Bristol buses: Full list of all the changes coming to the buses next week

A number of changes to the buses in Bristol will come into effect from Sunday, April 7. 

First, which operates the majority of buses in the city, says the changes will see improvements to the overall bus network in the region.    

Among the changes are three new cross-city routes, including a service between St Anne’s and Clifton which has already been met with some criticism.          

Here are all the changes to the timetables and routes, with the information provided by First:

1

On journeys towards Cribbs Causeway, buses will observe Union Street bus stop B12 (outside Poundland) instead of B14 (outside KFC), giving customers a common bus stop for all Whiteladies Road services 1, 2/2a, 3 and 4.

2 & 2a

On journeys towards Cribbs Causeway, buses will observe Union Street bus stop B12 (outside Poundland) instead of B14 (outside KFC), giving customers a common bus stop for all Whiteladies Road services 1, 2/2a, 3 and 4.

3 & 4

Service 3 will be simplified so that it has more in common with Service 4, providing significantly improved coordination of buses between Shirehampton, Lawrence Weston and Cribbs Causeway. Between Shirehampton and Lawrence Weston, Service 3 will operate the same route as Service 4 along King Weston Avenue and Long Cross, no longer serving Avonmouth.

Service 4 will be changed so that all journeys once again run to and from Cribbs Causeway, following a change made during driver shortages whereby most journeys terminated at Henbury Crow Lane.

These changes effectively double the frequency of the service provided in and around Lawrence Weston and Shirehampton from half-hourly to every 15 minutes, with buses now being able to run an even service interval along the shared sections of route, both for those travelling towards the City Centre and towards Cribbs Causeway. There will be a consistent 4 buses per hour for most of the day Monday to Saturday, and buses will run more frequently on Sundays too, with the 3 and 4 each running every 40 minutes to provide a combined 20 minute service between 11am and 6pm.

Customers in Avonmouth, Shirehampton and Sea Mills can avail of the new express 41 service (please see service 41 drop-down for more information), which will take them into the City Centre via the Portway in as little as 22 minutes, as well as connecting them with the employment centres around Avonmouth Docks. Avonmouth customers for Cribbs Causeway can interchange with the enhanced 3 & 4 service in Shirehampton, and new Service 15 will provide a direct link at key times of day (please see service 15 drop-down for more information).

In Bristol City Centre, buses arriving will no longer stop at Wine Street but will instead terminate around the corner at Union Street stop B14, outside KFC. Buses departing for Cribbs Causeway will start from Union Street stop B14, outside KFC, and then stop again at Union Street stop B12 outside Poundland at the current route 3 and 4 stop. Alongside the change to services 1, 2 and 2a as detailed above, this will provide a common stop at Union Street stop B12 for all Whiteladies Road customers

5 (new service)

We are pleased to be offering a new cross-city connection between St. Anne’s and Clifton by joining parts of Service 36 with our popular Service 8 to Clifton Village. The route will be numbered 5 and will take the route of the existing 36 from St. Anne’s as far as Rupert Street in the City Centre, where it will then continue up Park Street and Queen’s Road like Service 8, before terminating at Clifton Christ Church.

The service will operate 7 days a week and offer late journeys up to 21:45, allowing you time to enjoy the restaurants, bars and nightlife of Clifton Village.

The timetable will also benefit from minor changes to improve punctuality on the St. Anne’s section.

8

Service 8 will be improved to offer better and later connectivity with busy trains at Temple Meads and will also benefit from capacity improvements at key times.

The new evening timetables will be coordinated with busy train arrivals and extra capacity will be added through the new Service 5 which will share the same route as the 8 between the City Centre and Clifton Village. Additional late journeys will also be added to capture the final returning London trains of the day – the last bus will now depart an hour later at 00:15, Monday to Saturday. The service will also benefit from punctuality-based timetable changes on all days of the week.

On Sundays, the frequency will be increased to every 12 minutes during the main part of the day.

We are also currently introducing larger single deck vehicle to the service following feedback, to provide more capacity on board. 

15 (new service) 

This will be a new service linking Cribbs Causeway, Henbury, Lawrence Weston and Avonmouth at key times, alongside changes to Services 3 & 4 and service 41.

17

The timetable has been revised on all days of the week, including changes to improve punctuality.

24

In response to community feedback and following the removal of the old railway bridge and its abutments, we are very pleased to be re-routing the 24 down to Ashton Vale, Langley Crescent. The route will now cross over Winterstoke Road from Luckwell Road into South Liberty Lane, continuing through the industrial estate before turning onto Risdale Road and looping around Langley Crescent, terminating at the existing bus terminus. We are in consultation with Bristol City Council about the installation of additional stops along the new line of route. 

Residents will benefit from a bus up to every 15 minutes during the main part of the day, and buses on 7 days of the week.

