List of bus routes in Bristol
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Whilst many Bus and Coach companies operate over the greater Bristol area, First Bristol has a virtual monopoly on the city's public transport. As a result, Bristol's buses are among the most expensive in Britain and are late 44% of the time. [1]
Other companies offering services include: Abus, Buglers, Eurotaxis, Megabus, National Express, South Gloucestershire Bus & Coach, Stagecoach and Wessex Connect.
Contents |
[edit] City and suburban services
[edit] Showcase routes
Showcase routes are being developed by First in partnership with local government, to improve services with new buses, real time passenger information systems and traffic management measures.
11 routes are planned across the city.
| Showcase route | Info | Service number(s)or likely number(s) | Date started or due to start |
| 1 | The first showcase route started in Bristol in 2005, between two disadvantaged areas (Hartcliffe and Henbury). | 76 and 77 | 2005 |
| 2 | The second showcase route started in late 2007, along the A420 and A431 to Kingswood and Hanham. | 40, 41, 43, 44 and 45 | 4 December 2007 |
| 3 | M32 bus lane and Park and Ride. | 2010 | |
| 4 | Bristol to Cribbs Causeway via Downs and Westbury | 1, 54 | Not yet started |
| 5 | Bristol to Cribbs Causeway via Bristol Parkway and North Fringe | 73 | Not yet started |
| 6 | A4 Bristol to Bath | X39 and 339 | Not yet started |
| 7 | A432 Bristol to Yate | X30 and X40 | Not yet started |
| 8 | A37 Bristol to Norton Radstock | 379 | Not yet started |
| 9 | A4174 Avon Ring Road | Likely to be a new service | Not yet started |
| 10 | A370 Bristol to Weston-super-Mare | X1, 121, 350, 351 and 353 | Not yet started |
| 11 | A369 Bristol to Portishead | 358 and 359 | Not yet started |
[edit] Educational Services
Secondary Schools
| Service | Start | End | Operator |
| 427 | The Ridings School | Frenchay | South Gloucestershire Bus & Coach |
| 429 | St Mary Redcliffe | Avonmouth | First Bristol |
| 430 | Ashton Park School | Totterdown | First Bristol and Abus |
| 431 | Ashton Park School | The Malago | First Bristol and Abus |
| 432 | Wellsway School | Cadbury Heath | South Gloucestershire Bus & Coach |
| 433 | St Bernadette School | Brislington | First Bristol |
| 436 | Brislington School | St Annes | First Bristol |
U.W.E (U Link)
U Link started on 14 September 2007 as a link between the U.W.E campuses in Bristol. The services are operated by Wessex Connect.
| Service | Start | End | Operator |
| U1 | Frenchay Campus | Bower Ashton Campus via Gloucester Road | Wessex Connect |
| U2 | Frenchay Campus | Broad Weir via Gloucester Road | Wessex Connect |
| U3 | Frenchay Campus | Broad Weir via Fishponds | Wessex Connect |
| U4 | Frenchay Campus | Broad Weir via M32 | Wessex Connect |
[edit] Fares
Single/return tickets
Fares depend on the number of Fare Stages travelled (except on services 8/9 where there is a flat fare). Discounts are available for under 16s.
- Services 8/9 flat fare - £1.40
- 1 Fare Stage - £1.20
- 2 and 3 Fare Stages - £1.70
- 4 Fare Stages - £2.20
- Longer journeys are charged at £2.70.
Return fares are available at a discount.
- FirstDay
This ticket allows unlimited travel on First bus services in Bristol Zones 1 and 2 for one day. Adult - £4 (before 0900 Monday – Friday) or £3.70 (at all other times)
Student (with photocard) - £3
Child - £2.80 (weekdays) or £2.20 (weekends & bank holidays)
FirstFamily - costs £7.30 (not available before 0900 Monday - Friday) for up to 2 adults & 3 children
- First Ten
FirstTen gives ten single journeys within Bristol Zones 1 and 2 and is priced at £25.
