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All across the Great Western territory / Buses and other ways to travel / West Wiltshire Bus Changes April 2024
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on: March 27, 2024, 19:16:41
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A few changes coming up centered on the West Wiltshire area during April, some using the Bus Service Improvement Program (BISP), which will give some new journey opportunities.
As in a previous post, Starting April 7th, First will be introducing a direct service D1X between Bath, Bradford on Avon and Trowbridge using double deckers providing a quicker service by going via Sally In The Wood, The service will slot in between the present D1 Warminster service providing a twice hourly link into Bath from Trowbridge and Bradford.
The following week, Beeline's present Service 24 Salisbury - Warminster will continue to Frome, replacing the current 53 service that runs between Warminster & Frome at present, This will provide journey opportunities between south of Warminster into Somerset.
Faresaver's service X34 will gain a Sunday and Bank Holiday service between Trowbridge and Chippenham, allowing journeys between the Wiltshire towns for the first time in many years.
The Trowbridge Town services 60/65 will be transfering from Faresaver to FromeBus, and some timing changes are due to be made to the Trowbridge area services 63-69, with two 69 journeys running via Bradford becoming 68 via Staverton, probably as the D1X will now provide a greater capacity between Trowbridge & Bradford instead.
Timetables should be available from the relevant operators soon apparently. It will be interesting if these services prove themselves before the BISP funding runs out
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All across the Great Western territory / Buses and other ways to travel / Reintroduction of D1X Limited Stop Bath <> Trowbridge
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on: February 26, 2024, 18:06:53
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Planned service changes from 7th April 2024 include the re-introduction of the D1X service between Bath & Trowbridge, every hour using double deckers using grant money from Wiltshire Councils Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding **NEW SERVICE** D1x (Bath – Trowbridge)
We are pleased to announce in partnership with Wiltshire Council the introduction of a new service between Bath and Trowbridge, offering faster connections and more capacity to the residents of Bath, Trowbridge, Bradford-on-Avon and Farleigh Wick. The D1x will run fast into Bath via the Bradford Road/Sally in the Wood and London Road, making limited stops in Farleigh Wick.
The D1x will be around 15 minutes quicker into Bath than an equivalent D1 journey at peak times. It will also run between existing D1 journeys where possible, so customers will benefit not just from a faster journey option, but also an enhanced frequency of buses between Bath, Bradford-on-Avon and Trowbridge. As the service will not pass under the low railway bridge at Limpley Stoke, we will be able to utilise double decker vehicles.
The new D1x will run hourly from around 5am until 7pm Monday to Saturday, with the first trip into Bath at 05:55 and the last trip out of Bath at 18:35.
The service will be initially supported by Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding in partnership with Wiltshire council, with the objective of generating enough demand over the next couple of years for the service to sustain itself at the end of the BSIP funding. We hope that customers will value and make good use of the new service so that it may become a permanent feature of the Wiltshire bus network.
Timetable & route map coming soon. Until the timetable is published, I can't be sure whether the service will turn in the town centre loop, or out to Manor Farm in North Bradley as previous D1X peaks did. SOURCE : https://www.firstbus.co.uk/bristol-bath-and-west/news-and-service-updates/updates/service-changes-west-england-7-april-2024 |
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All across the Great Western territory / Buses and other ways to travel / Wiltshire Council Bus Review
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on: October 21, 2023, 21:54:13
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Posters have recently been put up on some bus shelters around the county - looks to be mainly the south of the county, where it appears Wiltshire Council are conducting a bus review. The associated website https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/news/have-your-say-on-the-future-of-bus-services-in-wiltshire details : Wiltshire Council is asking public transport users, residents, businesses and visitors in the county to have their say on the future of bus services and other public transport options.
People's comments will help to inform the council's draft Public Transport Policy, which aims to support road-based public transport countywide to help achieve the council's environmental, social, and economic goals, while also ensuring value for money public transport services.
The Public Transport Policy aims to:
Ensure that residents can access essential facilities and services using public transport, promoting a high quality of life for all.
Encourage residents to choose public transport for their daily journeys to and from work, reducing traffic congestion and carbon emissions.
Provide reliable and convenient public transport options for visitors to Wiltshire, enabling them to explore the county's attractions without relying on private cars.
The consultation provides an opportunity for people and organisations to voice their opinions, share their experiences, and propose ideas that will help shape the future of sustainable public transport in Wiltshire.
Cllr Caroline Thomas, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: "We are committed to creating a more sustainable and accessible public transport system that enhances the lives of our residents, supports our local economy, and preserves our beautiful county."
"But we need the help of our communities to do this, and that's why I'd urge people to take part in this consultation and have their say. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us achieve these objectives, so please participate in the consultation and let your voice be heard."
The council's Business Plan sets out its mission to have vibrant, well-connected communities, with an increased use of public transport to help reduce carbon emissions.
The consultation begins on Tuesday 3 October and ends at 23:59 on Friday 10 November. |
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All across the Great Western territory / Buses and other ways to travel / Re: Electronic Departure Indicators - bus stops - Wiltshire
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on: June 17, 2017, 23:47:14
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The boards - and quality of information - on the Bath - Salisbury Route (X4/5/265) is quite poor, and frankly was a white elephant from the start.
