Buses in Bristol
Encyclopedia
Buses in Bristol are the main form of public transport in Bristol
, England. Most bus services are operated by First Bristol
within the city, and First Somerset & Avon
from the city to surrounding areas. Wessex Connect
has a growing number of mainly council supported services. Other companies offering services include: Abus, Buglers
, Eurotaxis, Somerbus and Stagecoach in South Wales.
, with a service from the Victoria Rooms
(connecting with the trams) to Clifton
. The horse-buses were replaced by motor buses from 1906, first on a service from the Centre
to Clifton.
From 1887 to 1986, Bristol Tramways (renamed Bristol Omnibus Company in 1957) had an almost complete monopoly of bus services in and from Bristol. The exceptions were in the 1920s, when Greyhound Motors
provided competition until taken over by Bristol Tramways in 1928; a few small independent operators, the last of which, the Dundry Pioneer, was acquired in 1950; and Red & White Services
, which started joint services with Bristol Omnibus Company to South Wales when the Severn Bridge
opened in 1966.
Between 1937 and 1978 Bristol Omnibus Company was the operating partner in Bristol Joint Services, a joint undertaking with Bristol Corporation which controlled bus services within the city (and initially also its trams). The company owned and operated the buses, and shared revenues with the Corporation. BJS included services to suburbs outside the city limits (e.g. Filton
, Patchway
, Staple Hill and Kingswood
).
Bus services expanded steadily between the wars. Between 1938 and 1941 Bristol's tramways
were abandoned, and buses replaced the tram routes.
Bristol Tramways was state-owned from 1948. Expansion of services continued, to serve the new estates built on the edges of the city. But from 1954 passenger numbers started to decline. Most services started from the Centre, Prince Street or Old Market
, although the tram replacement services started between 1938 and 1941 were mostly cross-city routes. In 1958 routes were linked, so that almost all routes ran across the city. This was to reduce congestion caused by standing buses in the central area, and also to provide better access to the new Broadmead
shopping area.
In 1969 the company, now known as Bristol Omnibus Company, was transferred to the National Bus Company.
By 1973, growing congestion was again creating delays and unreliable timing on the long cross-city routes, and some services were again split.
In 1978 the end of Bristol Joint Services enabled city services to be linked with routes in the eastern suburbs which were well outside the city boundaries. In 1981, limited stop express services were started to the outer suburbs, initially under the Clipper brand. Also in 1981 the NBC's Market Analysis Project triggered more changes, with the abandonment of some long-established routes.
In 1980 the Thatcher government embarked on a programme of privatisation and deregulation
of bus services. In preparation the company was split into two operating units in 1983: the city services, which in 1985 adopted the brand Bristol City Line
, and the country services, which in 1986 became a separate company, Badgerline Ltd. Badgerline was sold to its management in 1986, and the original company was sold in 1987 to Midland Red West, who kept the City Line brand.
Deregulation meant that Badgerline was able to begin bus services within the city, in competition with City Line. However, in 1988 Midland Red West was itself acquired by Badgerline, so that Bristol's bus services were again controlled by a single company.
In 1995 Badgerline merged with Grampian Regional Transport to become First Bus
, later renamed FirstGroup. First adopted a policy of common branding, and the City Line and Badgerline brands were dropped.
In 1998 bus services were extended to serve the new out of town shopping centre at Cribbs Causeway
, where a new bus station was built.
A few small independent operators have competed with Badgerline, City Line and First since deregulation. Buglers
ran a few tendered local services from 1988. Abus began with a competing service to Keynsham
in 1991. South Gloucestershire Bus & Coach
built up a small network of local services from 1997 until it was taken over in 2007 by Rotala
, who rebranded the services Wessex Connect
. However, the independents have been unable to shake the dominance of First.
Long distance coach services
are provided from Bristol by National Express, Megabus
and Bakers Dolphin.
Buses were first operated in Bristol in 1887 by the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company, a company which still operates, after several changes of name, as First Somerset & Avon. The company had an almost complete monopoly of bus services in the city until deregulation
in 1986. Since then there has been a variety of operators.
and the suburbs, and orbital services between suburbs. There are also some cross-city services, but some routes have been truncated in the central area, because of unreliability caused by traffic congestion.
