The big First Bus changes being introduced today

The number of buses you will see around Bristol is set to increase from today (June 14).

First Bus will start to expand the frequency of some services to encourage social distancing as more people go back to work on Monday (June 15).

But the operator has urged people to still only board for essential travel.

The increase in services comes the day before all passengers will be required to wear face coverings, in line with new government guidance.

The changes will see two Weston-super-Mare services reinstated to provide additional bus travel for those who have no alternative to public transport.

Service 1 (Town Centre to Sand Bay) will operate again in Weston-super-Mare, running every two hours from Monday to Friday.

A temporary replacement for Service X5 (Weston-super-Mare to Portishead) will begin to operate every two hours from Monday to Friday, after it was withdrawn by its previous operator.

This replacement allows the local authority time to establish a more permanent solution for when passenger levels start to increase again.

Bath Service 39 (Bath to Bristol) will increase in capacity, with more buses running between Brislington and Bristol to support social distancing and match customer demand on this part of the route.

In Bristol, the new timetables will see a slight increase in frequency on many First West of England weekday services.

 This is to ensure that social distancing can continue to be met by customers who need to use bus travel, as the lockdown restrictions begin to ease.

Bristol services timetable changes to weekday journeys include:

Service 4 (Cribbs Causeway to City Centre) – daytime journeys will double in frequency between City Centre and Henbury, with buses running every 15 minutes between these stops.

Service 24 (Southmead Hospital to Ashton Vale) – daytime journeys will increase in frequency between City Centre and Lockleaze, running every 7/8 minutes for these stops, instead of every 15 minutes.

Service 75 (Hengrove Depot to Cribbs Causeway) – daytime journeys will run every 7/8 minutes between Bedminster Parade and Filton Royal Mail, instead of every 15 minutes.

Service 48A (City Centre to UWE Frenchay) – will double in daytime frequency, with buses running every 20 minutes along the whole route.

Service 73 (Bristol Temple Meads to Cribbs Causeway) – will double in frequency for daytime journeys between Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway to run every 15 minutes.

An additional two buses journey per hour will run on daytime journeys for: Service 43 (City Centre to Bitton) between City Centre and Kingswood; Service 45 (City Centre to Cadbury Heath) between City Centre and Hanham (Butchers Arms). This will increase the capacity between these stops to match customer demand.

Bristol City Council has also made a number of changes to bus stops in the Broadmead area to ensure that social distancing will be possible for everyone’s safety.

As part of this, all bus stops along The Horsefair and Penn Street will be out of use until further notice.

Services 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 36, 42, 43, 44, 45, 72, 90, 91 and 92 are all affected. Although many services will continue the same route, but certain bus stops will be out of use.

Below are the details of the services affected and the changes in place.

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Services 1 and 2 – towards Broomhill and Stockwood only

These buses will go the standard route but stop B11–The Horsefair will be closed. Please use the following alternative stops:

There will be an additional stop at Nelson Street-B5 outside record shop

The normal stops at Broad Weir-S10 and Wine Street-B18 will be served

Services 6, 7, 36, 42, 43, 44 & 45 – towards Lawrence Hill only

Services leaving the city centre will be diverted and stops B3 – Nelson Street, B13/B15 – The Horsefair and S9/S11 – Penn Street will be closed. Please use the following alternative stops:

The stop at Nelson Street-B5 outside record shop will be served.

There will also be an additional stop at Broad Weir-S12.

Services 8 and 72 – towards Temple Meads only

These services will go the normal route but stops B15–The Horsefair and S9–Penn Street will be closed. Please use the following alternative stops:

The normal stop at Nelson Street-B3 will be served.

There will also be an additional temporary stop on Lower Castle Street.

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Service 90

These services will go the normal route but stop S3–The Horsefair will be closed. Please use the following alternative stops:

Open stops:

The normal stops at Broad Weir-S10 and Union Street-B14 will be served.

Services 91 & 92

These services will go the normal route but stop S3–The Horsefair will be closed. Please use the following alternative stops:

The normal stops at Broad Weir-S10 and Wine Street-B18 will be served.

There will be an additional stop at Union Street-B14.