Big changes for Bristol’s buses

Reduced demand during the third national lockdown means that buses in the Bristol area are set for big changes from Sunday.

First West of England stressed that while many of these service alterations will be for the duration of the latest lockdown period, “all services remain under constant review”.

First West of England managing director, James Freeman, said: “We are regularly monitoring what is needed to get our customers moving safely and reliably.

“These altered timetables will ensure that the number of buses in operation meet the needs of those who must undertake essential travel in line with Government guidance.”

Freeman is climbing out of the First West of England driving seat on March 31 when he will pass the steering wheel to new managing director, Doug Claringbold.

Almost every bus service in Bristol will be affected by the changes – photo: Martin Booth

These are the key changes:

metrobus m1
From Monday to Friday during the day the frequency of the m1 will be reduced to every 12 minutes, from every ten minutes.

metrobus m3x
The Saturday frequency on the m3x will be reduced from every 20 minutes to every 30 minutes.

Service 1 (Cribbs Causeway – City Centre – Broomhill)
Some minor changes to the Monday to Saturday timetables, especially to early morning and early evening journeys, where the number of journeys is reduced slightly. The daytime frequency of buses on Sundays and Public Holidays will be reduced from every 20 minutes to every 30 minutes. Late evening departure times will be made consistent across all days.

Services 2 & 2a (Cribbs Causeway – City Centre – Stockwood & Brentry – City Centre – Stockwood)
The frequency of Services 2 and 2a will be reduced to every 30 minutes on each daytime service from Monday to Saturday. This will provide a combined frequency of every 15 minutes along this route. There will be some minor changes to the Monday to Saturday timetables, especially early morning and early evening when the number of journeys will be reduced slightly. The Sundays and Public Holidays daytime frequency of buses on Service 2 is reduced from every 20 minutes to every 30 minutes. Late evening departure times will be made consistent across all days.

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Service 6 (City Centre – Kingswood)
From Monday to Saturday, there will be a slight reduction to the frequency of journeys between 6pm and 8pm. On Sundays and Public Holidays, Service 6 will continue to operate every 30 minutes during the main part of the day. This will be reduced to every 60 minutes after 5.30pm.

Service 7 (City Centre – Staple Hill)
From Monday to Saturday, there will be a slight reduction in the frequency of journeys between 6pm and 8pm. On Sundays and Public Holidays, buses on this service will continue to operate every 30 minutes during the main part of the day. This will be reduced to every 60 minutes after 5.30pm.

Service 8 (Bristol Temple Meads – City Centre – Clifton – Bristol Zoo)
From Monday to Saturday, the frequency of Service 8 will be reduced to every 15 minutes from every ten minutes. The daily journey at midnight from Bristol Temple Meads will be withdrawn. Buses on this service will run slightly less frequently between 5pm and 7pm, and the first few journeys of the day on Sundays and Public Holidays will be withdrawn.

Service 24 (Southmead Hospital – City Centre – Ashton Vale)
There will be some minor changes to Service 24 on all days of operation, with a slight reduction in the number of journeys during the early morning and early evening.

Service 39, X39 (Bristol – Bath)
From Monday to Friday there will be slight a reduction in frequency of Service 39 and Service X39, with journeys running every 15 minutes, rather than every 12 minutes. From Monday to Saturday there will be a slight reduction in frequency in the early evenings. On Sunday and Public Holidays, the frequency of buses during the main part of the day will be reduced, with journeys running every 20 minutes, rather than every 15 minutes.

The bus route along Anchor Road was recently improved – photo: Martin Booth

Service 41x (Lawrence Hill – City Centre)
Some afternoon journeys from Lawrence Hill depot will be withdrawn. The last departure from Lawrence Hill depot will now be at 3.30pm.

Service 42 (City Centre – Bitton)
The frequency of buses along this route remains unchanged. There will be some minor changes to early morning journeys, with some journeys starting at Lawrence Hill instead of the city centre. Some Sunday and Public Holiday journeys are withdrawn.

Service 43 (City Centre – Cadbury Heath)
Monday to Saturday, there will be a slight reduction to the frequency of early evening journeys between 6pm and 8pm.

Service 44 (City Centre – Cadbury Heath)
There will be some minor changes to the timetable, including a slight reduction in the frequency of early evening journeys through the week. Frequency will be reduced from Monday to Saturday between 6pm and 8pm, and on Sundays and Public Holidays between 5.30pm and 7.30pm. The 12.40am Monday to Friday journey from the city centre to Cadbury Heath will be withdrawn. Night journeys operating on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays will be withdrawn.

Service 45 (City Centre – Cadbury Heath)
There will be some minor changes to the timetable of Service 45 including a slight reduction to the frequency of early evening journeys on Sundays and Public Holidays between 5.30pm and 7.30pm.

Service 48a (City Centre – UWE Frenchay Campus)
Service 48a will be revised to operate every 30 minutes from Monday to Friday between approximately 7am and 7pm. There will be no journeys on on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays.

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Service 70 (Bristol Temple Meads Station – UWE Frenchay Campus)
There will be a slight reduction to the number of early evening journeys on Monday to Friday.

Service 71 (UWE Bower Ashton Campus – UWE Frenchay Campus)
Due to a significant increase in the amount of online teaching for UWE students, Service 71 will be suspended until further notice.

Service 72/72a (Bristol Temple Meads – UWE Frenchay Campus)
There will be minor adjustments to timetables on all days of operation across Service 72/72a.. The Monday to Friday 6.55am Service 72a journey from UWE to Bristol Temple Meads will be withdrawn. There will be a slight reduction to the Monday to Friday early evening frequency.

Service 73 (Bristol Temple Meads – Cribbs Causeway)
The Monday to Friday journeys between Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway will be suspended. As a result, the frequency of Service 73 will be every 30 minutes between Bristol Temple Meads and Cribbs Causeway. From Monday to Friday, the 4.55am journey from The Haymarket to Cribbs Causeway will now start from Bristol Temple Meads at 4.45am. During the week, the 7.10am journey from Bristol Temple Meads to Bristol Parkway will extend to Cribbs Causeway. Some early evening journeys from Monday to Saturday will be withdrawn. Late evening departure times will be made consistent across all days. Buses will operate every 60 minutes during the late evening on Sundays and Public Holidays.

Service 90 (City Centre – Hengrove Depot)
There will be a slight reduction to the frequency of early evening journeys from Monday to Saturday and some late evening journeys will be withdrawn, including the 11.30pm journey from Hengrove depot to the city centre and the 12.10am journey from City Centre to Hengrove Depot.

Service 376 (Bristol – Whitchurch – Wells – Glastonbury – Street)
On Monday to Friday there will be a reduction in frequency of Service 376, with journeys running every 30 minutes, rather than every 20 minutes while on Sundays and Public Holidays the frequency will be reduced from every 30 minutes to every 60 minutes.

Only buses are allowed to use certain routes through the city centre – photo: Martin Booth

Main photo: Martin Booth

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