The four councils in the Greater Bristol
area are working to improve bus transport on ten corridors, designated the Greater Bristol Bus Network. The corridors are due for completion by 2012.
, whose main campus is on the northern fringes of the city. These services are also open to the public.
services are operated to the Centre
from the Portway
, A4 Bath Road
and Long Ashton
Park and Ride car parks.
and Cwmbran
(via Newport
), with additional routes at peak times.
, Temple Meads Station and Clifton
to Bristol Airport
.
es.
shopping area. It was opened in 1958, and redeveloped in 2006
The station is managed by First Somerset & Avon
. There are 19 bays. The station has a First Travel Shop, National Express shop, National Express information desk, a café, shop, security office and toilets.
The bus station is used by the Bristol International Flyer service to the airport (route 331), most First Somerset & Avon limited stop (X) and country services, National Express services, and Eurotaxis services 672 and 674 to Cheddar.
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England. Most bus services are operated by First Bristol
First Bristol
First Bristol is a bus operator based in Bristol, England. It is part of FirstGroup, and is the dominant public transport company in the city.-History:...
within the city, and First Somerset & Avon
First Somerset & Avon
First Somerset & Avon Ltd provides bus services in Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Bath and West Wiltshire. It is part of First Group. First Somerset & Avon operates an extensive network of services in and around Bath, Bridgwater, Bristol, Taunton, Trowbridge, Wells, Weston-super-Mare and...
from the city to surrounding areas. Wessex Connect
Wessex Connect
Wessex Connect was founded in Bristol by Rotala, through its subsidiary company Flights Hallmark, to provide Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council with an alternative to the near monopoly currently held in the city by FirstGroup....
has a growing number of mainly council supported services. Other companies offering services include: Abus, Buglers
Buglers
Bugler Coaches is a bus and coach company which operates from Bristol, England. The company runs coach day trips to various destinations around England...
, Eurotaxis, Somerbus and Stagecoach in South Wales.
History
Horse-bus services in Bristol were started in 1887 by the Bristol Tramways and Carriage CompanyBristol Omnibus Company
The Bristol Omnibus Company is the former name of the dominant bus operator in Bristol, one of the oldest bus companies in the United Kingdom. The company once ran buses over a wide area of Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire and neighbouring counties. The name was in operational use until 1985...
, with a service from the Victoria Rooms
Victoria Rooms (Bristol)
The Victoria Rooms, also known as the Vic Rooms, houses the University of Bristol's music department in Clifton, Bristol, England, on a prominent site at the junction of Queens Road and Whiteladies Road...
(connecting with the trams) to Clifton
Clifton, Bristol
Clifton is a suburb of the City of Bristol in England, and the name of both one of the city's thirty-five council wards. The Clifton ward also includes the areas of Cliftonwood and Hotwells...
. The horse-buses were replaced by motor buses from 1906, first on a service from the Centre
Bristol city centre
Bristol city centre is the commercial, cultural and business centre of Bristol, England. It is the area south of the central ring road and north of the Floating Harbour, bounded north by St Pauls and Easton, east by Temple Meads and Redcliffe, and west by Clifton and Canon's Marsh...
to Clifton.
From 1887 to 1986, Bristol Tramways (renamed Bristol Omnibus Company in 1957) had an almost complete monopoly of bus services in and from Bristol. The exceptions were in the 1920s, when Greyhound Motors
Greyhound Motors
Greyhound Motors, or Bristol Greyhound, was a coach company formed in February 1921 to operate motor coaches from its base in Bristol, England.-History:...
provided competition until taken over by Bristol Tramways in 1928; a few small independent operators, the last of which, the Dundry Pioneer, was acquired in 1950; and Red & White Services
Red & White Services
Red & White Services was a bus company operating in south east Wales and Gloucestershire, England between 1929 and 1978.Red & White evolved into Red & White United Transport Ltd, formed in 1937, which owned bus and road freight companies in the United Kingdom and southern Africa...
, which started joint services with Bristol Omnibus Company to South Wales when the Severn Bridge
Severn Bridge
The Severn Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the River Severn between South Gloucestershire, just north of Bristol, England, and Monmouthshire in South Wales, via Beachley, a peninsula between the River Severn and River Wye estuary. It is the original Severn road crossing between England and...
opened in 1966.
