First West of England (Bristol, Bath & The West)

[Martin1988]

Surely extending the 17 from Keynsham to Southmead Hospital and the Y6 from Southmead to Bristol Bus Station will make them less reliable as there will be an increased risk of them being held up in traffic on the Gloucester Road. The Y6 now looks to be the principle link between Winterbourne and Bristol so now as well as an extended journey time these passengers will have to compete with those traveling by bus to SGS Filton, Cribbs, Southmead and now Bristol City Centre. I wonder what the revised timetable for the Y6 will look like and whether it will be greater, worse or about the same as now?

I'm interested to see what way this 47 route will take. My guess is that it will follow the existing 5 route to Fishponds and then the Y5 route to Yate via Emersons Green? Or will it maybe run the bulk of the 5 route as far as Bromley Heath and then go down the ring road (or via the 48 route) to Emersons Green then onto Pucklechurch? If it does the former, there will be a number of stops in the Oldbury Court area that will presumably not be served? As with the revised Y6 I'm intrigued to see what the timetable will be and what vehicles will be used. At the moment the 5 seems to be mainly in the hands of streetlites but if the route is extended surely deckers will need to be used?

The withdrawal of the Y3 will mean North Yate and Iron Acton will have no bus service at all, assuming a replacement one isn't provided. Is it likely WECA will come up with anything at all or is it likely that the only bus service in North Yate will now be the 680?

Also had it suggested to me by someone that passengers in Frampton and Winterbourne might want to catch the Y6 to Parkway and then change to a train. Is there a way of doing this without being put out of pocket?

 

[freetoview33]

Surely extending the 17 from Keynsham to Southmead Hospital and the Y6 from Southmead to Bristol Bus Station will make them less reliable as there will be an increased risk of them being held up in traffic on the Gloucester Road. The Y6 now looks to be the principle link between Winterbourne and Bristol so now as well as an extended journey time these passengers will have to compete with those traveling by bus to SGS Filton, Cribbs, Southmead and now Bristol City Centre. I wonder what the revised timetable for the Y6 will look like and whether it will be greater, worse or about the same as now?

I'm interested to see what way this 47 route will take. My guess is that it will follow the existing 5 route to Fishponds and then the Y5 route to Yate via Emersons Green? Or will it maybe run the bulk of the 5 route as far as Bromley Heath and then go down the ring road (or via the 48 route) to Emersons Green then onto Pucklechurch? If it does the former, there will be a number of stops in the Oldbury Court area that will presumably not be served? As with the revised Y6 I'm intrigued to see what the timetable will be and what vehicles will be used. At the moment the 5 seems to be mainly in the hands of streetlites but if the route is extended surely deckers will need to be used?

The withdrawal of the Y3 will mean North Yate and Iron Acton will have no bus service at all, assuming a replacement one isn't provided. Is it likely WECA will come up with anything at all or is it likely that the only bus service in North Yate will now be the 680?

Also had it suggested to me by someone that passengers in Frampton and Winterbourne might want to catch the Y6 to Parkway and then change to a train. Is there a way of doing this without being put out of pocket?

I'd think Y6 to Great Stoke then the M1

 

[matt_splat]

Suggestion the x5 may become the 7 at Worle.

Driver on the 51 this morning did say if the 126 goes the 51 may struggle this morning I caught one with 24 onboard

 

[diffywood]

According to metrobus on Facebook. The M1 will not run Saturday or Sunday due to transfer of buses to first

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

According to metrobus on Facebook. The M1 will not run Saturday or Sunday due to transfer of buses to first

Also on twitter

The service will transfer from BCT to First Bus with a revised timetable but regrettably there will need to be a brief break in service. The m1 will resume service from 06:00am on Monday 5th.

In addition

The m1 will run as usual on Friday 2nd of September however there may be some disruption to evening journeys.

 

[Russel]

• Service X5 will no longer continue to Bristol. Passengers are advised to change to the X4 in Portishead to continue their journey to Bristol

Thought it was the Weston end of the route being cut?