[edit] Park and Ride
There are three park and ride sites operational all year round, Monday-Saturdays only. On the approach to Christmas they operate 7 days a week and an additional service operates.
| Service | Start | End | Frequency | Operator | Info |
| 902 | Portway Park and Ride | Centre | Approx every 15 mins | Wessex Connect | Portway Park and Ride is at Shirehampton on the A4. Journey time is approximately 30 minutes to the city centre. |
| 903 | Long Ashton Park and Ride | Centre | Approx every 12 mins | Wessex Connect | Long Ashton Park and Ride is at Long Ashton in North Somerset, on the A370. Journey time is approximately 15 minutes to the city centre. |
| 904 | A4 Bath Road Park and Ride | Centre | Approx every 10 mins | First Bristol | A4 Bath Road Park and Ride is at Brislington on the A4. Journey time is approximately 20 minutes to the city centre. |
| 984 | University of the West of England | Centre | Christmas Park and Ride in the University of the West of England car park, just off junction 1 of the M32. It only operates on the approach to Christmas. |
All Park & Ride services are operated under contract to Bristol City Council.
Proposed Park and rides
| Start | End | Info |
| Yate | Centre | Bus lane is already in place, but plans are on hold. |
| M32 Frenchay/Stapleton | Centre | Planned for 2010. |
| Bristol Parkway A38? | Centre | Proposed, but no real plans. |
[edit] Park and Ride fares
| Ticket Type | Cost | Info |
| Return | £3.00 | Before 10am |
| Return | £2.50 | After 10am |
| 10 journey ticket | £13.00 | Not available on Long Ashton service 903 |
| 20 journey ticket | £24.00 |
Up to three under-16s travel free with each fare-paying adult.
[edit] Country services
[edit] X Services
X services have limited stops. Some operate only at peak times.
| Service | Start | End | Operator | |
| X1 | Bristol | Weston-super-Mare | First Somerset & Avon | |
| X7 | Bristol | Clevedon | First Somerset & Avon | |
| X10 | Bristol | Magor | First Somerset & Avon | peak only |
| X11 | Bristol | Chepstow | First Somerset & Avon | peak only |
| X14 | Bristol | Newport | First Somerset & Avon and Stagecoach | |
| X25 | Cribbs Causeway | Weston-super-Mare | First Somerset & Avon | |
| X30 | Bristol | Brimsham Park, Yate | First Somerset & Avon | |
| X39 | Bristol | Bath | First Somerset & Avon | |
| X40 | Bristol | Brimsham Park, Yate | First Somerset & Avon | |
| X42 | Bristol | Chipping Sodbury | First Somerset & Avon | |
| X62 | Bristol city centre | Mangotsfield | First Bristol | peak only |
| X73 | Bristol city centre | Bradley Stoke | First Bristol | peak only |
| X74 | Bristol city centre | Bradley Stoke | First Bristol | peak only |
| X84 | Bristol city centre | UWE | First Bristol |
[edit] Night services
There are 10 night services across the Bristol area. These services only run on Saturday and Sunday mornings and at New Year. They operate hourly from midnight until 6am.
| Service | Start | Via | End | Operator |
| N1 | Centre | Southmead | Centre | First Bristol |
| N2 | Centre | Fishponds | Centre | First Bristol |
| N3 | Centre | Kingswood | Centre | First Bristol |
| N4 | Centre | Stockwood | Centre | First Bristol |
| N5 | Centre | Rookery Farm | Centre | First Bristol |
| N6 | Centre | Hartcliffe | Centre | First Bristol |
| N7 | Centre | Avonmouth | Centre | First Bristol |
| N8 | Centre | Henbury | Centre | First Bristol |
| N50 | Centre | Yate | Chipping Sodbury | Wessex Connect |
| N61 | Centre | Gloucester Road | Filton | Wessex Connect |
| 352 | Centre | Yatton | Weston-Super-Mare | In One Spin |
[edit] Coach Services
The main operator of long distance coach services from Bristol is National Express, departing from the Bristol Bus and Coach Station.
| Service | Route |
| 040 | Bristol - London |
| 201 | Swansea - Bristol - Gatwick Airport |
| 202 | Swansea - Bristol - Heathrow Airport |
| 300 | Bristol - Southsea |
| 302 | Bristol - Northampton |
| 318 | Bristol - Liverpool |
| 319 | Bristol - Birmingham |
| 324 | Paignton - Bristol - Bradford |
| 328 | Plymouth - Bristol - Manchester - Rochdale |
| 330 | Penzance - Bristol - Nottingham |
| 333 | Bournemouth - Bristol - Blackpool |
| 336 | Penzance - Bristol - Edinburgh |
| 337 | Brixham - Bristol - Rugby |
| 339 | Westward Ho! - Bristol - Cleethorpes |
| 530 | Paignton - Bristol - Newcastle |
| 531 | Plymouth - Bristol - Newcastle |
Other coach operators are
- Bakers Dolphin
- Service from Bristol to London, the London Flyer
- Service from Bristol to London, also to Newport and Cwmbran
[edit] Bristol Bus and Coach Station
The Bristol Bus and Coach Station is at Marlborough Street, near the Broadmead shopping area. It was opened in 1958, and redeveloped in 2006
The station is managed by First Somerset & Avon. There are 19 bays. The station has a First Travel Shop, National Express shop, National Express information desk, Pumpkin Café, Amigo News, Security Office and Toilets.