Between 1937 and 1978 Bristol Omnibus Company was the operating partner in Bristol Joint Services, a joint undertaking with Bristol Corporation which controlled bus services within the city (and initially also its trams). The company owned and operated the buses, and shared revenues with the Corporation. BJS included services to suburbs outside the city limits (e.g. Filton
Filton
Filton is a town in South Gloucestershire, England, situated on the northern outskirts of the city of Bristol, about from the city centre. Filton lies in Bristol postcode areas BS7 and BS34. The town centres upon Filton Church, which dates back to the 12th century and is a grade II listed building...
, Patchway
Patchway
Patchway is a town in South Gloucestershire, England, situated northwest of central Bristol. The town is a housing overflow for Bristol being contiguous to Bristol's urban area, and is often regarded as a large outer suburb. Nearby are the other Bristol satellite towns of Filton and Bradley Stoke....
, Staple Hill and Kingswood
Kingswood, South Gloucestershire
Kingswood is an urban area in South Gloucestershire, England, bordering the City of Bristol to the west. It is located on both sides of the A420 road, which connects Bristol and Chippenham and which forms the high street through the principal retail zone...
).
Bus services expanded steadily between the wars. Between 1938 and 1941 Bristol's tramways
Bristol Tramways
Bristol tramways were operated from 1875, when the Bristol Tramways Company was formed by Sir George White, until 1941 when a Luftwaffe bomb destroyed the power station.-History:...
were abandoned, and buses replaced the tram routes.
Bristol Tramways was state-owned from 1948. Expansion of services continued, to serve the new estates built on the edges of the city. But from 1954 passenger numbers started to decline. Most services started from the Centre, Prince Street or Old Market
Old Market, Bristol
Old Market is a Conservation Area of national significance, to the east of the city centre in Bristol, England. Old Market Street and West Street form the central axis of the area, which is approximately bounded by New Street and Lawfords Gate to the north, Trinity Road and Trinity Street to the...
, although the tram replacement services started between 1938 and 1941 were mostly cross-city routes. In 1958 routes were linked, so that almost all routes ran across the city. This was to reduce congestion caused by standing buses in the central area, and also to provide better access to the new Broadmead
Broadmead
Broadmead is a street in the central area of Bristol, England, which has given its name to the principal shopping district of the city.- History :The name of the street was first recorded in 1383 as Brodemede...
shopping area.
In 1969 the company, now known as Bristol Omnibus Company, was transferred to the National Bus Company.
By 1973, growing congestion was again creating delays and unreliable timing on the long cross-city routes, and some services were again split.
In 1978 the end of Bristol Joint Services enabled city services to be linked with routes in the eastern suburbs which were well outside the city boundaries. In 1981, limited stop express services were started to the outer suburbs, initially under the Clipper brand. Also in 1981 the NBC's Market Analysis Project triggered more changes, with the abandonment of some long-established routes.
In 1980 the Thatcher government embarked on a programme of privatisation and deregulation
Bus deregulation
Bus deregulation in Great Britain came into force on 26 October 1986, as part of the Transport Act 1985.The 'Buses' White Paper was the basis of the Transport Act 1985, which provided for the deregulation of local bus services in the whole of the United Kingdom except for Northern Ireland and...
of bus services. In preparation the company was split into two operating units in 1983: the city services, which in 1985 adopted the brand Bristol City Line
Bristol City Line
Bristol City Line was a British shipping line based in Bristol, England that traded from 1704 until 1974. From 1760 Bristol City Line also built ships....
, and the country services, which in 1986 became a separate company, Badgerline Ltd. Badgerline was sold to its management in 1986, and the original company was sold in 1987 to Midland Red West, who kept the City Line brand.
Deregulation meant that Badgerline was able to begin bus services within the city, in competition with City Line. However, in 1988 Midland Red West was itself acquired by Badgerline, so that Bristol's bus services were again controlled by a single company.
In 1995 Badgerline merged with Grampian Regional Transport to become First Bus
First Bus
First Bus can mean:*New World First Bus, third largest bus operator in Hong Kong*FirstBus, a United Kingdom bus company that was renamed First Group in 1998...
