A number of changes are being made to bus services in and around Weston-super-Mare, Nailsea, Clevedon and Portishead from 13 April as First alters to its local network.
Among the changes one service is being renumbered to reduce the confusion that has arisen with different services having similar numbers, while elsewhere a new route variation is being created in response to customer demand. The latter - service X10 - will work in conjunction with the existing Service X9 to provide journeys between Bristol and Nailsea with buses travelling via Long Ashton rather than the bypass.
First is also taking steps to improve the frequency of journeys between Weston-super-Mare and Bristol on Sundays and Public Holidays. From 13 April and for the duration of the summer, it will trial a 30 minute Sunday and Public Holiday daytime service between the two destinations, on Service W1.
Talking about the changes, Simon Ford, Commercial Manager for First West of England, says: "We're making a series of changes to services in April, some of which affect buses operating in North Somerset.
"Specifically we're renumbering the current Service 1 that works alongside the X1 to connect Bristol and Weston-super-Mare. It will become known as Service W1, which should help customers distinguish it more readily. At the same service well also be trialling an enhanced Sunday and Public Holiday timetable on the service, running buses every half an hour on these days during the summer. We hope people will take advantage of the increased frequency to get out and about on these days exploring all the region has to offer.
"Elsewhere some of the timetables for our services are changing, with the frequency of some buses reducing in some places. These changes are being made so we can better match our resources against the demand for services. To ensure that people know how they may be affected by these changes we'd urge people to check the new timetables when they become available in mid March."
New timetables for the affected services will be made available online at
www.firstgroup.com/westofengland, from mid March. Hard copy timetables will be made available, to pick up from travel shops, from the beginning of April.
Specific Changes affecting buses in North Somerset, from 13 April
Service 5 (Worle - Uphill): The Monday to Saturday timetable of this service is changing from April with the some peak time journeys withdrawn. This change is being made to ensure the resources used to deliver the service match the level of customer demand. Customers are advised to check the new timetable so they understand what is happening. The timetable for journeys on Sundays and Public Holidays is unaffected and will remain the same.
Service 7 (Worle - Oldmixon): The timetable of this service is changing, with the overall frequency of buses in the off peak (0900 -1500 hours Monday to Friday) reduced from one every 10 minutes to one every 12 minutes. This change better matches the resources used against the level of customer demand at these times. In addition to this, the frequency of buses in the evening (Monday " Saturday) is being reduced slightly in order to improve the punctuality of the service. From 13 April buses at these times will run every 45 minutes (instead of every 40 minutes as at present).
Service X1/W1 (Bristol - Weston-super-Mare): A number of changes are being made to this service. Most notably Service 1 (Bristol - Weston-super-Mare) is being re-numbered as Service W1 to help reduce confusion that has arisen with different services having similar numbers. In addition the timetable for both the X1 and W1 are being adjusted. On the X1 the frequency of buses on Saturdays is being reduced, to one bus every half an hour (from one every 20 minutes) to better match customer demand. On Sundays and Public Holidays the frequency of buses on Service W1 will be increased though from one every hour to one every half an hour. This is being done on a trial basis for the duration of the summer. It will effectively double the number of journeys between Bristol and Weston-super-Mare on these days.
Service X4/X5 (Weston-super-Mare - Portishead /Nailsea - Cribbs Causeway): The timetable of this service is changing with one journey, the 0625 Monday to Friday departure from Weston-super-Mare to Clevedon, withdrawn due to low customer demand. In addition the Monday to Friday X5 journey from Weston-super-Mare to Portishead at 0645 will be renumbered as a Service X4 journey, meaning it will travel between Worle, the M5, Clevedon and Weston-in-Gordano and will no longer serving Congresbury, Yatton and Kenn. This change is being made to improve the punctuality and reliability of the following journey from Portishead.
Service X8 (Bristol - Nailsea - Clevedon / Portishead): The timetable of this service is changing to improve the overall punctuality and reliability of journeys.
Service X9 (Bristol - Nailsea): The timetable is being altered slightly, with some journeys renumbered as Service X10 (see details below). While the overall number of journeys will remain the same customers are advised to check the timetable to ensure they understand how the alterations may affect them.
*** NEW *** Service X10 (Bristol - Nailsea): A new route variation - which will work in conjunction with Service X9 - will be introduced from April connecting Bristol and Nailsea but running via Long Ashton rather than the bypass. This change is being made in response to customer requests and is expected to be welcomed locally.
Service A1 (Bristol Airport Flyer): The frequency of buses during the daytime (Monday - Friday) is increasing, from one every 10 minutes to at least every 9 minutes. This change coincides with the increased demand for travel during the summer flying programme.
On a personal note, whilst the increase in frequency to every 30 minutes on Sundays (from hourly) is a welcome development, the reduction in frequency of service X1 on Saturdays is a bit of a pain in the bum, especially heading into the warmer months. They've got it just about right with every 20 minutes, but it's likely to get crowded at every 30 minutes.