If I recall correctly these boards, both the flag stops and larger boards where shelters existed were installed when the route was still shared between W&D and First, and stretched pretty much from Winsley to Salisbury - however shortly after roll-out is when W&D withdrew from the route, and then the subsequent curtailment to Warminster of the service, with Hatts taking on the Warminster to Salisbury section. Most of the stop signs then disappeared between South Newton & Westbury.
Visiting most stops now, you'll find - especially in Trowbridge, that shelter displays are broken with only half the display working , or showing "No Data / Refer to Timetable", and as you state even the main stops in Trowbridge Town Centre don't have these displays. Logging these issues with 'Clarence' gets the response that they will be fixed in a couple of weeks, but this never happens.
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All across the Great Western territory / Buses and other ways to travel / Re: Thamesdown Transport (Swindon) sold to Go-Ahead
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on: April 30, 2017, 01:50:36
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so, more of a tweak than a rebrand ..... “Since welcoming Thamesdown into the Go South Coast family, we have introduced a number of positive changes, designed to further enhance the services we offer in the region,” said Andrew Wickham, Thamesdown managing director.
“With a fleet of new buses set to arrive shortly, we wanted to freshen up our appearance - and we called upon the services of renowned public transport designer Ray Stenning of Best Impressions. We’re delighted by the new look livery created by them.
“The response we received from people living and working in the area also led us to tweak our name, and I’m delighted to introduce Thamesdown…Swindon’s bus company. We love the whole new look - and we hope our customers will too.”
With an attractive combination of blue, yellow, red, white and green, the branding gives a nod to Thamesdown’s heritage, whilst providing a bright and refreshing new appearance. http://www.thamesdown-transport.co.uk/feature-article.shtml?articleid=6888 |
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All across the Great Western territory / Buses and other ways to travel / Re: Service Changes from 30th April '17
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on: April 23, 2017, 23:34:07
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The Sunday and Public Holiday timetable is revised to operate between Bath and Melksham (Bowerhill) only. Sunday and Public Holiday journeys will operate on a commercial basis and no longer receive financial support from Wiltshire Council. There will be no service to or from Devizes or Urchfont on Sundays and Public Holidays.
To clarify that was a copy of text direct from First's publicity. The whole change communication is somewhat of a shambles. Their changes have only been publicised only a week before introduction, which includes a re-location of stop in Trowbridge, and also the supposed withdrawal of 265 Sunday journeys between Trowbridge and Warminster, again mentioned in their publicity, but on their new timetable now shows a feeder bus operating those journeys separately. |
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All across the Great Western territory / Buses and other ways to travel / Service Changes from 30th April '17
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on: April 22, 2017, 23:59:31
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First & Faresaver are making changes to some services as from 30th April. In the Wiltshire area, First are reducing the 265 service between Warminster & Salisbury from hourly to every 2 hours - minor rerouting in Westbury & Trowbridge. Service 271/272, there are minor changes to the timetable. The Sunday and Public Holiday timetable is revised to operate between Bath and Melksham (Bowerhill) only. Sunday and Public Holiday journeys will operate on a commercial basis and no longer receive financial support from Wiltshire Council. There will be no service to or from Devizes or Urchfont on Sundays and Public Holidays. https://www.firstgroup.com/bristol-bath-and-west/news-and-service-updates/news/west-england-service-changes-sunday-30-aprilMain change to effect the TransWilts corridor is ; X34 Chippenham - Frome From 30th April the X34 is changing. We have made some minor timing alterations, primarily between Trowbridge and Frome and also during the afternoon peak period in Trowbridge in an effort to improve punctuality. The weekday 1830 Chippenham to Trowbridge trip will be terminated from this date. Trains between Chippenham and Melksham/Trowbridge currently operate at 1753 & 1905* – please visit nationalrail.co.uk for full information regarding these services http://www.faresaver.co.uk/changes.php |
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All across the Great Western territory / Buses and other ways to travel / Trowbridge Town Service Not To Be Replaced
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on: July 23, 2015, 00:33:06
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Following the withdrawal of First's operation of the Trowbridge Town Service, Wiltshire Council have confirmed that the T1 will no longer run from the beginning of August, after no viable alternative was found. From The Wiltshire Times : The current T1 service, which serves the Hilperton, Paxcroft Mead and Upper and Lower Studley, will stop on August 2 as First say it is no longer commercially viable for them to operate it, with the daytime Melksham 234 service also axed.
Wiltshire Council tendered the service to other bus companies, but no affordable alternative was forthcoming despite First saying it would liaise closely with the council to ensure the provision of replacement services.
Horace Prickett, portfolio holder for transport, said: ^It is unfortunate that we have been unable to find a direct replacement for this well used service. However, there are still alternatives for people wanting to get into Trowbridge from the edges of the town.^ Although I guess the main user base of these services particularly between Town Centre > College are OAP's on passes with no proper income, it will leave the mainly elderly base of residents of Holbrook, Wiltshire Drive, Silver Street Lane and College estates without a bus service with at least a walk of half a mile to the nearest alternative service - what does surprise me is that the older base with shopping trolleys have been fighting for space on the buses with the teen mums from Studley Green & their pushchairs, so it's definitely not been a case of carrying round fresh air. Perhaps an idea would be to route the 87 Devizes service via Dursley Road/Wiltshire Drive, as the 67 North Bradley service is already routed via Rutland Crescent? As far as I can remember there has always been a Studley Green service since the days of Western National/Bristol Omnibus, and the Holbrook/Silver Street Lane/College circular has been there since the introduction of the Mini-Link back in 1985. |
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