 

[Dren Ahmeti]

Do the other cuts in general reduce the frequency of services along the Gloucester Road corridor? If so I would assume the change to the 17 and Y6 is to try to make that back up. If not then who knows!

No, the increased running times (as they’re pretty tight in the peaks) lead to another bus used - all to do with increasing the reliability of the service.

Very odd changes with the 17 especially

The 17 going to Marlborough Street (vice Lawrence Hill) is so they have more work, as they’ve lost all the ex-Excel (Weston) work.

I'm interested to see what way this 47 route will take. My guess is that it will follow the existing 5 route to Fishponds and then the Y5 route to Yate via Emersons Green? Or will it maybe run the bulk of the 5 route as far as Bromley Heath and then go down the ring road (or via the 48 route) to Emersons Green then onto Pucklechurch? If it does the former, there will be a number of stops in the Oldbury Court area that will presumably not be served? As with the revised Y6 I'm intrigued to see what the timetable will be and what vehicles will be used. At the moment the 5 seems to be mainly in the hands of streetlites but if the route is extended surely deckers will need to be used?

The withdrawal of the Y3 will mean North Yate and Iron Acton will have no bus service at all, assuming a replacement one isn't provided. Is it likely WECA will come up with anything at all or is it likely that the only bus service in North Yate will now be the 680?

If I can remember the 47 correctly, it’s:
Same as the current 5 until Eastville Interchange (J2 M32), then instead of continuing up Stapleton Road and Park Road etc, will continue straight on Muller Road (as current 17), left onto Fishponds Road, then rejoining the current 5 at The Straits.
[This is to increase frequency along a bit of a really busy road passenger-wise, as well as offer a faster journey to the lovely people of Fishponds.]
After Long Close, I think it goes along Croomes Hill to join Downend Road.
It will then parallel the 48 route all the way to Emersons Green Sainsbury’s (serving it), where it’ll join the ring road, and then the B4465 to rejoin the current Y5 route.
In Yate, it’ll do a loop twice, where it’ll go through the estates to reach Minett Road (I think?), then do part of a Y3 to come down Stover Road in order to complete a loop of Yate back to the shopping centre, where it’ll terminate and do the same loop to give those bits of Yate a half-hourly service.

Suggestion the x5 may become the 7 at Worle.

Driver on the 51 this morning did say if the 126 goes the 51 may struggle this morning I caught one with 24 onboard

No, the X5 will run through to Marine Parade.
Maybe some journeys will be shorts and then form a 7, but no idea if that’s the case - Weston is not my area of expertise.

 

[Dai Corner]

No, the X5 will run through to Marine Parade.
Maybe some journeys will be shorts and then form a 7, but no idea if that’s the case - Weston is not my area of expertise.

Pure speculation, but maybe it will run to/from Marine Parade only at college start/finish times?

 

[Martin1988]

If I can remember the 47 correctly, it’s:
Same as the current 5 until Eastville Interchange (J2 M32), then instead of continuing up Stapleton Road and Park Road etc, will continue straight on Muller Road (as current 17), left onto Fishponds Road, then rejoining the current 5 at The Straits.
[This is to increase frequency along a bit of a really busy road passenger-wise, as well as offer a faster journey to the lovely people of Fishponds.]
After Long Close, I think it goes along Croomes Hill to join Downend Road.
It will then parallel the 48 route all the way to Emersons Green Sainsbury’s (serving it), where it’ll join the ring road, and then the B4465 to rejoin the current Y5 route.
In Yate, it’ll do a loop twice, where it’ll go through the estates to reach Minett Road (I think?), then do part of a Y3 to come down Stover Road in order to complete a loop of Yate back to the shopping centre, where it’ll terminate and do the same loop to give those bits of Yate a half-hourly service.

Thanks for taking the time to explain.

I do feel sorry for the people in Stapleton and Park Road who will now loose their service. Fishponds Road has plenty of buses but now there will be some stops that will be totally left without.

One further question, do you know what the timetable for the new 47 will be like and will it include evening and weekend journeys?

 

[-Colly405-]

I'd think Y6 to Great Stoke then the M1

Indeed. A reasonable connection if people are prepared to change.

