to destinations such as London Waterloo and Portsmouth. The hourly service will observe all bus stops on route from Waterlooville precinct to the A3 dual carriageway via Cowplain shops and Horndean's Good Intent pub, and then operate non-stop to Petersfield railway station. The service would operate Monday to Saturday, between 6am and 9pm, excluding public holidays. l A special review is being carried out to assess the possibility of subsidising beleaguered bus services in the district. The 67 service between Winchester and Petersfield and the 72 between Alton and Petersfield have had vital journeys cut this month as part of a series of Hampshire County Council budget cutbacks. East Hampshire District Council leader Mr Cowper said: "Ever since the services were put under threat over a year ago we have been considering whether we could get into the business of subsidising bus services. "No district or borough council in the country does subsidise bus services, but some months ago we decided to employ an officer to carry out a six- month review of our capability to subsidise bus services."