, later renamed FirstGroup. First adopted a policy of common branding, and the City Line and Badgerline brands were dropped.
In 1998 bus services were extended to serve the new out of town shopping centre at Cribbs Causeway
Cribbs Causeway
Cribbs Causeway is a road in South Gloucestershire, England, just north of Bristol, which has given its name to a large out-of-town shopping centre, including retail parks and an enclosed shopping centre known as The Mall...
, where a new bus station was built.
A few small independent operators have competed with Badgerline, City Line and First since deregulation. Buglers
Buglers
Bugler Coaches is a bus and coach company which operates from Bristol, England. The company runs coach day trips to various destinations around England...
ran a few tendered local services from 1988. Abus began with a competing service to Keynsham
Keynsham
Keynsham is a town and civil parish between Bristol and Bath in Somerset, south-west England. It has a population of 15,533.It was listed in the Domesday Book as Cainesham, which is believed to mean the home of Saint Keyne....
in 1991. South Gloucestershire Bus & Coach
South Gloucestershire Bus & Coach
SGBC Ltd t/a South Gloucestershire Bus & Coach operate a number of bus services in the Bristol area. The majority of their bus services are school routes operated on behalf of South Gloucestershire Council, Bristol City Council and the Cabot Learning Federation, as well as a number of National...
built up a small network of local services from 1997 until it was taken over in 2007 by Rotala
Rotala
Rotala is an Alternative Investment Market listed company, which owns a variety of UK transport operators.Rotala was set up in 2005, with the main intention of acquiring or gaining majority interest in businesses within a number of areas.-Surrey Connect:...
, who rebranded the services Wessex Connect
Wessex Connect
Wessex Connect was founded in Bristol by Rotala, through its subsidiary company Flights Hallmark, to provide Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council with an alternative to the near monopoly currently held in the city by FirstGroup....
. However, the independents have been unable to shake the dominance of First.
Coach services in the United Kingdom
There is an extensive network of scheduled coach transport in the United Kingdom. Coach services in the United Kingdom are distinguished from bus services in several ways. Coaches travel longer distances, are more comfortable, have separate compartments for luggage and do not stop as frequently...
are provided from Bristol by National Express, Megabus
Megabus (United Kingdom)
Megabus is a UK coach service operated by Stagecoach Group. It started in 2003 and as of February 2010 operated 19 UK coach routes serving 41 destinations in England, Scotland and Wales. Some services link with Megatrain services which are also operated by Stagecoach...
and Bakers Dolphin.
Buses were first operated in Bristol in 1887 by the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company, a company which still operates, after several changes of name, as First Somerset & Avon. The company had an almost complete monopoly of bus services in the city until deregulation
Bus deregulation
Bus deregulation in Great Britain came into force on 26 October 1986, as part of the Transport Act 1985.The 'Buses' White Paper was the basis of the Transport Act 1985, which provided for the deregulation of local bus services in the whole of the United Kingdom except for Northern Ireland and...
in 1986. Since then there has been a variety of operators.
Bus routes
The network of routes includes both services between the centreBristol city centre
Bristol city centre is the commercial, cultural and business centre of Bristol, England. It is the area south of the central ring road and north of the Floating Harbour, bounded north by St Pauls and Easton, east by Temple Meads and Redcliffe, and west by Clifton and Canon's Marsh...
and the suburbs, and orbital services between suburbs. There are also some cross-city services, but some routes have been truncated in the central area, because of unreliability caused by traffic congestion.
The four councils in the Greater Bristol
Greater Bristol
Greater Bristol is a term used for the conurbation which contains and surrounds the city of Bristol in the South West of England. There is no official "Greater Bristol" authority, but the term is sometimes used by local, regional and national authorities, and others as a synonym for either the...
area are working to improve bus transport on ten corridors, designated the Greater Bristol Bus Network. The corridors are due for completion by 2012.
University services
A series of routes are operated by Wessex Connect under the Wessex Red brand, mainly for students at the University of the West of EnglandUniversity of the West of England
The University of the West of England is a university based in the English city of Bristol. Its main campus is at Frenchay, about five miles north of the city centre...
