A number of services will now start running overnight
Several major changes have been announced to a number of bus routes in Bristol
Several major changes have been announced to a number of bus routes in Bristol, including the city’s first ever 24/7 service. The m1 metrobus service will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with a new half-hourly overnight service.
The running hours have been extended to provide a vital boost to the city’s night-time economy and will support late-night workers, students. In partnership with Bristol City Council and the West of England Combined Authority, First Bus is introducing an expanded night bus network, earlier journeys on many services, improved university connections and better access to key employment and transport hubs.
Head of network for First Bus in the West of England George Burton said: “We’re excited to bring Bristol its first 24/7 metrobus route and to significantly enhance night-time and early-morning connections across the region. These changes are designed to support people who live, work and study in the city, and to keep pace with the needs of our vibrant night-time economy. We’re grateful to Bristol City Council and the West of England Combined Authority for their support in delivering these improvements.”
Eight other buses in the city will also be adding overnight journeys, including service 39 becoming a 24-hour service six days a week and the service 1 adding new overnight journeys Monday to Saturday between Cribbs Causeway and Broomhill.
Other services changing include services 2/2a, 4, 5, 6, 73 and 74 which will operate overnight on Fridays and Saturdays, while service 77 will run overnight Monday to Saturday during university term-time.
Several other routes are also being extended or upgraded to boost connections across the city.
- Service 16 will now run from Fishponds to Whitchurch via Temple Meads, creating a new east–south cross-city link, operating every 30 minutes daily, and serving Imperial Park.
- Service 43 will be rerouted to serve Temple Meads Station directly between Bedminster and the city centre. On Friday and Saturday nights, it will extend to Cadbury Heath.
- Services 1, 24, 41, 72, 73 and 74 will offer earlier weekday departures to better connect with shifts and early-morning travellers.
- metrobus m2 frequency will increase to every 10 minutes at peak times on weekdays.
- Service 37 is revised to improve connections, including new links to Avonmouth Village.
- Service 25 will be operated by First Bus from 31 August, with an improved weekday peak-time timetable.
- University services expanded for term time and beyond.
There are also a range of improvements being introduced for Bristol’s university students which include the service 5 running more frequently and extend to Stoke Bishop, providing new direct links between the University of Bristol, Clifton, the city centre, and student residences.
Service 77 will extend to Stoke Bishop via Whiteladies Road, operating half-hourly at night during term time and the U1 will maintain high-frequency daytime service every 12 minutes at peak times and every 30 minutes off-peak.
Night and weekend U1N services, along with services 5 and 77, will help deliver a 15-minute frequency between Stoke Bishop and Clifton Triangle at night during term time.
In Bath, residents and students will benefit from extended services and better weekend coverage, part-funded by the West of England Combined Authority:
- Service 13 will gain evening journeys Monday–Saturday and a new Sunday service, including weekday school journeys to Ralph Allen School.
- Service 19 will run every 30 minutes, now serving Frenchay in both directions, and extended evening journeys to Bristol Parkway Station for better rail access.
- Service U3 will become a year-round route connecting University of Bath and Bath Spa University via the city centre.
- Service U4 replaces service 22, running between Bath Spa University and University of Bath via Southdown, Whiteway and Twerton, with support for weekend and holiday operations.
- Service U5 will boost capacity between Bath Spa University and Lower Bristol Road, looping via Newbridge Road and Windsor Bridge.