First West of England announces service alterations for the Bristol area
In response to advice from the Department of Transport and after consultation with the transport authorities including WECA, bus operator First West of England will be adjusting some its services in the Bristol area from Sunday 24th January 2021 to reflect reduced customer demand across the region during lockdown.
It is expected that many of these service alterations will be for the duration of the lockdown period, but all services remain under constant review.
Among the key changes to timetables and operating services is the continued suspension of several schools-only services and the adjustment of some timetables to reflect the reduced demand from customers, especially around peak times.
James Freeman, Managing Director of First West of England, said: “We are regularly monitoring what is needed to get our customers moving safely and reliably. These altered timetables will ensure that the number of buses in operation meet the needs of those who must undertake essential travel
in line with Government guidance.
“We remind all customers that it is a legal requirement to wear a face covering when travelling by public transport, unless you fall within the Government’s specified exemptions and everyone should adhere to this to help protect each other. Social distancing measures remain in place on all our buses and we also encourage customers to take advantage of contactless payment if possible, to make boarding faster and safer.
“We’d like to thank all our customers for their ongoing patience and cooperation.”
metrobus Service m1
From Monday to Friday during the day the frequency of metrobus service m1 will be reduced to every 12 minutes, from every 10 minutes.
metrobus Service m3x
Due to low customer demand, the Saturday frequency on metrobus service m3x will be reduced from every 20 minutes to every 30 minutes.
Service 1 (Cribbs Causeway – City Centre - Broomhill)
There are some minor changes to the Monday to Saturday timetables, especially to early morning and early evening journeys, where the number of journeys is reduced slightly. Customers are advised to check timetables prior to travelling.
Due to low customer demand, the daytime frequency of buses on Sundays and Public Holidays will be reduced from every 20 minutes to every 30 minutes.
Late evening departure times will be made consistent across all days.
Services 2 & 2a (Cribbs Causeway – City Centre - Stockwood) and (Brentry – City Centre - Stockwood)
Currently Services 2 and 2a provide up to eight departures an hour, providing significantly more capacity than required. The frequency of Services 2 and 2a will be reduced to every 30 minutes on each daytime service from Monday to Saturday. This will provide a combined frequency of every 15 minutes along this route.
There will be some minor changes to the Monday to Saturday timetables, especially early morning and early evening when the number of journeys will be reduced slightly.
Due to low passenger demand, the Sundays and Public Holidays daytime frequency of buses on Service 2 is reduced from every 20 minutes to every 30 minutes.
Late evening departure times will be made consistent across all days.
Service 6 (City Centre – Kingswood)
From Monday to Saturday, there will be a slight reduction to the frequency of journeys between 1800 and 2000.
On Sundays and Public Holidays, Service 6 will continue to operate every 30 minutes during the main part of the day. This will be reduced to every 60 minutes after 1730 to reflect low customer demand.
Service 7 (City Centre - Staple Hill)
From Monday to Saturday, there will be a slight reduction in the frequency of journeys between 1800 and 2000.
On Sundays and Public Holidays, buses on this service will continue to operate every 30 minutes during the main part of the day. This will be reduced to every 60 minutes, after 1730 to reflect reduced customer demand.
Service 8 (Bristol Temple Meads - City Centre - Clifton - Bristol Zoo)
From Monday to Saturday, the frequency of Service 8 will be reduced to every 15 minutes from every 10 minutes. The daily journey at midnight (0000) from Bristol Temple Meads will be withdrawn.
In order to reflect customer demand, buses on this service will run slightly less frequently between 1700 and 1900 and the first few journeys of the day on Sundays and Public Holidays will be withdrawn.
Service 24 (Southmead Hospital – City Centre - Ashton Vale)
There will be some minor changes to Service 24 on all days of operation, with a slight reduction in the number of journeys during the early morning and early evening.
Service 39, X39 (Bristol - Bath)
From Monday to Friday there will be slight a reduction in frequency of Service 39 and Service X39, with journeys running every 15 minutes, rather than every 12 minutes.
From Monday to Saturday there will be a slight reduction in frequency in the early evenings.
