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The network improvements have used community engagement from bus users, aiming to offer a more reliable and flexible service with improved community links, securing services for now and into the future.
Some key improvements include the introduction of a new night bus service, an increase in frequency in certain areas and aligned timetables to help children get to school more easily. The X5 has also seen changes, with students now able to access all Weston College campuses in Weston-super-Mare on a direct and faster service.
Service changes include:
X14: Bristol – Portishead – Clevedon – Weston-super-Mare – New night service, offering two late journeys on Fridays and Saturdays between Bristol, Portishead, Clevedon and Weston-super-Mare, opening up nighttime opportunities for residents and supporting hospitality.
1: Sand Bay – WSM (via Kewstoke) – Seasonal increase in service, with a frequency increase from 60 to 30 minutes and the return of a Sunday service.
X5: WSM – Clevedon – Portishead – The X5 bus will now use the M5 between Worle and Clevedon, providing quicker journeys, as requested by bus users. Yatton, Claverham and Locking Castle will no longer be served by the route but will be picked up by the new X11 bus.
X11: WSM – Yatton – Clevedon – New service, to cover parts of the removed X5 service. The X11 offers service for Locking Castle/Weston Village, as well as a connection to Yatton Rail Station. There will be a reduction in frequency from 75 to 120 minutes, and the bus will serve West Wick instead of Worle on its way in and out of Weston. Final details to be confirmed.
7: Worle – Weston Town Centre – Locking Parklands – In order to deliver a more consistent service, this will now be every 30 minutes. The changes aim to speed up journeys and make the service more efficient, so the bus will not serve the seafront and instead will travel via Alfred Street. Weston Interchange roadworks are planned to take place in March to enable buses to turn into/out of Alfred Street.
7B: Weston Town Centre – Bleadon Hill – A variation of the number 7 bus. The service will travel from Weston Town Centre via Hildesheim Bridge to Weston General Hospital, Bleadon Hill and Oldmixon, increasing frequency for some parts of the 7 route.
7H: Weston Town Centre – Hutton – A variation of the number 7 bus. The service will travel from Weston Town Centre via Hildesheim Bridge to Weston General Hospital, Oldmixon and Hutton, increasing frequency for some parts of the 7 route.
5: Atlantic Road – WSM – This area will now be serviced by the number 9.
9: Worlebury – Weston Town Centre – Improved service, including a route change and an improved timetable with additional journeys in the morning and the evening, with a more consistent service. West Wick will now be serviced by the X11. Final details to be confirmed.
20: Burnham – WSM (via Brean) – Seasonal increase in service, with a frequency increase from 70 to 35 minutes and the return of a Sunday service.
126: Wells – WSM (via Cheddar and Winscombe) – Improved timetable and a route change, the bus will travel via the A371, Hutton Moor Road and Locking Road. The route will no longer serve Hutton, Bleadon Hill, Weston General Hospital or Uphill. Hutton will now be serviced by the 7H and Bleadon Hill will be served by the 7B.
X1/X1s: Bristol – WSM (via Backwell, Congresbury, Worle, Weston Interchange, Bournville) – Minor changes to the X1 timetable. There will be a new ‘X1s’ bus to take Backwell students from and to Long Ashton, with one service in the morning and one back in the afternoon. This route will be served by the region's first fleet of electric double-decker buses.
X4: Bristol – Portishead (via Pill) – Minor changes to timetable. This route will be served by the region’s first fleet of electric double-decker buses.
X6: Bristol – Clevedon – Increased frequency to every 30 minutes and a new Sunday service. Walton Park will now be served by X7/X7A instead.
X7/X7A: Bristol – Nailsea – Clevedon – The X7 will take on the previous X8 route through east Nailsea and Nailsea and Backwell Station, but will no longer serve Long Ashton. The service will operate as the X7A during evenings and on Sundays. The X7A will serve Long Ashton.
X8: Bristol – Backwell – Nailsea – This area will now be served by the X7 service.
X9: Nailsea – Bristol – Minor changes to timetable.
X10: Clevedon – Southmead Hospital (via Portishead, Cribbs Causeway, Filton) – Minor changes to timetable, including the first journey of the day moved earlier and last journey moved slightly later, to benefit commuters and students.
A1: Bristol Bus Station – Bristol Airport – Service increased to every 7-8 minutes.
A3 Flyer: WSM – Congresbury – Cleeve – Bristol Airport – Increased frequency to every 30 minutes, with brief exceptions, and the bus will operate for a full 24-hour service.
M2: Long Ashton Park and Ride – Bristol City Centre – Extra late evening journeys Monday to Saturday and a new Sunday service for the first time. Useful for North Somerset residents wanting to make use of Long Ashton Park & Ride.
P1 (WESTlocal): Felton – Bristol (via Winford, Dundry and Imperial Park) – Minor changes to timetables based on feedback from residents.
There are also minor changes to the WESTlink boundaries in Weston-super-Mare, to include Weston College’s Knightstone Campus, Loxton Campus and South West Skills Campus.
Cllr Hannah Young, Executive Member for Highways and Transport at North Somerset Council, said: “Using community feedback is a key part in improving our bus services in North Somerset. Following the increased feedback from residents on overcrowding on late buses, we hope that the introduction of late buses on Friday and Saturday nights from Bristol will be popular, and therefore commercially viable services.
We’re trying to stretch the resources available to match competing demands. This does mean that not every person will get the service they would like. However, we ask that residents continue to talk to us, and we will continue to make improvements throughout the year.”
Working closely with bus operators, service changes are put in place every April and September, basing amendments on passenger numbers and community needs as part of North Somerset Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), funded by the Department for Transport.
For full details of the bus service changes, visit First Bus' website.
For information on the X10 bus, visit The Big Lemon's website.