Service m2 will continue to serve Ashton Vale via the guided busway, too.

For existing customers of the 24, the Monday – Saturday evening service after around 2100 will be improved to run every 30 minutes instead of every 45 minutes, allowing more journey opportunities.

Timings are changed across the route to improve punctuality.

36

This service will be incorporated into our new service 5. 

39/X39

Changes to improve punctuality have been made on all days of the week, and departure times of journeys from both Bath and Bristol have been amended as a result.

41 (new service)

We are pleased to be introducing a new service, connecting Kingswood and East Bristol with Sea Mills, Shirehampton and Avonmouth fast via the Portway. The service will offer quicker journeys into the City from Shirehampton, Sea Mills and Avonmouth, with journeys between Avonmouth and the City taking as little as 22 minutes as well as expanding the catchment area of the big employment centres in Avonmouth.

Around Avonmouth, from Shirehampton, the service will take the same route as the current 3 service as far as the junction of Kings Weston Lane and Merebank Road, before turning left onto Merebank Road and serving the businesses along Poplar Way, including Amazon and Co-op. Precise stopping arrangements are still to be determined in cooperation with Bristol City Council.

The service will also offer additional capacity between the City Centre and Kingswood, one of Bristol’s busiest high-frequency bus corridors, as well as between the City Centre and Shirehampton.

The service will operate every 30 minutes during peak times Monday to Sunday and will additionally be timetabled according to shift start times in Avonmouth. 

47 (new service)

We are pleased to be introducing a new service that re-introduces a bus connection with Oldbury Court, with direct links to Fishponds Road, Stapleton Road, Broadmead and the City Centre. The route will follow the same route from the City Centre as the 48 as far as Straits Parade. From there, it will commence a one-way clockwise loop of Oldbury Court Estate, running via Vassall Road, Gill Avenue, Frenchay Road and Croomes Hill before turning right at Downend Road and following the 48 route back towards the City Centre.

The 47 will run approximately every 30 minutes between 0700 and 1900 Monday to Friday and roughly hourly from 0900 to 1800 on Saturdays. The service will not run on Sundays.

48

On weekdays and Saturdays, we are making significant changes to our Fishponds Road services to improve journey times and frequency.

Half of existing daytime City Centre-bound 48 journeys will become 48x’s, running fast after Eastville Park via the M32 into the City Centre, rather than via Stapleton Road. The average journey time into Bristol from beyond Stapleton Road will be improved by at least 12 minutes when using the 48x service over the 48. This change will also be mirrored on service 49, with the combined 48x and 49x service offering four buses an hour direct to the City Centre.

As a consequence of this time saving, we are also offering a more frequent service heading out of the City Centre towards Fishponds and Downend. We will also be adding additional capacity through the new 47 route, which will serve much of the same route as the 48 as far as Straits Parade, before serving Oldbury Court in a one-way loop (please see above). Buses from the City Centre will continue to use Stapleton Road on all journeys due to road layouts reducing the journey time saving of using the M32 in this direction.

48a 

This service will benefit from punctuality-based timetable changes on Monday to Friday to improve punctuality and reliability. The usual reduction in frequency on Monday to Friday will occur to better reflect customer demand to and from UWE Frenchay over the spring and summer period.

To avoid confusion with the 48 and new 48x service (see above), Service 48a will be renumbered to Service 46. Buses will continue to follow the same route and stops as the 48a, but please look out for the new number

49

On weekdays and Saturdays, we are making significant changes to our Fishponds Road services to improve journey times and frequency.

Half of existing daytime City Centre-bound 49 journeys will become 49x’s, running fast after Eastville Park via the M32 into the City Centre, rather than via Stapleton Road. The average journey time into Bristol from beyond Stapleton Road will be improved by at least 12 minutes when using the 49x service over the 49. This change will also be mirrored on service 48, with the combined 48x and 49x service offering four buses an hour direct to the City Centre.

As a consequence of this time saving, we are also offering a more frequent service heading out of the City Centre towards Fishponds. We will also be adding additional capacity through the new 47 route, which will serve much of the same route as the 48 as far as Straits Parade, before serving Oldbury Court in a one-way loop (please see above). Buses from the City Centre will continue to use Stapleton Road on all journeys due to road layouts reducing the journey time saving of using the M32 in this direction.

X49

The three morning peak time Service X49 journeys will be replaced by the all day 49x service, and will be accompanied by the 48x. 

72

There are significant timetable changes on all days of operation to improve punctuality – please refer to the new timetable to check if your journey has changed.

To counteract the additional time added to the timetable, the route of Service 72 will be changed in the City Centre, and in doing so gives a quicker connection to and from Temple Meads.

