Rescued Bristol bus service lacks daytime users

Concerns have been raised that a rescued bus service in Yate might not be used enough outside the rush hour.

The X27, which runs between the town and Bristol, was due to be axed earlier this month by bus operator First because it was no longer viable.

It led to a campaign to keep the service on the road and South Gloucestershire Council eventually stepped in to subsidise and save the route.

The bus will now continue to run with the council's support initially until November, when a decision will then be taken on its future.

But feedback since its re-launch a fortnight ago indicates that although the bus is well used in the morning and evening, when people travel to and from work, school and college, there are not many passengers using it during the day.

There have also been complaints that some buses are running late.

Yate councillor Ian Blair said the route the bus followed might also need to be looked at when the council came to review the first six months of operation to see if it was providing the best service.

Mr Blair said: "Some of the buses are not carrying many passengers at certain times of the day – but that's something you find with a number of bus services.

"I've also been told by users of the X27 that some are running late, including the first of the day when there's no reason.

"There is a need for a Yate-to-Bristol bus that runs in the day but one that is connected to a local bus service.

"With the X27, a tender was put in to simply replace what was already operating. During the six-month trial, I want the council to see what is actually needed, as improvements could be made to make it more efficient and better used."

South Gloucestershire Council staff are monitoring use of the X27 and a report is due to be made at a public transport forum in Kingswood Civic Centre on June 8.

Dozens of local people signed an online petition to register their disgust when First decided to pull out with no consultation and with a minimum of notice.

They said many people in North Yate and Iron Acton would effectively be left without any daytime bus services.

First is still running the bus under the new arrangement because it managed to put in the lowest bid for the hourly Monday-to-Saturday service.