There's some interesting stuff being said here....
The cross Severn services had long been operated jointly by Red & White and Bristol Omnibus. That continued as Stagecoach Cymru and First Somerset & Avon, the service eventually becoming the 14 & X14. Both firms contributed two vehicles but when Stagecoach Cymru's Chepstow depot closed in 2008 as they retrenched, their journeys were extended to/from Cwmbran, requiring a third vehicle. First continued to outstation vehicles at Bulwark in Chepstow to operate its workings.
In July 2013, the services were severed at Chepstow, with Stagecoach running the Newport to Chepstow section with First on the Chepstow to Bristol section; this was ahead of Stagecoach Cymru pulling out of Chepstow as from mid 2014. However, First then launched the "X7 Severn Express" in November 2013 and ran to/from Newport. There was some suggestion that there may have been a link between that, and First coming off the X80 in Devon but that may well have been conjecture. Certainly, running to Bristol had become a pain for Stagecoach from Cwmbran.
What has changed recently is that you had numerous cars parked up near the A466 roundabout as people used it as an impromptu Park and Ride. Now the tolls have been removed, it is suddenly cheaper and easier to drive across the bridge. You have fewer fare payers and still get paid bobbins for carrying pensioners.
The growth in Bristol was much more to do with the restructuring of the fare system in the city.
Or perhaps now Stagecoach have them, they are beginning to realise the problems that First had in making them pay?
You haven't noticed that Stagecoach West have, in the last 5 years....
- Won a bunch of South Glos tenders from Wessex around Yate
- Won the 77 tender (Bristol City Council) from First, which prompted the depot opening
- Introduced the Belles Express (though to be fair, it was always a tall order against the train) before withdrawing it in favour of improving the stopping service and reintroduction of a Bristol to Gloucester service
- Purchased the rump of the Wessex operation from Rotala
- Recently purchased South Glos Coach and Bus
- Taken on the 7XP and X5, discarded by First
In addition to the S6 improvements, they also took on the Devizes town services and tendered routes around Tetbury/Dursley from Cotswold Green, have introduced new vehicles to the 55 and the 94 and are having new fleet delivered for Cheltenham locals....
I really don't know how you can say that Stagecoach West are just interested in cuts, I really can't. They aren't immune from the realities of day (like reductions to Dursley to Gloucester or the main route through the Forest of Dean) but those are the exception.