Bristol, Bath and the West

Weston-super-Mare Bus Network Review

Following a recent review of bus services in Weston-super-Mare and North Somerset, which looked at the type and frequency of journeys made by customers, a number of changes to the bus network are being made.

To improve reliability on certain services some small timetable adjustments are being made to reflect the amount of time now needed to travel between timing points.

Changes are also being made to some Monday-Saturday daytime services to simplify them and ensure that all buses with similar service numbers eg the 5, 5A, 5C, follow the same route. Two commercial services (Service 121 and Service 4) are being withdrawn from 10 May, however North Somerset Council has issued an invitation to tender for the replacement of these services.

Justin Davies, Managing Director of First Somerset and Avon, explains: "We have looked carefully at the bus network in Weston-super-Mare and the changing competitive environment and this information has helped us build a picture of what people want from their bus services. As a result we have registered some changes to the local network, the majority of which are designed to simplify it, with a view to making it easier for people to use it. Two commercial services, along with the tendered Service 600, are however being withdrawn. While we understand that these changes won't be popular, they are necessary as the numbers of people using them do not make them sustainable in the long term.

"Like other businesses, we too feel the pressures of the tightening economy. In recent months we have seen a reduction in the number of people travelling for work and leisure purposes and this continues to have an impact on our business.

"Some of the changes in Weston-super-Mare are positive though - offering greater reliability, simplified Service numbers and more frequent journeys between places. Specifically, the number of buses serving the Railway Station, Worle Sainsbury's and Asda has been increased."

Significant changes to the bus network in North Somerset are as follows:

Service 3 / 3A / 3C: These three services will be combined to form one Service 3 (Monday - Saturday daytime). All buses will follow the same route making it simpler for passengers to understand where each bus goes. Buses will run between Worle Sainsbury's, Searle Crescent (Asda) and the Railway Station offering local people more opportunities to travel.

Service 5 / 5A / 5C: A new Service 5 will replace the journeys previously made by the 5, 5A, 5C (on Monday " Saturday daytime). The route has been simplified, with all buses calling at Worle Sainsburys and the General Hospital.

Two commercial services, Service 4 (which currently runs between Hutton, the town centre and South Road) and Service 121 (which runs between Weston-super-Mare and Bristol via Bristol Airport) will be withdrawn from 10 May due to low customer usage.

Please see our service change page for full details of all the changes.

All the changes to the bus network in Weston-super-Mare and North Somerset are effective from 10 May. Posters outlining the changes will be displayed on buses from 17 March and leaflets offering detailed information will be available on buses and from First travel shops from this week (16 March). Customers will additional enquiries can call customer services on 0845 606 4446.