Sort out timetable, bus chiefs are urged

WEST of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris has called on bus bosses to revisit plans following recent changes to timetables and cuts to some services.

Passengers had been promised a better service at a meeting of the West of England Bus Forum, which was organised by Mr Norris before the timetable changes.

The meeting, which was attended by both the regional bosses of FirstBus and Stagecoach, was told that driver shortages were causing a problem, but FirstBus and Stagecoach predicted that the recent bus cuts would improve efficiency.

But now Mr Norris is asking whether feedback received from bus passengers, to say they are being left delayed and stranded after the change, is “teething troubles” or something more “terminal”.

He said: “We were told that with a new timetable in place it would be much easier for the buses to run on time. But that doesn’t appear to be what’s happening. Passengers are frustrated, and even worse, angry. So we need the bus companies to revisit their plans and reassess them with urgency.”

Such feedback came after some bus passengers described how it took four hours to get across Bristol due to what they called the “chaos” of the new timetable.

One of them was a 14-year-old student who had to take three buses from Thornbury to get to Filton College. Others travelling from Yate to Fishponds even had to use the train and then get a bus.

At the time, a spokesperson for First West of England said it was “too early to judge the new timetables” especially after the disruption a lorry fire on the M5 had caused to services.

But he also said that “early signs” seemed to show that the new timetables “significantly reduced” the number of cancelled buses, with data showing a more than 70 per cent improvement compared with previous levels.

Since then, according to transport campaigner David Redgewell, this bank holiday weekend has seen cuts, cancellations and delays to services including the 1, 2, 5, 49, 48a, 71, 75, 76, 349, 39, 24, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 548.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris went on to say: “I have asked Firstbus and Stagecoach for an explanation. This needs sorting.

“For many people, travelling by bus is a great way to get about and it is vital for more people to choose the bus if we are to meet our ambitious net zero targets. But encouraging bus use is being hindered by recent performance.”