From Temple Meads towards UWE Frenchay, buses will now run via Victoria Street, over the Bristol Bridge bus gate and use Union Street to Rupert Street before picking up from The Centre as before. From UWE Frenchay towards Temple Meads Station, buses will run to Baldwin Street as now, and then turn right over Bristol Bridge and use Victoria Street to Temple Meads. Buses will additionally serve bus stop R11 at the end of Baldwin Street to give a closer stop to the Broadmead area.

73

Service 73 will be changed at its northernmost end, in particular with the routing North of Bradley Stoke Way being changed to be a one-way loop, running clockwise along Bradley Stoke Way, Woodlands Lane and Bowsland Way before returning South to Bristol Parkway and the City Centre. This change allows us to avoid the heavy congestion at Aztec West roundabout we have observed since September, whilst continuing to serve key areas of North Bradley Stoke, including Woodlands Lane.

In order to improve the overall punctuality of the service, and to ensure reliable connections with trains at Bristol Parkway, buses will wait for up to 5 minutes at Bristol Parkway before continuing the route either to North Bradley Stoke or City/Whitchurch. This allows us to speed up journey times along other parts of the route where more people are making through journeys, whilst also ensuring good levels of punctuality. 

77 (new service)

We are pleased to announce a new cross-city route, numbered 77. The new service will create new journey opportunities as well as adding capacity along our busy Whiteladies Road and Henleaze, and Gloucester Road corridors. It will be the only route to directly link the busy and popular shopping and leisure areas of Stokes Croft and Whiteladies Road, connecting the two major destinations via The Centre with a comprehensive timetable running at every 30 minutes at busy times. Customers in the Stokes Croft area may also wish to use the service to access the University of Bristol.

Existing 73/74/75/76 customers who only travel as far as the Memorial Stadium and Muller Road Top will be able to use the 77. Likewise, existing 2 and 2a customers in Henleaze who use the route after Lake Road should look out for the 77 as another option for them to get to the City Centre and back.

349

The timetable has been revised on all days of the week, including changes to improve punctuality and to maintain spacing of buses with other routes through Brislington.

There will be two later journeys from Bristol to Keynsham compared to before, with the last bus now leaving Bristol Bus Station at 19:30 on Monday – Saturday. This journey will terminate at Charlton Road after serving Bilbie Green.

522

The timetable has been revised on all days of the week, including changes to improve punctuality and to maintain spacing of buses with other routes through Brislington as well as the Midsomer Norton – Radstock – Bath area. 

In Keynsham, following customer and stakeholder requests, the route of journeys to and from Bath will additionally be re-routed to serve the Chandag Road area rather than staying on the Wellsway.

Service 522 will now depart from Bay 10 in Bath Bus Station.

172

Changes to improve punctuality have been made on all days of operation. Journeys that currently terminate or commence from Wells in the early morning or late evening are re-numbered as Service 171. There are minor changes to the frequency of Service 172 and the combined frequency of buses operating between Midsomer Norton and Bath as well as Whitchurch and Bristol. Service 172 will now depart from Bay 10 in Bath Bus Station.

T1

The timetable has been revised on all days of the week, including changes to improve punctuality.

Y1

There will be minor timetable changes to improve punctuality, coordination to and from Bristol and evening provision. Yate services will continue to divert via Winterbourne due to the closure of the A432/M4 overbridge at Cuckoo Lane, which is now expected to continue until 2025. Please see Service Y6 information below for details of buses serving the St Saviour’s Church area of Coalpit Heath.

Y2

There will be minor timetable changes to improve punctuality, coordination to and from Bristol and evening provision. The last journey from Bristol on weekdays will now continue around the North Yate loop, rather than finishing at Yate Shopping Centre. Yate services will continue to divert via Winterbourne due to the closure of the A432/M4 overbridge at Cuckoo Lane, which is now expected to continue until 2025. Please see Service Y6 information below for details of buses serving the St Saviour’s Church area of Coalpit Heath.

Y6

There are significant timetable changes on all days of operation to improve punctuality and reliability. In response to feedback and consultation with South Gloucestershire Council, the Y6 will now serve the St Saviour’s Church area of Coalpit Heath on every journey, diverting from its current route via Beesmoor Road, Heather Avenue, Park Lane and Bridge Way. This will provide a regular service to this area while the A432/M4 overbridge remains closed into 2025.

At Bristol Bus Station, buses will now depart from Bay 14, instead of Bay 19.

SB1

Two additional SB1 journeys will be added to aid with capacity issues.

X1 

Changes to improve punctuality have been made on all days of the week. Buses will continue to run every 15 minutes during the main part of the day, and the spacing of buses leaving Bristol on Saturday evenings has been improved. 

We would like to remind customers that delays are to be expected along the A370 for the next year as North Somerset Council carries out a programme of highway improvement works. Once completed, the works should allow for faster and more reliable journeys between Weston and Bristol.

