Bristol, Bath and the West

Exciting time for First as modern bus interchange opens as part of Showcase 2.

A major new bus interchange opened to the public for the first time this week as part of the Showcase 2 scheme and involves services 41, 43, 44, 45, 48 and 49.

Showcase 2 will operate between Bristol City Centre along the A420 and the A431 city boundary and is a joint initiative between Bristol City Council and First.

The design of the Old Market Interchange is based on creative urban design that includes better lighting, raised curbs to aid customers with mobility issues and real time passenger information displays so people can easily see the time of the next bus. Work is almost complete on Church Road where a peak-hour bus lane will speed up journey times. Clarence Road is also close to completion.

Showcase 2 has been designed to speed up journey times for passengers traveling between the city centre, Kingswood and on to Hanham. The interchange forms an integral part of the regeneration of the area as a whole. First is also introducing 42 brand new vehicles on the route.

Matthew Parker, project and co-ordination manager at First says ‘ We are very pleased to open the route and so far it is going well, traffic is flowing better and passengers are happy. The area should be a place where people want to be, rather than a place to just travel through.