On Sunday and Public Holidays, the frequency of buses during the main part of the day will be reduced, with journeys running every 20 minutes, rather than every 15 minutes.
Service 41x (Lawrence Hill - City Centre)
Due to low customer demand, some afternoon journeys from Lawrence Hill Depot will be withdrawn. The last departure from Lawrence Hill Depot will now be at 1530.
Service 42 (City Centre – Bitton)
The frequency of buses along this route remains unchanged. There will be some minor changes to early morning journeys, with some journeys starting at Lawrence Hill instead of the City Centre. Some Sunday and Public Holiday journeys are withdrawn.
Service 43 (City Centre - Cadbury Heath)
Monday to Saturday, there will be a slight reduction to the frequency of early evening journeys between 1800 and 2000.
Service 44 (City Centre - Cadbury Heath)
There will be some minor changes to the timetable, including a slight reduction in the frequency of early evening journeys through the week. To reflect customer demand, frequency will be reduced Monday to Saturday between 1800 and 2000, and on Sundays and Public Holidays between 1730 and 1930.
The 0040 Monday to Friday journey from the City Centre to Cadbury Heath will be withdrawn.
Night journeys operating on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays will be withdrawn due to extremely low passenger demand.
Service 45 (City Centre - Cadbury Heath)
There will be some minor changes to the timetable of Service 45 including a slight reduction to the frequency of early evening journeys on Sundays and Public Holidays between 1730 and 1930.
Service 48a (City Centre - UWE Frenchay Campus)
Due to a significant increase in the amount of online teaching for UWE students, the frequency and operating hours of Service 48a will be reduced.
Service 48a will be revised to operate every 30 minutes from Monday to Friday between approximately 0700 and 1900. There will be no journeys on Service 48a on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays.
Service 70 (Bristol Temple Meads Station - UWE Frenchay Campus)
There will be a slight reduction to the number of early evening journeys on Monday to Friday.
Service 71 (UWE Bower Ashton Campus - UWE Frenchay Campus)
Due to a significant increase in the amount of online teaching for UWE students, Service 71 will be suspended until further notice.
Customers using Service 71 will be able to make their journeys by using other services, however, those travelling to and from Bower Ashton may be required to change buses in the City Centre.
Service 72/72a (Bristol Temple Meads – UWE Frenchay Campus)
There will be minor adjustments to timetables on all days of operation across Service 72/72a, in order to improve reliability and punctuality.
Due to low customer demand, the Monday to Friday 0655 Service 72a journey from UWE to Bristol Temple Meads will be withdrawn.
There will be a slight reduction to the Monday to Friday early evening frequency to better reflect customer demand.
Service 73 (Bristol Temple Meads - Cribbs Causeway)
Due to reduced demand for travel during the national lockdown, the Monday to Friday journeys between Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway will be suspended. As a result, the frequency of Service 73 will be every 30 minutes between Bristol Temple Meads and Cribbs Causeway.
From Monday to Friday the 0455 journey from The Haymarket to Cribbs Causeway will now start from Bristol Temple Meads at 0445, ensuring that Bristol Temple Meads and the City Centre benefits from an earlier first journey. During the week the 0710 journey from Bristol Temple Meads to Bristol Parkway will extend to Cribbs Causeway, operating a journey between Bristol Parkway and Cribbs Causeway.
Due to low passenger demand, some early evening journeys from Monday to Saturday will be withdrawn. Late evening departure times will be made consistent across all days.
Buses will operate every 60 minutes during the late evening on Sundays and Public Holidays.
Service 90 (City Centre - Hengrove Depot)
To reflect customer demand there will be a slight reduction to the frequency of early evening journeys from Monday to Saturday and some late evening journeys will be withdrawn, including the 2330 journey from Hengrove Depot to City Centre and the 0010 journey from City Centre to Hengrove Depot.
Service 376 (Bristol – Whitchurch - Wells – Glastonbury Street)
On Monday to Friday there will be a reduction in frequency of Service 376, with journeys running every 30 minutes, rather than every 20 minutes while on Sundays and Public Holidays the frequency will be reduced from every 30 minutes to every 60 minutes.
For the latest timetable information please visit www.firstgroup.com/coronaviruswoe