X4

Changes to improve punctuality have been made on all days of the week. Buses will continue to run every 20 minutes during the main part of the day.

X5

As part of our partnership with North Somerset Council, the X5 will be changed to simplify and speed up journeys. The route will be simplified in Clevedon and Portishead to allow quicker and more direct journeys to be made. The route will no longer serve Southern Way in Clevedon and instead take a direct route along Kenn Road/B3133. The route will also be simplified in Portishead to ensure the new service remains reliable. The routing between the High Street and Sainsbury’s will become more direct, via Wyndham Way in both directions rather than Harbour Road.

The route will additionally serve Claverham and Cleeve in both directions between Yatton and Congresbury.

The X5 will also operate via the Sheepway twice a day to facilitate school transport to and from Gordano School. In the morning, the X5 will pass Sheepway, Station Road stop at 07:59, observing all stops along the length of the Sheepway before continuing along the normal route from Portishead Sainsbury’s. In the afternoon, the X5 will pass Sheepway, Station Road at 15:46, having served Weston, Yatton, Clevedon and Portishead.

The South Road section of the route in Weston-super-Mare will be removed and changed to a standalone Service, numbered “5”.

X6

Changes to improve punctuality have been made on all days of operation, and to maintain spacing with other services on common sections of route.

X7 

The first journey on Monday – Friday from Clevedon to Bristol has been re-timed to ensure a pre-07.00 arrival in Bristol. All journeys have been retimed to improve punctuality on all days of the week.

X8

Changes to improve punctuality have been made on all days of operation, and to maintain spacing with other services on common sections of route.

X9

Changes to improve punctuality have been made on all days of operation, and to maintain spacing with other services on common sections of route.

374

Previously Service 29, will now be renumbered Service 374. The service will be extended to Bristol calling at Street, Glastonbury and Wells. The service will follow the route of Service 376 between Street and Bristol, additionally calling at Windmill Hill. Changes to improve punctuality have been applied on all days of operation, and this has caused some departure and arrival times in Taunton to be adjusted.

Our sister company Buses of Somerset will still operate two journeys on this service between Taunton and Glastonbury. These will also run as Service 374

375 

Previously service 75, will now be renumbered service 375. The service will be extended to Bristol calling at Street, Glastonbury and Wells. It will follow the same route as Service 376 between Street and Bristol, additionally calling at Windmill Hill. Changes to improve punctuality have been applied on all days of operation. This has caused some arrival and departure times to change. College trips on service 375 have also changed, and students are advised to check the timetable carefully before travelling.

376

As part of the changes to Services 29 and 75 (see above), around half of the journeys to and from Bristol during the main part of the day will now operate as Service 374 or 375. Buses will continue to follow the same into and out of Bristol with two buses an hour as before, with the 374 and 375 additionally serving the Windmill Hill area of Glastonbury. There will be changes to improve punctuality on all days of the week. The combined frequency between Service 376 and Service 172 between Clutton and Bristol will be improved, with buses operating approximately every 15 minutes during the day, Monday – Saturday. A new early morning and late evening Service 376a will be introduced to provide a link between Midsomer Norton and Bristol where one does not currently exist.

376a (new service)

Service 376a is a new service that will operate during the early morning and late evening. Journeys will leave Wells via the same route as Service 376 but turn to additionally serve Midsomer Norton and Paulton before continuing into Bristol. Evening journeys will run from Bristol and serve Paulton and Midsomer Norton before re-joining the main 376 route onwards to Wells. This will provide new links between Midsomer Norton and Bristol.

Unchanged services in Bristol: 

m1 (Hengrove Park – Bristol City Centre – Cribbs Causeway)

m2 (Long Ashton Park & Ride – Bristol City Centre)

m3 & m3x (Emersons Green – Bristol City Centre)

m4 (Cribbs Causeway – Bristol City Centre)

6 & 7 (City Centre to Kingswood/ Staple Hill)

19 (Bath - Bristol Parkway Station)

42 & 43 (City Centre to Cherry Gardens/ Cadbury Heath)

44 & 45 (City Centre to Cadbury Heath/ Cherry Gardens) 

70 & 74 (Hengrove (70)/ Bristol Temple Meads (74) to UWE Frenchay Campus)

75 & 76 (Hengrove – Bristol City Centre – Henbury/Cribbs Causeway)

A1 (Bristol City Centre – Bristol Airport)

SB2 (Downend – St. Brendan’s College)

SB3 (Stockwood – St. Brendan’s College)

U1 (Stoke Bishop – University of Bristol – Bristol City Centre)

U2 (Bristol City Centre – University of Bristol – Langford Veterinary School)

U3 (Bristol City Centre – UWE Frenchay)