 

[Citistar]

The section of the 47 between Emersons Green and Yate (including the double loop of Brimsham Park and the newbuilds) was tendered by the Combined Authority at the start of the year (as service 525) with an initial start date of about now. Presumably the original intention was a connection to M3. There is clearly developer funding for the huge new estate at the Yate end of it, which was directed towards propping up the cost of this Y5 replacement and is now propping the whole lot up.

 

[Class 33]

Surely extending the 17 from Keynsham to Southmead Hospital and the Y6 from Southmead to Bristol Bus Station will make them less reliable as there will be an increased risk of them being held up in traffic on the Gloucester Road. The Y6 now looks to be the principle link between Winterbourne and Bristol so now as well as an extended journey time these passengers will have to compete with those traveling by bus to SGS Filton, Cribbs, Southmead and now Bristol City Centre. I wonder what the revised timetable for the Y6 will look like and whether it will be greater, worse or about the same as now?

Yes, at first the extension of the 17 & Y6 seems a bit bizarre. The 17 going a very long roundabout route from Keynsham-Bristol bus station! Might cause confusion for some unaware passengers!

I also wonder if these services when departing Southmead Hospital toward Bristol Bus Station will run via Dorian Road or Monks Park Avenue and Filton Road?

Also the Y6 extension will now reopen the old link between the upper part of Southmead Road and central Bristol. The last time there was a direct bus service between these two areas was around 1988 or 1989 with the old short lived service 3 Broomhill-Filton Church! And pre October 1986 it was the old services 85 California Farm-Filton Church and 87 California Farm-Polytechnic. So good that the link will be restored again after over a 30 year gap! Albeit running via Gloucester Road rather than Whiteladies Road, and only running every hour.

Yes, there could be risk of delays to these services held up on heavy traffic on Gloucester Road. Though there might be adequate layover time at Bristol Bus Station so there's less risk of delays to the services heading back again.

Saturday 71 also being scrapped.

The Bristolworld article mentioned the 71 Hengrove-Muller Road being scrapped. So assumed that just meant the 71 on Saturdays that only runs as far as Horfield Common/Muller Road Top. But it's the 71 altogether being scrapped. Replaced with a new service 74 running from UWE Frenchway-Centre via the current 71 route. I had hoped for years that a new service 74 would be introduced. But had hoped and expected it would have been a bit more interesting than this. I had thought it would be a Centre-Cribbs Causeway service running via the new estate on the former Filton Airfield(which is nowhere near completion yet anyway) and Charlton Hayes.

 

[-Colly405-]

Yes, at first the extension of the 17 & Y6 seems a bit bizarre. The 17 going a very long roundabout route from Keynsham-Bristol bus station! Might cause confusion for some unaware passengers!

I also wonder if these services when departing Southmead Hospital toward Bristol Bus Station will run via Dorian Road or Monks Park Avenue and Filton Road?

Also the Y6 extension will now reopen the old link between the upper part of Southmead Road and central Bristol. The last time there was a direct bus service between these two areas was around 1988 or 1989 with the old short lived service 3 Broomhill-Filton Church! And pre October 1986 it was the old services 85 California Farm-Filton Church and 87 California Farm-Polytechnic. So good that the link will be restored again after over a 30 year gap! Albeit running via Gloucester Road rather than Whiteladies Road, and only running every hour.

You forget the 54A, once daily, Filton Church, Southmead Rd, Pen Park, Greystone then as 54. Ran roughly until 2006.

 

[Class 33]

You forget the 54A, once daily, Filton Church, Southmead Rd, Pen Park, Greystone then as 54. Ran roughly until 2006.

Ah forgot about that one! As you say though, just once a day in the mornings towards Stockwood only. Here's the timetable of 54/54A/54B from 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20020602001313fw_/http://www.firstcityline.co.uk/tt/054frame.htm Press on the Index of Timetables link at the bottom of the page to see other services timetables from those days(though you may well have done this before!)

