Improved bus services introduced in North Somerset

North Somerset Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) is funded by the Department for Transport and is part of its work to make the network more convenient for passengers, with better co-ordinated services.

It’s the biggest change in the area’s bus services for years.

What are the changes?

• The X10 service will be routed through Sheepway instead of Portbury Hundred with no changes to the timetable. 
• The A3 runs seven days a week to Bristol Airport from Weston-super-Mare, running 22 hours a day, now stopping at Worle train station.
• The 3 between Searle Crescent and Worle Retail Park in Weston-super-Mare is being replaced by the 6 and X1 services. 
• The X1 Bristol to Weston (Searle Crescent) will run every 15 minutes Monday-Friday daytimes, every 20 minutes on a Saturday, and every 30 minutes on Sundays and evenings. 
• The new 6 service between Weston interchange (Alexandra Parade) and Worle Retail Park, via Upper Bristol Road, Worle High Street and Mead Vale, will run every 30 minutes during the day and 60 minutes evenings and Sundays. When combined with route 7, this doubles the frequency between Worle and Weston during the evenings and on Sundays. 
• The X4 Bristol to Portishead now runs every 20 minutes Monday-Friday.
• The X5 Portishead to Weston will cover Weston’s bus interchange (at Alexandra Parade), Atlantic Road, South Road, Locking Castle, Worle, Congresbury, Yatton, Clevedon and Portishead. For the first time, users will have access to these areas without needing to change services. The X5 will no longer serve the West Hill area of Portishead, this will be covered by the improved X4 service.
• 7 Locking Parklands to Worle Retail Park has been extended from Haywood Village to Locking Parklands. 
• The 51 service (renumbered the 125) has been revised and will no longer serve Weston railway station, the runway and Locking Parklands. Instead, it’s been rerouted to start and finish at Weston interchange (Alexandra Parade) and serve Flowerdown Retail Park and Locking Village. There will also be a return journey from Churchill Academy school grounds at 3:45pm for pupils traveling to Locking and Weston. No longer having to walk down to the main road bus stop Hillers Lane/A38 will ease safety concerns.
• The Runway and Locking Parklands will now be served by the 7 service. The first journey from Wrington has now been altered from 8.45am to 9am so concessionary passes can be used. 
• The usual seasonal reduction of the 20 from Weston interchange (Alexandra Parade) to Burnham means the service will become every 60 minutes instead of 30 and the Sunday service withdrawn. The 20 will also continue to serve Uphill. The seasonal reduction will also be made to the 1 from Sand Bay to Weston, now every 60 minutes instead of 30. These changes will come into effect from Sunday 29 October. 
• 50 service will be withdrawn, partially replaced by the 6, 10 and X5 services. For communities based in Worlebury, West Wick and Bleadon, WESTlink will provide a service.
• The 10 service will run hourly from Hutton between the hours of 10:15 until 15:12 during the week. The service will go via Uphill Hospital, Uphill Village and along Weston-super-Mare sea front to the bus interchange. 
• Everyone can use the U2 service between Langford (vet college) and Bristol centre. It has been extended to have a two-hourly Saturday and Sunday service, as well as hourly service in the evenings Monday to Saturday.

Where to find the details of the improved services

North Somerset Council said it is continuing to work with local operators to further improve the bus network. New bus network maps and detailed timetables for individual bus services are available to view online at journeyplanner.travelwest.info/routes/region/3. Select ‘current timetable’ or ‘upcoming timetable’ to view any future changes that will be made to the network.

In addition, the WESTlink ‘on demand’ service enables communities without a scheduled local bus service to get back on the bus and join the wider public transport network. For more information about WESTlink, visit www.travelwest.info/westlink/

Special 'birthday bus pass' offer

Anyone whose birthday falls in September can try the bus network changes free of charge with the birthday bus free travel offer. All North Somerset residents can apply for a birthday bus pass which allows them to travel free of charge throughout the month of their birthday, from now until 31 July 2024. WESTlink buses can also be used as part of this offer. Apply online at www.birthdaybus.co.uk

Councillor Hannah Young, North Somerset Council's executive member for highways and transport said: “The changes to our bus services are now giving more people real opportunities to choose an alternative to the car.

“I encourage everyone to make the most of your free birthday month of travel to save money and see how using the bus can become part of your daily life. We are making a real difference to the reliability of our local bus services through investment in infrastructure and increasing services – so why not give them a try?"

'We'll continue delivering improvements'

The leader of North Somerset Council, Mike Bell, said: “Recent passenger numbers show our buses are busier than ever. We hope this trend continues as more people sign up to free travel during their birthday month. We’re listening to our residents, and we understand that the changes from September won’t work for every community. That is why we remain committed to reviewing progress with operators and to delivering further improvements to bus services where we can.”

The UK Government’s Roads Minister Richard Holden MP said: “People up and down the country deserve a modern, reliable, and affordable public transport system. That is why we have provided the region with over £105 million to boost its bus services.

“Supporting the council with increasing the frequency and improving the reliability of local bus services while lowering fares is fantastic for local residents, who will now be able to get to work, attend medical appointments and visit loved ones for less and more easily.”

More information about the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) is available on the council’s website at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/bsip