First Bus is making major changes to some of its services in and around Bristol from April 24. The bus operator says the changes reflect 'ongoing driver shortages' and 'low passenger numbers'.
First has confirmed that the T2 from Thornbury to Bristol and the Y2 from Chipping Sodbury to Bristol will no longer operate, and the 92 bus will no longer serve Whitchurch. Local councillor Tim Kent says this will "leave hundreds of people having to walk well over 1km to get a bus and will be a disaster."
Other services will also be temporarily reduced as passenger numbers are "still significantly below pre-pandemic levels" and driver numbers are insufficient, First Bus says.
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Doug Claringbold, Managing Director of First West of England, said: “Despite the Government extending emergency funding for another six months, ongoing issues with driver availability mean further action is necessary beyond the changes we made at the end of January to ensure we can operate services more reliably for our customers.
“A number of services will see temporary reductions in frequency whilst passenger and driver numbers are constrained but unfortunately there are a number of services that are not commercially viable even at pre-pandemic passenger levels. As a result we are having to make difficult decisions to act on these poor performing routes and ensure that our resources are focused on the areas of the greatest need.
“Wherever routes have been curtailed or cut, these were difficult decisions and we apologise to all customers who will be adversely impacted. We need to make these adjustments to be able to ensure the overall viability of our network in what remain very challenging and uncertain conditions, and we will continue to work closely with the West of England Combined Authority and other stakeholders as we navigate this difficult path.”
The full list of changes are below:
- Service 1, Broomhill to Cribbs Causeway via Bristol City Centre: Monday to Friday off-peak and all day Saturday frequency will reduce from every 15 to every 20 minutes
- Services 2 and 2a between Cribbs Causeway (Brentry for Service 2a) and Stockwood via Bristol City Centre:Monday to Friday off-peak and all day Saturday frequency on both services will reduce from every 30 to every 40 minutes, resulting in a 20 minute frequency on the common sections of route
- Services 44 and 45, Bristol City Centre to Cadbury Heath/Cherry Gardens: Monday to Friday off-peak frequency will be reduced from every 20 to every 30 minutes and some poorly used early morning and weekend journeys will be withdrawn
- Services 48 and 49, Bristol City Centre to Emersons Green/Lyde Green: Sunday frequency will be reduced from every 20 to every 30 minutes and some early poorly used morning and weekend journeys will be withdrawn
- Service 70, Bristol City Centre to UWE Frenchay Campus: Monday to Friday off-peak frequency will reduced from every 20 to every 30 minutes
- Services 75 and 76, Hengrove to Henbury/Cribbs Causeway: Saturday frequency will reduce from every 15 to every 20 minutes, whilst Sunday frequency will reduce from every 20 to every 30 minutes
- Service 90, Bristol City Centre to Hengrove: Monday to Friday off-peak frequency will be reduced from every 15 to every 20 minutes.
- Services 6 and 7, Bristol city centre to Kingswood/Staple Hill: Due to low customer demand, some early morning and weekend journeys will be withdrawn
Service 43, Bristol City Centre to Cadbury Heath: Some short journeys to Kingswood and some early morning and weekend journeys will be withdrawn due to low customer demand
Service 48a, Bristol City Centre to UWE Frenchay Campus: Monday to Friday frequency during the main part of the day will be reduced from every 10 to every 20 minutes. This is a normal seasonal change to reflect lower demand for travel to and from UWE over the summer months
Service 71, Parson Street to UWE Frenchay Campus: The route of Service 71 will be extended between Parson Street and Hengrove Depot, resulting in a much-improved service along Hartcliffe Way to and from Bristol City Centre. In addition, a new Saturday service running every 20 minutes to Horfield Common will be introduced. This change will also give customers a more frequent Saturday service along Bedminster Road
Service 73, Bristol Temple Meads to Cribbs Causeway: Due to low customer demand and to ensure that service levels meet available driver resources, Service 73 Monday to Friday off-peak short journeys from Bristol City Centre to Bristol Parkway will be withdrawn. This change will not disrupt customers travelling to and from Bradley Stoke/Cribbs Causeway
- Service 91, Bristol City to Hengrove: In response to customer demand, Service 91 will operate a slightly different route, running directly between Broad Walk Square and Melvin Square via Daventry Way and Leinster Avenue every 65 minutes, rather than along Ilminster Avenue. It will no longer extend to Hengrove Depot, instead terminating at Imperial Park. This route change provides customers with a new direct route between Bristol City Centre and Imperial Park via Totterdown
- Service A1, Bristol Temple Meads to Bristol Airport: Due to increase passenger volumes at Bristol Airport, Sunday frequency will be increased from every 30 to every 20 minutes. Stopping arrangements will also be revised to return the service to its previous express service level, with limited stops through Bedminster. Concessions passes will also no longer be valid
- Service m1, Hengrove Park to Cribbs Causeway: From 24 th April 2022: Monday to Friday frequency will decrease from every 10 to every 12 minutes, Saturday frequency will decrease from every 10 to every 12 minutes, Sunday frequency will decrease from every 15 to every 20 minutes. From 24 th July 2022: Monday to Friday off-peak frequency will decrease from every 12 to every 15 minutes. Saturday frequency will decrease from every 12 to every 15 minutes
- Service m2, Long Ashton Park & Ride to Bristol City Centre via Bristol Temple Meads: After consultation with the BRI, the m2 will be operating later evening journeys to better reflect staff shift patterns
- Service m3, Emersons Green to Bristol City Centre: Journeys after 21:00 will be withdrawn due to lower demand for travel to and from UWE over the summer months
- Service Y4, Bristol Bus Station to Yate: To ensure the service is financially viable and can be operated within available resources, Service Y4 will operate between Bristol and Yate Park and Ride only, rather than extending to Yate town centre, with Monday to Saturday frequency reduced from every 60 to every 90 minutes. Customers travelling to/from Yate town centre can change to Service Y1 at Yate Park and Ride. Service Y1, Y3 and Y6 between Yate and Bristol will have minor timetable changes to improve punctuality
If you're affected by these changes then please let us know by emailing beth.cruse@reachplc.com
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