On a related note, when I've been at Cribbs Causeway Bus Station a few times in recent months, I've been struck by just how desolate it was in terms of buses there nowadays. Even at 4pm-ish, 5pm-ish, it was completely empty of buses for periods of 10 minutes or more. A combination of bus service frequency cuts, cancelled workings and delays to services on those days. One particular day I remember I had to wait over half hour for either a 1, 2 or 75. Compare that with 20 years ago though, and Cribbs Causeway Bus Station was a hive of activity of frequent buses arriving and departing, and most of the parking bays all occupied! How times have changed!

 

[Private Baxter]

Ah forgot about that one! As you say though, just once a day in the mornings towards Stockwood only. Here's the timetable of 54/54A/54B from 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20020602001313fw_/http://www.firstcityline.co.uk/tt/054frame.htm Press on the Index of Timetables link at the bottom of the page to see other services timetables from those days(though you may well have done this before!)

On a related note, when I've been at Cribbs Causeway Bus Station a few times in recent months, I've been struck by just how desolate it was in terms of buses there nowadays. Even at 4pm-ish, 5pm-ish, it was completely empty of buses for periods of 10 minutes or more. A combination of bus service frequency cuts, cancelled workings and delays to services on those days. One particular day I remember I had to wait over half hour for either a 1, 2 or 75. Compare that with 20 years ago though, and Cribbs Causeway Bus Station was a hive of activity of frequent buses arriving and departing, and most of the parking bays all occupied! How times have changed!

Even five years ago! But yes I have noticed that too. It's pretty sparce there right now!

 

[stait.john]

35115 & 35139 have moved to Southampton from Hengrove. Presumably to add more deckers into their service 3.

 

[WelshBluebird]

The 17 going a very long roundabout route from Keynsham-Bristol bus station! Might cause confusion for some unaware

I'd hope they'd at least do a "Via Kingswood" (or somewhere similar) kind of thing

 

[AllanMacF]

Yes, at first the extension of the 17 & Y6 seems a bit bizarre. The 17 going a very long roundabout route from Keynsham-Bristol bus station! Might cause confusion for some unaware passengers!

I also wonder if these services when departing Southmead Hospital toward Bristol Bus Station will run via Dorian Road or Monks Park Avenue and Filton Road?

Also the Y6 extension will now reopen the old link between the upper part of Southmead Road and central Bristol. The last time there was a direct bus service between these two areas was around 1988 or 1989 with the old short lived service 3 Broomhill-Filton Church! And pre October 1986 it was the old services 85 California Farm-Filton Church and 87 California Farm-Polytechnic. So good that the link will be restored again after over a 30 year gap! Albeit running via Gloucester Road rather than Whiteladies Road, and only running every hour.

Yes, there could be risk of delays to these services held up on heavy traffic on Gloucester Road. Though there might be adequate layover time at Bristol Bus Station so there's less risk of delays to the services heading back again.



The Bristolworld article mentioned the 71 Hengrove-Muller Road being scrapped. So assumed that just meant the 71 on Saturdays that only runs as far as Horfield Common/Muller Road Top. But it's the 71 altogether being scrapped. Replaced with a new service 74 running from UWE Frenchway-Centre via the current 71 route. I had hoped for years that a new service 74 would be introduced. But had hoped and expected it would have been a bit more interesting than this. I had thought it would be a Centre-Cribbs Causeway service running via the new estate on the former Filton Airfield(which is nowhere near completion yet anyway) and Charlton Hayes.

The 17 and Y6 are the only services to terminate in the "suburbs", I believe. I don't know how crew-change is achieved at present, but maybe their extension into Bristol is just a convenient way to change crew at the Bus Station?

Having created the Y-series numbers for all of Yate's services, I'm surprised the new route out there is numbered 47. It doesn't have a great deal in common with the 48/48a/49, so it could (should) have been numbered Y7.

 

[stait.john]

The 17 and Y6 are the only services to terminate in the "suburbs", I believe. I don't know how crew-change is achieved at present, but maybe their extension into Bristol is just a convenient way to change crew at the Bus Station?

Having created the Y-series numbers for all of Yate's services, I'm surprised the new route out there is numbered 47. It doesn't have a great deal in common with the 48/48a/49, so it could (should) have been numbered Y7.

Currently the Y6 runs off the Y5 to create a more than 5 hour duty portion.

