First announces service changes in the surrounding area

Bus operator First West of is announcing extensive several changes to bus services in and around Bristol.

The changes will take effect on Sunday 23 August 2015.

Several new services will create new links to hospitals, schools and railway stations as well as changes to existing services to improve bus links in and around the city.

UWE students will benefit from new bus links to UWE’s & Glenside Campuses as well as improved links to Campus. These will include 24/7 bus services to and from Frenchay Campus.

Changes to services in east Bristol & South are the result of extended talks and consultation with local residents.

Services in North will also be improved to provide faster, more regular connections to Bristol from & Wraxall.

Talking about the changes, Jenny MacLeod, General Manager for Bristol says: “These changes will create new bus links between hospitals, schools as well as where people live and work. We have worked hard with local residents to ensure that the bus services are working for the communities we serve.”

She continued: “Bus services in and around Bristol are increasingly popular and this is great news. We have increased the amount of time we give many buses to complete their routes to try to iron out those routes that are suffering punctuality issues.”

The new timetables for the affected services will be uploaded to the First West of England website, www..com/westofengland, from early August (under ‘Plan a Journey’). They will be available in hard copy format from mid-August.

Specific changes, effective 23 August 2015

*NEW ROUTE NUMBER* - 3 – City Centre – This Service will replace the current Service 41. This re-numbering will simplify journeys for customers travelling from /City Centre to Whiteladies Road/Blackboy Hill who will be able to use Services 1,2,3 or4. In November 2014 service 41 was extended to serve via Docks & Lawrence Weston, from Monday – Saturday, on weekday evenings and Sundays and Public Holidays the 41 was extended to Cribbs Causeway. This has proved popular and First will now be extending all journeys on Service 3 to serve Cribbs Causeway. This doubles the number of daytime buses from & Lawrence Weston to Cribbs Causeway, as

1 of 10 pages well as allowing commuters from other parts of the city to travel to Avonmouth via Cribbs Causeway. There will be a small route change in Avonmouth Village to enable a smoother transition between the bus and train at Avonmouth Railway Station. The 3 will now operate via Avonmouth Way in both directions, allowing a new stop to be positioned close to the station entrance. There will also be a small route change in Henbury. Buses will operate via Station Road and no longer serve Crow Lane. This creates new links to Station Road from Lawrence Weston, customers for Crow Lane will still be able to use Service 4. The timetable will be significantly different than Service 41, regular customers are advised to check the new timetables carefully.

*NEW ROUTE NUMBER* - 4 – City Centre – Cribbs Causeway (via & Shirehampton) This service will replace the current Service 40. This re-numbering will simplify journeys for customers travelling from Broadmead/City Centre to Whiteladies Road/Blackboy Hill who will be able to use services 1,2,3 or4. This service has been re-timed to improve punctuality, this has involved adding some additional journeys during the rush hours. Regular customers of Service 40 are advised to check these carefully when travelling after the 23 August.

6 – City Centre – Kingswood The timetable of the Service 6 has been significantly altered. More time will be given for buses to complete the route, there will also be an increase of time at the end of the route. To accommodate this, an additional bus will added to the service pattern, ensuring that the 6 still operates every 20 minutes Monday – Saturday. These changes are designed to improve the current punctuality problems. First began operating night services on service 6 in November 2014 on a trial basis. This trial has been successful and these journeys will continue to operate.

7 – City Centre – Staple Hill/ The timetable of the Service 7 has been altered. More time will be given for buses to complete the route, there will also be an increase of time at the end of the route. To accommodate this, an additional bus will added to the service pattern, this will ensure that the 7 still operates every 20 minutes Monday – Saturday. These changes are designed to improve the current problems with punctuality.

8/9 – Temple Meads – City Centre – Clifton/Redland – City Centre – Temple Meads There will be a number of changes to the timetable of the 8/9 to improve reliability and punctuality. Due to increasing demand there will be some extra journeys at peak times Monday-Friday. An extra early morning service will operate on Sundays & Public Holidays. The first bus will now depart Temple Meads at 07:00 (Service 8) and 07:30 (Service 9). These services are an hour earlier than the current first journeys on Sundays and Public Holidays.

17 – Hospital – Keynsham Services 17 & 17A will change as part of a re-design of services in east Bristol and . First presented these proposals to residents at a public meeting earlier this

2 of 10 pages year. Following a public consultation the 17 will undergo a route change: - The route will remain the same between Southmead Hospital & . - The 17 will then additionally serve Hanham Common, this will ensure that a direct service between Hanham Common and Kingswood is retained. The timetable of the 17 will be significantly altered to improve punctuality. Extra time will be given for buses to complete the route, extra time will also be added between journeys. These changes are designed to address the current punctuality issues on the 17, regular customers are advised to check the new timetables carefully before travelling.

