ROUTE maps for Yellow Buses' revamped services have now been published online - just ten days before they are due to start.

But the firm has yet to publish printed versions of the new timetables, saying it had held off doing so over Christmas to 'avoid confusion' with the festive timetable. The changes are due to come into effect on January 15.

Yellow Buses announced the major transformation of 18 of its 22 routes last month, confirming that there would be no fare increases.

But passengers were left in the dark about exactly what the changes would be.

People had been asking the company for timetable details for some weeks, with many posting on their Facebook page to say they needed details to work out if they needed to change working hours.

Commercial director Paul Wren said: "Details of our new network, including route maps and service timetables, are now on our website at bybus.co.uk.

"The new timetables are at the printers and will be made available as soon as possible, either on request, or through usual outlets such as public libraries, tourist information centres and our customer service centre in the Square, Bournemouth.

"We have 1,200 bus stops and specific information about the routes operating from a stop will start to be posted from week commencing Monday, January 9."

The new network will focus on hubs including Royal Bournemouth Hospital and Bournemouth University, with off-peak connections to places such as Mudeford, Verwood and Ringwood also offered.

Extra early morning and late night services will be introduced for shift workers in Bournemouth, Poole and at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital. Christchurch is losing its through service to Poole and Ferndown Industrial Estate will no longer be served. Some bus stops away from main thoroughfares are also being removed from routes.

And journeys are being revised to improve punctuality, which means longer journey times.

Eight colour coded lines will be introduced, with routes denoted by the first letter of the route name, followed by the service number.

These include Bourne, Priory, Uni, Royal, Village, Coast, Dolphin and Heath.

Yellow Buses bosses said the new routes had been planned in a bid to simplify the network for passengers, and also to reduce congestion in hot spot areas such as Gervis Place in Bournemouth town centre. They have also told passengers on social media that the new printed timetable will be a return to a single book, which was abandoned in 2013 in favour of individual timetables.