, whose main campus is on the northern fringes of the city. These services are also open to the public.
Park and Ride
Three park and ridePark and ride
Park and ride facilities are car parks with connections to public transport that allow commuters and other people wishing to travel into city centres to leave their vehicles and transfer to a bus, rail system , or carpool for the rest of their trip...
services are operated to the Centre
The Centre, Bristol
The Centre is a partially pedestrianised public open space in the central area of Bristol, England, created by covering over the River Frome. The northern end of The Centre is a paved area circuited by Colston Avenue; the southern end is separated from this by a major road junction and is a larger...
from the Portway
Portway Park and Ride
The Portway Park and Ride site is located on the A4 Portway at Shirehampton, to the North West of Bristol, adjacent to junction 18 of the M5 motorway.-History:...
, A4 Bath Road
A4 Bath Road Park and Ride
The A4 Bath Road Park and Ride is a park and ride service to Bristol, service number 904.-The service:The service is based at a site located on the A4 Bath Road at Brislington, to the South East of Bristol. Services are operated by CT Plus and around 600,000 journeys are made each year...
and Long Ashton
Long Ashton
Long Ashton is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England. It falls within the Unitary Authority of North Somerset, a few miles south west of the city of Bristol. The parish has a population of 4,981...
Park and Ride car parks.
Express services
Express services operate from Bristol to Bath, Weston super Mare, YateYate
Yate is a town in South Gloucestershire, England, at the southwest extremity of the Cotswold Hills, 12 miles northeast of the city of Bristol. At the 2001 census the population was 21,789. The town of Chipping Sodbury is continuous with Yate to the east...
and Cwmbran
Cwmbran
Cwmbrân is a new town in Wales. Today forming part of the county borough of Torfaen and lying within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire, Cwmbrân was established in 1949 to provide new employment opportunities in the south eastern portion of the South Wales Coalfield. Cwmbrân means Crow...
(via Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
), with additional routes at peak times.
Airport services
The Airport Flyer operates a frequent service on two routes from Bristol Bus StationBristol Bus Station
Bristol Bus and Coach Station serves the city of Bristol in the west of England. It is situated at Marlborough Street, near the Broadmead shopping area...
, Temple Meads Station and Clifton
Clifton, Bristol
Clifton is a suburb of the City of Bristol in England, and the name of both one of the city's thirty-five council wards. The Clifton ward also includes the areas of Cliftonwood and Hotwells...
to Bristol Airport
Bristol Airport
Bristol Airport may refer to:* Bristol Airport, serving Bristol, England, United Kingdom ** Bristol Airport , a docu-soap based on events at Bristol Airport...
.
Sightseeing tours
Rubicon Classic Travel operate tourist buses from late February to October under the City Sightseeing Bristol brand. The service is usually operated by open top busOpen top bus
An open top bus is a bus, usually but not exclusively a double-decker bus, where all or part of the roof has been removed to enable enjoyment of fresh air and uninterrupted views.-Usage:...
es.
Bristol Bus and Coach Station
The Bristol Bus and Coach Station is at Marlborough Street, near the BroadmeadBroadmead
Broadmead is a street in the central area of Bristol, England, which has given its name to the principal shopping district of the city.- History :The name of the street was first recorded in 1383 as Brodemede...
shopping area. It was opened in 1958, and redeveloped in 2006
The station is managed by First Somerset & Avon
First Somerset & Avon
First Somerset & Avon Ltd provides bus services in Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Bath and West Wiltshire. It is part of First Group. First Somerset & Avon operates an extensive network of services in and around Bath, Bridgwater, Bristol, Taunton, Trowbridge, Wells, Weston-super-Mare and...
. There are 19 bays. The station has a First Travel Shop, National Express shop, National Express information desk, a café, shop, security office and toilets.
The bus station is used by the Bristol International Flyer service to the airport (route 331), most First Somerset & Avon limited stop (X) and country services, National Express services, and Eurotaxis services 672 and 674 to Cheddar.
Sources
- Hulin, P (1974) Bristol's Buses Published by the author
- Curtis, C and Walker, M (2007) Bristol Omnibus Services: The Green Years Millstream Books ISBN 978-0-948975-80-6