17A– Southmead Hospital – Keynsham Services 17 & 17A will change as part of a re-design of services in east Bristol and South Gloucestershire. First presented proposals to residents at a public meeting earlier this year. Following a public consultation the 17A will undergo several route changes: - The route between Southmead Hospital and will remain the same - From Fishponds the route will then operate via Forest road, Briar Way and Hillfields Avenue where it will re-join the current route. This change will accommodate the withdrawal of the 83. - To accommodate changes to Service 42, the 17A will operate a modified route from Cock Road (Kingswood). It will operate via Wraxall Road, Tower Road South, Mill Lane, Millers Drive, High Street, North Street (passed Sir Bernard Lovell school), Cherry Garden Lane, Kenilworth Drive and Bath Road, where it will join its current route. This change mirrors the current 42 route (which after 23 August will no longer serve Keynsham) - Areas in Cadbury Heath, North Common & will benefit from a new direct link to Southmead Hospital. - Re-routing the 17A retains a direct service to Keynsham from North Common and . The timetable of the 17A will be significantly altered, regular customers are advised to check carefully before travelling.

18 – – Henbury The timetable of the 18 will be altered on 23 August. On Sundays and Public Holidays journeys will be extended to serve the full route to Henbury. This will create new Sunday links to and from Westbury, Shirehampton and Lawrence Weston.

21 – Felton – Bristol Temple Meads. First operates this service on tender to Council. Due to very low use made of these journeys the Council has decided to cease this contract from 23 August when the 21 service will be withdrawn.

38 – – Bath (via Keynsham) On Sundays and Public Holidays service 38 will operate every two hours, this means there will be two less buses in each direction. Service 39 will continue to provide a service every 30 minutes on Sundays and Public Holidays. These changes will provide a more clock face departure.

40 – City Centre – Cribbs Causeway This service will be re-numbered Service 4 from 23 August 2015. The timetable will change 3 of 10 pages significantly. See Service 4 for more information.

41 – City Centre – Henbury/Cribbs Causeway This service will be re-numbered Service 3 from 23 August 2015. The timetable will change significantly and there will also be a small route change in Avonmouth Village. See service 3 for more information.

42 – City Centre – Bitton (via Kingswood & Cadbury Heath) Following a comprehensive review and public consultation there will be significant alterations to Services 42,43,44 & 45: - The route of the 42 between City Centre and Cadbury Heath (Newton Road shops) remains unchanged. - From here the 42 will operate via Park Road, Tower Road South, Cowhorn Hill, West Street and Cherry Garden Road where the 42 will terminate. - This will provide customers in Oldland & Bitton will have a more direct, quicker service to the City Centre which was requested during the consultation. - The 42 will no longer serve North Common and Willsbridge, which instead will be served by Services 17A and 43. - The 42 will also not serve Keynsham which will be instead served by Service 17A. This change is reflective of several meetings and a public consultation with local residents who were concerned by regular double decker vehicles travelling on residential streets. The timetable of the 42 will be altered significantly to address current punctuality issues. Regular customers are advised to check the timetables carefully before travelling.

43 City Centre – Bitton (via Kingswood & ) Following a comprehensive review and public consultation there will be significant alterations to services 42,43,44 & 45: - The route of the 43 between City Centre and Warmley remains unchanged. - From here the 43 will operate via Mill Lane, Millers Drive, High Street, Barry Road & Cherry Garden Road where the service will terminate. - This change follows a public consultation and ensures a link between North Common, Kingswood & City Centre remains. - The 43 will no longer serve Cadbury Heath, which will be served by Services 42,44 & 45. The timetable of the 43 will be altered significantly to address current punctuality issues. Regular customers are advised to check the timetables carefully before travelling after 23 August.

44 – City Centre – Cadbury Heath (via Hanham) Following a comprehensive review and public consultation there will be significant alterations to Services 42,43,44 & 45: - The route of the 44 between City Centre & Hanham (Blue Bowl) remains unchanged. - From here the 44 will operate via Stonehill, Marsham Way, Craven Way (past ASDA), Wraxall Road & Newton Road where the 44 will terminate. - This change has been made as a result of feedback from local residents. . - The 44 will no longer link Kingswood and Hanham which instead will be linked by Service 17. The timetable of the 44 will be altered significantly to address current punctuality issues.