The 17 reliefs are at Kingswood currently with travelling time now paid back to Lawrence Hill for breaks.

 

[freetoview33]

Be interesting to see what other changes are coming to existing services

 

[Citistar]

The 17 and Y6 are the only services to terminate in the "suburbs", I believe. I don't know how crew-change is achieved at present, but maybe their extension into Bristol is just a convenient way to change crew at the Bus Station?

17 is being transferred from Lawrence Hill to Marlborough Street operation, which explains that extension. Y6 currently interworks with Y5 (and possibly Y3/Y4, it's been a while since i've seen a contemporary set of duty cards for them) across Yate, so as that will be going, an alternative way of getting that back in to the bus station is required.

Having created the Y-series numbers for all of Yate's services, I'm surprised the new route out there is numbered 47. It doesn't have a great deal in common with the 48/48a/49, so it could (should) have been numbered Y7.

To be honest, 47 is a combination mostly of 5 and Y5, so it may as well have remained as one of those numbers. Including it in the Stapleton Road series will probably lead to further confusion.

 

[Martin1988]

I'm intrigued to see what route the new 47 will take in Yate and whether any of the stops in North Yate that have now sat unserved for 4 years will regain a service (eg Wellington Road, Halifax Road). It would be great if one could be provided for passengers in that area. I know I'm a bit biased as I previously lived in that area but still....

My main concern is about the 36 terminating at St Annes. I live on Sandy Park Road and often use the 36 to travel home on a wednesday evening after volunteering at a community project that takes place in the Easton area. A driver suggested to me the other day that the terminus for the 36 will be on St Annes Park Road which is a woodland area. It doesn't affect me but I do feel sorry for those lone travellers who may well feel anxious and at risk as a result of this change. I do personally think a better option would have been to run as far as Allison Road and then run via Allison Road, School Road and Birchwood Road to get back on route. That said I don't see why First can't keep the existing route all the way to Brislington and are willing to curtail it for the sake of saving 10 minutes or so.

I do feel the 36 is not the most reliable of services. Its normally fine on a weekday evening but have been aware of a number of occasions particularly at weekends where journeys have been cancelled. Last friday evening, no journeys seemed to run at all.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

That said I don't see why First can't keep the existing route all the way to Brislington and are willing to curtail it for the sake of saving 10 minutes or so.

Because you can run it with 2 vehicles rather than 3.

 

[AllanMacF]

17 is being transferred from Lawrence Hill to Marlborough Street operation, which explains that extension. Y6 currently interworks with Y5 (and possibly Y3/Y4, it's been a while since i've seen a contemporary set of duty cards for them) across Yate, so as that will be going, an alternative way of getting that back in to the bus station is required.


To be honest, 47 is a combination mostly of 5 and Y5, so it may as well have remained as one of those numbers. Including it in the Stapleton Road series will probably lead to further confusion.

Thank you all - the interworking is what I thought must happen. Good point about the Stapleton Road series!

 

[Simon75]

Isn't Marlborough Street the bus station in Bristol or another depot

 

[Dren Ahmeti]

Isn't Marlborough Street the bus station in Bristol or another depot

Marlborough Street = the Bus Station, named after the road that runs alongside it.

Buses are run and based out of Lawrence Hill depot.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Isn't Marlborough Street the bus station in Bristol or another depot

It was the former country bus depot in Bristol that was co/located in the old bus station. When that was redeveloped, it moved to LHill but retained its own staff pay and conditions, management, rotas etc

 

[contrex]

If I can remember the 47 correctly, it’s: ... to give those bits of Yate a half-hourly service.

Should I gather the 47 will be hourly? Thus cutting the service to St Pauls/St Werburghs by 50 per cent on weekdays?

 

[Martin1988]

If it is hourly hopefully they'll have the sense to use deckers on it and not Streetlites as per the 5 at the moment.

 

[freetoview33]

Should I gather the 47 will be hourly? Thus cutting the service to St Pauls/St Werburghs by 50 per cent on weekdays?

Hard to say as 5 is currently 30 mins and Y5 is 120 mins.