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BUS NEWS – Issue 2 – September 2013

As a member of North Bristol SusCom, your employer is working with lots of other companies in North Bristol to improve sustainable transport in the area. A key focus for us is to improve bus services to North Bristol. There have been a number of announcements in the last few weeks about changes to the bus services that operate to/from North Bristol. As well as increased frequency on some routes, there are a number of new services being launched. For many of you, taking the bus may have just become a more cost effective (and relaxing) option than driving into work.

For more information go to : www.wessexbus.com

Changes to Wessex Red Services There are a number of changes to the following Wessex Red timetables: 11 UWE Bower Ashton to UWE Frenchay via City Centre The term time Monday to Friday frequency is improved to run every 20 minutes. An hourly Saturday daytime service is introduced from UWE Frenchay to Temple Meads Station. 12 City Centre to UWE Frenchay The Monday to Friday daytime frequency is improved to run every 20 minutes. The Saturday service is withdrawn. 13 City Centre to Bradley Stoke via UWE Frenchay The Monday to Friday daytime frequency from the Centre to Bradley Stoke is improved to run every 12 minutes. Every other journey will continue to the Willow Brook Centre at Bradley Stoke. 13A City Centre to Fishponds This service is withdrawn. 19 City Centre to UWE Frenchay via Cotham The daytime Monday to Friday frequency is improved to run every 12 minutes and the service will run later in the evenings.

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All Change on the Aztec Buses Launched on 2 September, the Bristol ‘threes’ offer an easy and convenient connection between Bristol city centre, Montpelier, Horfield Common, Filton, Aztec West, Charlton Hayes, Cribbs Causeway. Go to http://www.aztecbus.co.uk to download/view maps, timetables and ticket prices for the Bristol Threes (3/3A/3C/3X). 3 - Bristol City Centre - Montpelier - Horfield Common - Filton - Gloucester Road - Aztec West 3A - Bristol City Centre - Montpelier - Horfield Common - Filton - Gloucester Road - Aztec West 3C - Clifton - Clifton Down Rail Station - Filton Avenue - Gloucester Road - Aztec West 3X - Bristol City Centre - Clifton Down Rail Station - Gloucester Road - Aztec West

Changes to First Bus Services First Bus has made a number of changes from 1 September. The changes affect the following routes in Bristol: Services 1, 8/9, 18/X18, 20, 40/40A, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 48/49, 50/51, 54, 73/X73, 74, 90, 352/353, X1, X2/X3, X39/339 and A1/A2. A host of improvements - including more frequent services, additional late night travel opportunities (on services 40, 43, 44, 48, 73 and 339), extra journeys on Sundays and Public Holidays are being put in place. In addition to this the routes taken by some services (Services 20, 40/40A, 41, 50/51, 73/X73, 90 and the Airport Flyer) are also being amended in some places while two services are also being renumbered (Services 54 and 353). All customers are advised to familiarize themselves with the changes to their service before travelling. Full details can be found at: http://bit.ly/1e6OZEf.

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New Commuter Services from

North Somerset to the North Fringe

You wait patiently for a bus and then all of a sudden two come along at once (well almost at once). There are two new commuter services being launched that will link communities in North Somerset (Portishead, Clevedon and Weston Super Mare) with businesses in the north fringe.

Wessex launched a new Commuter Express Service from Portishead to the North Fringe on 2nd September 2013. There are three express services running every Monday to Friday morning with three return services each evening. The commuter express services start in Portishead at 6:05, 7:20 and 9:20 arriving at UWE at 7:18, 8:46 and 10:36 respectively. There are several pick up and drop off point in Portishead including Gordano School, Brampton Way, Portishead Post Office, Newfoundland Way and Malin Parade. Pick up and drop off points in the North Fringe include key employer sites at Aztec West, Gypsy Patch Lane, Filton, MOD Abbey Wood and UWE. All services, except for the 6:05, also stop at Cribbs Causeway Bus Station. Return services leave UWE at 16:05, 17:05 and 18:15 arriving back at the last stop in Portishead (Malin Parade) at 17:28, 18:28 and 19:38 respectively. For further detail about pricing and timetables please go to www.aztecbus.co.uk/services.

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Commuters travelling to work from North Somerset to Bristol during November and December will be able to travel to work for free. North Somerset Council has joined forces with coach operator The Kings Ferry Ltd to launch a new luxury commuter coach service from November 4. The service will link Weston-super-Mare, Clevedon and Portishead with major employment areas around the Bristol and South Gloucestershire border, including Aztec West, Rolls- Royce, Royal Mail and Airbus. The new commuter coach service will be free throughout November and December for everyone who registers at www.bristolcommute.com by the end of October. The Kings Ferry Ltd, part of the National Express Group, will run eight express services via the M5 motorway on two routes during the morning and evening rush hours. One route will start in Weston and pick up in Clevedon, the other will start in Portishead. The brand new 49 seat coaches will be kitted out with luxury seats, air conditioning, power sockets, drink machines, toilets and free wifi.

Useful Links Travel West Journey Planner - www.travelwest.info Travel News from the BBC - www.bbc.co.uk/travelnews/bristol Real Time Bus Information –

Mobile - www.traveline.info/mobile.html Web - www.travelinesw.com