4 of 10 pages Regular customers are advised to check the timetable carefully before traveling after 23 August.

45 – City Centre – Cadbury Heath (via Hanham & ) Following a comprehensive review and public consultation there will be significant alterations to services 42,43,44 & 45: - The route of the 45 between City Centre and Cadbury Heath (Newton Road shops) remains unchanged. - The 45 will then terminate and no longer serve Wraxall Road, Craven Way & Longwell Green Aspects due to very low customer demand. - The 44 will instead serve Wraxall Road, Craven Way or Aspects Leisure Park. Customers for Aspects Leisure Park can use Service 44 to Marsham Way for a short walk to the leisure park. The timetable of the 45 will be altered significantly to address current punctuality issues. Regular customers are advised to check the timetables carefully before traveling after 23 August.

48 – City Centre – Emersons Green (via Downend) There will be significant timetable alterations to service 48. The frequency of Service 48 will change to every 20 minutes Monday – Friday. The 48. 49 and new service 48A will create a 5 minute frequency between City Centre & Fishponds which better reflects customer demand. Night journeys on the 48 will be extended to serve the full route to Emersons Green. This will create new night services for Blackhorse & Emersons Green. These will run every hour making the 48 a 24/7 bus service. Alongside the new night journeys on Service 49 customers between City Centre & Fishponds will benefit from a 30 minute service throughout the night.

*NEW SERVICE* 48A – City Centre – UWE Frenchay (via Fishponds) This new service is designed to work alongside services 48 & 49. - It will follow the same route as the 48 & 49 from City Centre – Fishponds - From Fishponds service 48A will turn into Manor Road, Blackberry Hill, Broom Hill, Frenchay Park Road, Stoke Hill & Coldhabour Lane before terminating at UWE’s Frenchay Campus. - This new service will create new links between Fishponds & UWE’s Frenchay and Glenside Campus’ - The 48a will run every 10 minutes Monday – Friday, every 20 minutes on Saturdays and every 30 minutes on Sundays and Public Holidays.

49 – City Centre – Emersons Green (via Staple Hill) There will be significant timetable alterations to service 49. The frequency of Service 49 will change to every 20 minutes Monday – Friday. The 48. 49 and new service 48A will create a 5 minute frequency between City Centre & Fishponds which better reflects customer demand The 49 will also benefit from a new night service that will operate once an hour throughout the night, making the 49 a 24/7 bus service. Alongside the night journeys on Service 48 customers between City Centre & Fishponds will benefit from a 30 minute service

5 of 10 pages throughout the night.

50/51 – City Centre – (via Knowle & Whitchurch) The terminus of the 50/51 will move to facilitate Metrobus works in . The 50/51 will therefore terminate at Broad Quay. As yet Bristol City Council haven’t confirmed exactly which stop this service will be using.

*NEW SERVICE* 53 – Bristol Temple Meads – Hengrove (via Wells Road & Airport Road) This new service will use vehicles that currently run out of service from First’s Hengrove Depot to Temple Meads Station. This service will operate from Hengrove Depot along Airport Road, Wells Road and terminate at Temple Meads Station. These buses will provide extra early morning journeys towards Bristol Temple Meads and evening journeys towards Hengrove.

70 – Bristol Temple Meads – UWE Frenchay (via City Centre & Down) Due to the increasing popularity of Services 70 & 71 First have re-timed the services to provide better punctuality. The 70 will run 24 hours a day 7 days a week starting 23 August, providing students at UWE with a bus whenever they need it. (night services terminate and start from City Centre rather than Temple Meads) The timetable of the 70 has been altered to allow buses more time to complete the route. An extra vehicle will be added to the service pattern to ensure that the 70 maintains its current frequency throughout the day. There will also be additional journeys added at peak times as a result of increased customer demand.