The bus station is used by the Bristol International Flyer service to the airport (route 331), most First Somerset & Avon limited stop (X) and country services, National Express services, Bakers Dolphin London Flyer and Eurotaxis services 672 and 674 to Cheddar.
[edit] Former Routes
| Service | Route | |
| 2 | Similar to current route 1 (Broomhill to Southmead) | |
| 22 | Rookery Farm - Westbury (via Henleaze Road) | |
| 23 | Avonmouth - Sea Mills - Westbury - Henleaze - Centre - Rookery Farm | Later replaced by Service 523 between Avonmouth & Westbury. |
| 26 | Lockleaze - Ashton Vale | |
| 40 | Old route not new one (similar to old 43 service) | |
| 42 | Similar to route 41 | |
| 55 | Centre - |Southmead | |
| 57 | Henbury - Broadmead | |
| X67 | Centre - Cherry Gardens | |
| X72 | Centre to Bradley stoke via M32, operated by South Glos Buses | |
| 80 | Hartcliffe to Broadmead, was operated by Somerbus, the by Ambassador Travel as X80 | |
| 82 | Centre - Bradley Stoke - Cribbs Causeway | |
| 88 | Broadmead - Knowle - Broadmead | |
| 180 | Rail Link - Temple Meads to Broadmead | |
| 501 | Similar to current route 1 | |
| 502 | Similar to former route 2 | |
| 520 | Similar to current route 20 | |
| 521 | Similar to current route 21 | |
| 523 | Westbury - Avonmouth | |
| 527 - 530 | Avonmouth & Lawrence Weston / Shirehampton - Centre - Hartcliffe | |
| 544 | North Common to Bristol city centre | |
| 545 | Oldland (Cherry Tree Pub) to Bristol city centre | |
| 572 | Unknown |
[edit] History
Horse-bus services in Bristol were started in 1887 by the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company. The horse-buses were replaced by motor buses from 1906, when the company started a service from the Centre to Clifton.
From 1887 to 1986, Bristol Tramways (renamed Bristol Omnibus Company in 1957) had an almost complete monopoly of bus services in and from Bristol. The exceptions were in the 1920s, when Greyhound Motors provided competition until taken over by Bristol Tramways in 1928; a few small independent operators, the last of which, the Dundry Pioneer, was acquired in 1950; and Red & White Services, which started joint services with Bristol Omnibus Company to South Wales when the Severn Bridge opened in 1966.
Between 1937 and 1978 Bristol Omnibus Company was the operating partner in Bristol Joint Services, a joint undertaking with Bristol Corporation which controlled bus services within the city. The company owned and operated the buses, and shared revenues with the Corporation.
Bristol Omnibus Company was state-owned from 1948, but in 1980 the Thatcher government embarked on a programme of privatisation and deregulation of bus services. In preparation the company was split into two operating units in 1983: the city services, which in 1985 adopted the brand Bristol City Line, and the country services, which in 1986 became a separate company, Badgerline Ltd. Badgerline was sold to its management in 1986, and the original company was sold in 1987 to Midland Red West, who kept the City Line brand.
Deregulation meant that Badgerline was able to begin bus services within the city, in competition with City Line. However, in 1988 Midland Red West was itself acquired by Badgerline, so that Bristol's bus services were again controlled by a single company.
In 1995 Badgerline merged with Grampian Regional Transport to become First Bus, later renamed FirstGroup. First adopted a policy of common branding, and the City Line and Badgerline brands were dropped. Bristol Omnibus Company was renamed First Bristol Buses in 1999.
A few small independent operators have competed with Badgerline, City Line and First since deregulation. Buglers ran a few tendered local services from 1988. Abus began with a competing service to Keynsham in 1991. South Gloucestershire Bus & Coach built up a small network of local services from 1997 until it was taken over in 2007 by Rotala, who rebranded the services Wessex Connect. However, the independents have been unable to shake the dominance of First.
