Two new bus routes promise to make cross-city travel ‘easier and cheaper’

Two “new cross-city” bus routes have been launched to make travel “easier and cheaper” for bus users in Bristol.

Come into force on September 3, First West of England is merging four services to make two longer ones as part of a package of changes from the operator.

The first change will see the 70 between the UWE Bristol’s Frenchay Campus and Temple Meads Station and the 90 between Filwood Park and the city centre merge to create a new service every 20 minutes linking Knowle to the university.

The second sees the 73 between Bradley Stoke and Temple Meads and the 92 between Hengrove and the city centre also merge. The 73 will also be extended at off-peak times to Aztec West Business Park, taking in the whole of Woodlands Lane.

It comes as frustration grows among some in the city who want to bring bus services back under public control. In early July, transport campaigners gathered on College Green to urge metro mayor Dan Norris to investigate bus franchising as a way to solve Bristol’s transport woes.

First West of England is merging four services into two – photo: Betty Woolerton

The operator listed other changes to the city’s bus network:

• First Bus will reintroduce an X49 service between Staple Hill and the city centre, providing a morning express service into the city centre.
• The 48a from the UWE to Stapleton Road will increase its frequency from every 30 minutes to up to every 15 minutes to coincide with the new academic year.
• The U2 service between the University of Bristol Langford Campus and Queens Road will extend beyond 6pm with an hourly service Monday to Friday until 11pm, and a new service, every two hours, at the weekend.
• The Y6 between Bristol Bus Station and Southmead Hospital will now travel via Park Street, Whiteladies Road, Blackboy Hill, Northumbria Drive and Henleaze Road, and there will also be some changes to the timetable to accommodate this new route
• The frequency of the m1 metrobus, which serves Cribbs Causeway, UWE, Bedminster and Hengrove, will increase Monday to Friday from every 12 minutes to every 10 minutes in the morning and afternoon peak periods, from 15 minutes to 12 minutes off-peak, and from 30 minutes to every 20 minutes in the evenings.
• On Saturdays, the evening service will increase from every 30 minutes to every 20 minutes, and on Sunday mornings from every 30 minutes to every 20 minutes.
• There will also be further improvements to the m3 metrobus, with an additional service in the evening peak period, Monday to Friday.
• First Bus is also discussing with the West of England Combined Authority a proposal for a new service between Bristol and north Yate to supplement the existing Y1 service.

Rob Pymm, commercial director for First West of England, said: “We’re continuing to invest in improving bus services across Bristol and the West of England.

“Our two new cross-city services will improve connections between important areas of Bristol and make travelling around the city easier and cheaper for our customers.

“With lots of other improvements being made to other routes, including increased frequencies, and with adult and child single fares still £2 and £1 respectively and our on-board Tap On, Tap Off technology making payment quick and easy, we’re making bus travel accessible to even more people.”

Main photo: Betty Woolerton

Read next:

• Darren Jones: Buses less reliable since First promised improvements
• World’s first fleet of autonomous buses being developed in Bristol
• £8m ‘birthday buses’ scheme criticised as ‘gimmick’

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