71 – Bristol Temple Meads – UWE Frenchay (via City Centre & Road) Due to the increasing popularity of Service 70 & 71 First have re-timed the services to provide better punctuality. There will be a number of changes to evening journeys on the 71 which will prove popular with students at UWE, there will be a later last departure from Temple Meads. On Sundays and public Holidays the 71 will finish at midnight (currently the 71 finishes around 19:30 on Sundays and Public Holidays) The timetable of the 71 has been altered to allow buses more time to complete the route. An extra vehicle will be added to the service pattern to ensure that the 71maintains its current frequency throughout the day. There will also be additional journeys added at peak times as a result of increased customer demand 72 – City Centre – UWE Frenchay (via Whiteladies Road & Gloucester Road) The route of the 72 will be altered in several places: - In the City Centre the service will start from The Horsefair operating via Penn Street, Broad Weir, Union Street and Rupert Street before continuing the current route. This provides the 72 with a new link to Broadmead & . - From City Centre to Redland Hill the route remains unchanged. - From Redland Hill the 72 will operate via Redland Road, South Road & Zetland Road, re- joining its current route at Gloucester Road

6 of 10 pages - First are still awaiting confirmation from developers of the opening of the Romney Avenue Bus Link to allow buses to serve the intended route through . - The 72 will no longer serve Cranbrook Road which will instead be served by new Service 77. The timetable will differ from the current operation therefore regular customers are advised to check it carefully before travelling.

*NEW SERVICE* - 77 – City Centre – Thornbury (via Southmead Hospital & Parkway Station) The new Service 77 will part replace both Services 83 & 520: - The route will operate hourly Monday – Saturday daytime - The 77 will operate the same route as the current 520 between Bristol & Westbury. - From Westbury it will operate through to Southmead Hospital then onwards to Parkway Station - From Parkway it will continue to Thornbury following the route of the current 83. - This will re-instate a link between Westbury & Southmead following public requests. - This also secures the future of the former 520 as well as providing new links between the Bristol Royal Infirmary, Cotham, and Southmead Hospital, Bristol Parkway, & Thornbury. Timetables and maps will be available in August.

81 – UWE Frenchay – As part of the review of services in Bristol and South Gloucestershire the 81 will no longer serve the section of route between UWE and Kingswood, however, most connections can be made with a change of bus at UWE. - Customers wishing to travel between UWE and Fishponds can use new Service 48A - Customers wishing to travel to and from Kingswood can use Service 319/X18 - Cossham Hospital will continue to be served by Services 17/17A

83 – Kingswood – Thornbury Services in South Gloucestershire have been reviewed and service 83 will be withdrawn from 23 August: - Between Bristol Parkway and Thornbury new Service 77 will replace the current 83 - Between Kingswood & Bristol Parkway customers can use Service 319 or 17/17A

376 - Bristol – Street(via Wells) There will be some timetable changes (Monday – Friday). These changes will allow buses more time to complete the route, more time will also be added to the recovery time at the end of the journey. These changes have been designed to improve punctuality. First will use an additional bus to provide extra departures from Bristol. First will double the number of journeys on the 376 on Sundays and Public Holidays. The 376 will now operate every 30 minutes. There will also be an earlier journey departing Street at 07:38, over an hour earlier than the current early morning bus. Customers travelling to Street & Glastonbury will benefit from new evening departures from Bristol. The 21:35 and the 22:35 departures from Bristol Bus Station will be extended to serve the full length of the route and terminate in Street. These changes follow requests from customers who will now be able to catch later trains to Temple Meads Station to

7 of 10 pages connect with the 376.

379 – Bath – Bristol (via Radstock & Pensford) The timetable of the 379 will change to facilitate the changes to other services as well as to provide improvements to the punctuality and reliability.

520 – City Centre – Westbury Service 520 will be replaced by new service 77 from 23 August. 77

X18 – Kingswood – Southmead Hospital Following a review of services in South Gloucestershire the route of the X18 will change: - The X18 will now divert from the ring road to serve Tennis Court Road & Anchor Road - The service will also divert from the ring road to serve the new Lyde Green housing development - The X18 will no longer divert to serve the stop outside the MOD Abbey Wood, instead customers can use the Long Down Avenue stop on Long Mead (less then 5 minutes walk from the main entrance of MOD) - From here the X18 will now serve Parkway Station, Gipsy Patch Lane, Gloucester Road North & Southmead Road before terminating at Southmead Hospital. will no longer be served. - These changes create new links for areas between Kingswood, New & Lyde Green and Parkway Station and Southmead Hospital. - Customers for Aztec West can change to Service 73 at Parkway Station.

X48 –City Centre – Lyde Green Due to the popularity of Service X48 since its introduction First have put an extra journey departing Lyde Green at 07:15 and arriving into City Centre at 07:55

X74 – City Centre – Bradley Stoke (via UWE Frenchay) Full details of term time tables of this service will be announced closer to the start of the 2015/2016 academic year in September

X2/X3 – Bristol – Portishead As a result of customer feedback the X3 will serve Sheepway rather than Portbury Hundreds. The timetable for both X2 & X3 will be altered to improve punctuality. Regular customers are advised to check these timetables before traveling after 23 August. As part an improvement for UWE students in Bristol services X2/X3 will additionally serve Bower Asthon Campus. All journeys heading towards Bristol City Centre between 10:00 & 19:00 Monday – Friday UWE term time only will make the detour. This will create new First bus links from UWE Bower Ashton to and City Centre. UWE term time starts on 12 September.

