The buses operated by First South and South West England at their Hilsea, Portsmouth and Hoeford, Fareham depots are branded ‘Solent’.  They carry a smart two-tone blue livery and buses allocated to the ‘Eclipse’ bus rapid transit (BRT) services are in a dark blue and lilac scheme. This DVD programme along with our companion DVD features the First buses from 2023 to 2024 during their transition from diesel to battery-electric.
   
Our programme begins in July 2023 at Gosport bus station.  The bus station was opened in 1972 and closed for the final time for demolition and redevelopment on 9^th October 2024.  Here we see a number of Wright StreetLite single-deckers in the smart ‘Eclipse’ livery.  These buses will be replaced by the new Wright GB Kite EV battery-electric single-deckers for the ‘Eclipse’ routes and at the time of editing this programme, have now been transferred to First West Yorkshire and First South Yorkshire.  We begin our 2024 coverage with some still images of the erstwhile Gosport & Fareham Provincial – now First Solent depot at Hoeford having the old sheds demolished for the introduction of charging points and storage of the new fleet of electric buses. 
   
Our filming commences at Fareham Bus Station and West Street in March 2024, and after a diesel ‘Eclipse’ journey to Hoeford depot we see further development of the depot and some of the newly delivered electric buses. We then take a ride on 63411 (SV22 VWP), a Wright StreetLite Max on an E2 service to Oakdene to film action on the BRT.  Further filming takes place at Rowner Road and Henry Court Way, Gosport.  We take a further ride on 63407 (SV22 UZJ), another Wright StreetLite on an E2 service to Fareham bus station.  Both of these StreetLites are now operating with First South Yorkshire.  Our 2024 filming continues in May at Fareham bus station and Hartlands Road.  Now most of the new electric buses are in service in both the Solent two-tone blue livery and the ‘Eclipse’ livery for the BRT routes.  We then board 63693 (LV24 EYL), a Wright GB Kite EV in ‘Eclipse’ livery for a ride as a passenger on the E2 route to Gosport bus station.  As you will see the bus is well patronised for a mid-morning journey showing the success of this rapid transit service.  On arrival at Gosport bus station we film the buses coming and going in the bus station’s final months. 
   
Further filming takes place along the BRT at Cameron Close and Wych Lane before our final filming location at Fareham bus station at the start of the late afternoon uptake of services.  The official launch of the Solent Electric fleet took place at Hoeford depot on Wednesday 27^th November 2024, this is seen with a series of still images of the event. 
   
We hope you enjoy our review of ‘Solent – going electric’ in the Gosport and Fareham area.