Change to Number 8 service at Temple Meads

[whole diary]

[Phantom]

I believe that I am reading this correctly, that the number 8 service that has ran from outside Temple Meads for decades is to cease using the usual stop on the right hand side as you walk away from the station.

With the new Eastern access point to the station, this service is being re-routed to provide access from this point.

Having travelled through Temple Meads last Monday and yesterday, I wasn't aware of any signage about this change, I would have thought it was a pretty major move for passengers?

The following is from here: https://www.firstbus.co.uk/bristol-bath-and-west/news-and-service-updates/updates/service-changes-30th-august-2026
Revised Route: At Temple Meads, from 8th September, we’ll be running a revised route to incorporate the new Eastern Entrance of Temple Meads Station, adjacent to the new University of Bristol Temple Quarter campus and with closer access to the Platform 13/15 end of the station. Buses to Temple Meads will stop at stop T1 on the main road, then run via Cattle Market Road to the new bus stop (T10). Buses towards Clifton will run via Avon Street to Old Market Roundabout. The current stop on the Temple Meads station approach (T5) will no longer be served. Routes 70 and 72 will continue to serve the station approach from stop T6.

From 30th August, the route in the City Centre will also be amended due to the closure of The Horsefair and Penn Street – buses towards Temple Meads Station will operate directly from Wine Street to Lower Castle Street via Newgate and Broad Weir.

The service will operate at an increased frequency and overnight journeys will operate on Monday – Saturdays.

https://www.firstbus.co.uk/sites/default/files/public/maps/Bristol%208%208th%20Sep%202026%20WEB.pdf

[Mark A]

The stop's already on Google maps, it looks to be about 160 yards from the new entrance. Given that this is Bristol Temple Meads, if we look at walking distances from the locations used to halt many of the shorter trains at the ends of the station platforms, they're about a 400 yard walk from the new location for the number 8 bus - about a 100 yard increase on the previous.

(Streetview of the stop's location is... bleak, but that's because in 2023 it was a building site, hopefully it's now tamed...)

Mark

[grahame]

The stop's already on Google maps, it looks to be about 160 yards from the new entrance. Given that this is Bristol Temple Meads, if we look at walking distances from the locations used to halt many of the shorter trains at the ends of the station platforms, they're about a 400 yard walk from the new location for the number 8 bus - about a 100 yard increase on the previous.

(Streetview of the stop's location is... bleak, but that's because in 2023 it was a building site, hopefully it's now tamed...)

Mark

If people who are occasional users should exit to the "old" stop, how easy is it for them go get round to the new stop?

[Mark A]

That's an issue, as the direct route is presumably back through the station barriers.

With regards to the east entrance and development, a series of recent work in progress photos are to be found in recent posts on this thread on the Skyscrapercity site.

https://www.skyscrapercity.com/threads/bristol-university-of-bristol-temple-quarter-campus-u-c.2028021/page-9?nested_view=1#post-198778681

[Mark A]

Looking at the route for the No 8,, the Avon Street / Temple Way junction is or was left turn only so has presumably been very recently heavily  remodelled...

[Mark A]

That's an issue, as the direct route is presumably back through the station barriers.
**snip**

Looking at the map and putting my brain into gear,  the station-barriers-free route (and ~100 yards shorter) is head down the station ramp to the rather savage T1 stop.

[Phantom]

That's an issue, as the direct route is presumably back through the station barriers.
**snip**

Looking at the map and putting my brain into gear,  the station-barriers-free route (and ~100 yards shorter) is head down the station ramp to the rather savage T1 stop.

I spent 25 years commuting to Brislington, I still have nightmares about that stop 

[Red Squirrel]

Looking at the route for the No 8,, the Avon Street / Temple Way junction is or was left turn only so has presumably been very recently heavily  remodelled...

Indeed it has. They think of everything.

[Noggin]

The stop's already on Google maps, it looks to be about 160 yards from the new entrance. Given that this is Bristol Temple Meads, if we look at walking distances from the locations used to halt many of the shorter trains at the ends of the station platforms, they're about a 400 yard walk from the new location for the number 8 bus - about a 100 yard increase on the previous.

(Streetview of the stop's location is... bleak, but that's because in 2023 it was a building site, hopefully it's now tamed...)

Mark

If you look at the route map, there are two stops for the number 8 bus - the first is the existing southbound 1/2/172/376 etc on Temple Way, the other is the new Feeder Road stop by the new eastern entrance to the station.

[WelshBluebird]

The route did indeed change yesterday to serve the new atop by the new entrance, but it is not running the final route yet due to the roadworks allowing the right turn from Avon Street not being finished. It is running via Old Market Street for the time being which does mean the two stops on Avon Street are not yet being served.

[Phantom]

The route did indeed change yesterday to serve the new atop by the new entrance, but it is not running the final route yet due to the roadworks allowing the right turn from Avon Street not being finished. It is running via Old Market Street for the time being which does mean the two stops on Avon Street are not yet being served.

I've not been at the station this week, out of interest were you aware of much signage to indicate people need to go to the different end of the station?

Is it much of a new stop, I would have thought being new and quite a key bus stop it would have had a bit of investment made

I wonder how many people get to the old stop before realising, I guess when they get to that point it is easier to continue to the bottom of the road to the stop there, rather than going back through the station to the new stop

[WelshBluebird]

Ive not been down, just basing what I posted on what First bus put on their website and what I could see on bustimes.org.

In terms of signage, I have seen a photo of a sign in the subway at temple meads on twitter I think but can't find it now. I am not sure if there is anything else yet sorry! I may have time to have a nose on my way home from work this evening.

Update - didnt get chance to properly look so there may be more but there defo was a sign put out in the subway to show people the direction to the new stop for the 8. But easy to miss imo especially if coming from platform 13/15.

[Red Squirrel]

I went round Temple Meads on the new route on Tuesday. I agree that it’s surprisingly far from the Eastern Entrance to the new stop - I suspect this may be in part due to the fact that UoB planned to build an additional building in front of the Sloane Robinson Building, which may have blocked the route to a closer bus stop location. Not sure if these plans are completely canned, or just postponed.

The new No.8 loop will give a good, frequent service to Avon St - which must be a good thing. I’m guessing people will soon get the hang of the changes.

For now, while Avon St is shut, it’s  worth riding the 8 round the diversion. In order to pass under Kingsland Rd bridge, it seems like the bus has to slow down to allow the air to flow round it… expect bumps and scrapes.

[Phantom]

Thank you for the replies, I am not sure why, but I am unable to "like" a post

Out of interest, has the journey time changed?
I assume getting on a the bottom of Temple Way adds a minute or so

[grahame]

Thank you for the replies, I am not sure why, but I am unable to "like" a post

That has been "nagging" at me.  I suspect it's beccause our "like" function may communicate with the server(s) using http rather than https protocols and security settings in your browser are too tight to let that through / or you have some anti-tracking software running that thinks your "like" is a tracking mechanism.  It's probably not a sensible use of what could be a lot of time to replicate, fix and test when the "like" mechanism as a whole needs sorting - sorry!