X5 – UWE Frenchay – Cribbs Causeway (via Cribbs Causeway & Portishead) In partnership with North Somerset Council several Service X5 journeys will operate via Royal Portbury Docks. These have been specifically designed to fit the shift patterns of commuters working at the docks. These journeys are:

8 of 10 pages - 07:00 departure from Weston-super-Mare will now depart at 06:45 and will extend to serve Portbury Docks. - The 08:15 departure from Portishead towards Weston-super-Mare will now start at Portbury Docks at 08:00. - The 07:45 departure from Weston-super-Mare will now depart at 07:40 and will serve Portbury Docks (designed for those starting work at 09:00) - The 08:45 departure from Weston-super-Mare will serve Portbury Docks (designed for those starting work at 10:00) - The 15:42 departure from UWE will serve Portbury Docks (for those finishing work at 16:00 - The 16:47 departure from UWE will serve Portbury Docks (for those finishing work at 17:00) - The 17:50 departure from UWE will serve Portbury Docks (for those finishing work at 18:00) - Journeys on Sundays & Public Holidays will be extended to UWE. This will create new Sunday links to Bristol Parkway Railway Station as well as UWE.

X6 – Bristol – Clevedon (via Failand) Evening journeys on X6 Monday – Saturday will increase to every 60 minutes, doubling the current frequency.

X7 – Bristol – Chepstow – Newport - Severn Express (via Cribbs Causeway) For a limited period a special £4 ticket will be available for unlimited travel on one day between Chepstow and Newport. This ticket is considerably cheaper than the train (which costs £7.30) and the Severn Express is almost twice as quick as other bus services in the area. Due to the popularity of the X7 First will add a new Sunday & Public Holiday journey departing Chepstow at 08:45 and arriving into Bristol at 09:38. There will also be an additional journey departing Bristol at 1845. These are ideal for anybody traveling to Bristol for a day out.

X8 – Bristol – Nailsea (via ) - There will be a number of changes to services in Nailsea & Clevedon: - The X8 will operate via Long Ashton by-pass and will no longer serve Long Ashton. This will provide a much quicker journey for customers in Backwell & Nailsea. (see X9 for extra journeys to and from Long Ashton) - In Nailsea the X8 will serve the loop in Nailsea terminating in the town, no longer serving Portishead, Clevedon & Tickenham. - Customers for Portishead, Clevedon & Tickenham can use service A2 which will be extended to cover the parts of the X8 that are being withdrawn. - These changes will give quicker connections to passengers wishing to travel between Bristol & Backwell &Nailsea - First will also introduce a later departure from Bristol. The last departure will now leave Bristol Bus Station at 00:20 on a trial basis.

*NEW SERVICE* - X9 – Bristol – Nailsea (via Wraxall) - The new X9 is being introduced following consultation with local residents in Nailsea & Wraxall:

9 of 10 pages - The service will operate from Bristol Bus Station through City Centre, Anchor Road, Long Ashton, Wraxall & Nailsea. - This service will run every 30 minutes throughout the day Monday to Saturday an improvement on the handful of buses currently serving Wraxall. - In Nailsea the X9 will operate from Stock Way North, Hazelbury Road, Queens Road, The Perrings, White Oak Way, St Marys Grove, Hannah More Way & Pound Lane before heading back to Bristol. - This service will run every 30 minutes throughout the day Monday to Saturday. - The X9 replaces the current rush hour journeys on service X10. - This service will see a more regular bus service for residents of Hazelbury Road who currently only have a handful of buses a day. - Some services will be operated on behalf of First by ABus. On these services some First tickets may not be available, however all valid First tickets will be accepted on these buses.

X10 – Bristol – Nailsea (via Wraxall) – Monday – Friday Peak times only This service will be withdrawn and replaced with the much more frequent service X9 (details above)

New timetables for all the affected services will be uploaded to the First West of England website, www.firstgroup.com/westofengland, from early August (under ‘Plan a Journey’). They will be available in hard copy format from mid-August. For more information about First West of England log onto www.firstgroup.com/westofengland. First is also on Facebook and Twitter, at www.facebook.com/FirstWestofEngland and www.twitter.com/FirstBSA.

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