Bristol bus routes axed by First
First has announced a raft of changes to its network in South Gloucestershire – leaving some areas with no daytime buses at all.
The company has announced it is to axe the X27 from Bristol to Yate shopping centre, via Iron Acton and Winterbourne.
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First is to axe bus some routes serving South Gloucestershire and Bristol
It is one of many changes planned for early May and follows similar alterations brought in almost a year ago. First has offered passengers no consultation period on the changes, which it says are aimed at cutting costs.
The city-wide network review has been brought forward because of the recession and will come into effect on Sunday, May 10.
In a letter to councillors in South Gloucestershire, Justin Davies, managing director of First Bristol, apologised for the short notice of the changes.
He said he had to "match resources with customer demand" to secure the long-term future of the business.
Residents and passengers in parts of South Gloucestershire have reacted angrily to the news that they are effectively to be denied any daytime bus services where they live.
Mum-of-two Paula Evans, 43, from Iron Acton, said: "Last summer, they withdrew the service from the middle of the village and now they say that they're going to be taking it away altogether.
"What disturbs me is that people who use it to get to school, college or work have no alternative at all, unless they can drive.
"I can appreciate that we are all facing difficult times but when people are trying to get out of cars, to withdraw bus services seems crazy."
Councillors and MPs also complained, saying First should be encouraging people to use public transport, not preventing them from doing so. South Gloucestershire Council transport chief Brian Allinson said he hoped to force First to reconsider.
Mr Allinson said: "Last summer, the council was successful in forcing First to think again on some of the service cuts it originally announced.
"I will again be expressing in the strongest possible terms to First's management what a terrible signal this sends at a time when the council is working harder than ever to encourage more residents to use our public transport system."
Steve Webb, Lib Dem MP for Northavon, called on councils to use new powers to make sure that the bus service provision to South Gloucestershire did not deteriorate.
He said: "It is outrageous of First Group to try to pass on to hard-pressed council taxpayers the cost of running vital bus services from South Gloucestershire.
"They need to understand that running a bus service is a long-term business and that people make plans for work and leisure based on the existing bus timetables.
"It's time that the council stood up to the bullying behaviour of the bus companies."
The axing of the X27 marks the removal of yet another route which used the new M32 bus lane, following the termination of the X30 and the X40 last June.
Only the X42 will remain of First's express routes from South Gloucestershire into Bristol city centre and even that is confined to four journeys in the morning rush hour and five in the evening.
The latest changes are among a wide raft of alterations to the First's operation in South Gloucestershire and Bristol.
Other services to be affected by the changes are the night flyer services, which will be run by a different operator from Sunday, May 10.
Timetable and route changes, aimed at improving reliability and efficiency, will also effect the 1, 6, 7, 20, 21, 36, 48, 49, 51, 54, 54A, 318, 319, 430, 431, 432, X39, 482 and 600.
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by Steve, Bristol
Saturday, March 14 2009, 1:37PM
“The Bristol area needs an integrated transport authority, like every other urban area in Britain has.
Such an authority will have the power to regulate fares and routes and to curb the worst excesses of First's monopoly.
We also need to break First's monopoly by allowing another major operator to compete.
Additionally, we must also strongly resist all attempts by the West of England Partnership and our local councils to introduce Congestion Charging by applying for money from the Transport Innovation Fund. This would be a catastrophe for transport in Bristol.
If you think First are expensive, unreliable and arrogant now, just imagine what they'd be like when people are forced onto their shoddy services by a CONgestion charge.
The simple fact of the matter is that Bristol's transport system has chronically declined under Labour and First. Bristolians have suffered because of First's corrupt relationship with Labour - donating to the party in return for being allowed to run an entirely unregulated 'service' in Bristol - First's chairman, Moir Lockhead, even got a knighthood from Labour last year.
Very simply put - Bristol will NEVER get a decent transport system whilst First is in town and whilst Labour is in government.”
by C, Bristol
Saturday, March 14 2009, 12:36AM
“surely we should be looking to have a go at south gloucestershire council. As a bus driver I know that Bristol city council provide First with money to run many of the bus routes in Bristol which just do not make money, and let me tell you that this is not the only noticeable difference, the second you cross the county boundary it is like driving off road, the road conditions are etrocious. The council need to re-think they're funding ideas rather than spending it on whatever they are spending it on. It is all too easy to blame first as a large company but without the councils support it would appear South glos is doomed to spend eternity in the dark ages”
by d, bristol
Friday, March 13 2009, 11:45PM
“councils subsidise bus companies (not just first) to run routes that aren't commercially profitable. otherwise no buses would run on some routes cos they don't bring in the cash.
steve webb knows this so to say it's outrageous for first "to try to pass on to hard-pressed council taxpayers the cost of running vital bus services" is rubbish - it has been happening for years and this is no different. sorry but if it doesn't make money first are not obliged to run it”
by Anthony, Bridgend
Friday, March 13 2009, 9:08PM
“This is good for clayton jones, need him to run buses in bristol.
as for those saying how great cardiff bus are, u may want to think again as u may be shocked at the plans that cardiff council have or cardiff bus.”
by Anne, Bristol
Friday, March 13 2009, 4:31PM
“Gerry I think its a great idea to boycott First Bus for a day, but I rely on the bus to get to work. I agree though that something now needs to be done as its getting ridiculous. Can other bus companies set up in business or do they need a licence to operate in Bristol or something similar? If they don't need a licence then it must now be a great opportunity for others to make a move.”