Bus services in Bristol have faced many troubles over recent years – driver shortages, passenger numbers dropping after Covid and subsidy cuts.
But now there’s some good news – the people of St Paul’s and St Werburgh’s are celebrating the launch of a new route that links them to the city centre and to Southmead Hospital.
The weekday hourly service is run by Transpora Group. Local people have warmly welcomed the restoration of their connection to Broadmead and a new link to the Eastgate Centre, then up Muller Road to Horfield Common and the hospital.
Green councillors Emma Edwards and Lily FitzGibbon said: “We have raised concerns about the dwindling bus services for many months now and so are really pleased to see this service added.”
Bristol West’s Labour MP Thangam Debbonaire said the new route was needed because St Paul’s and St Werburgh’s had faced losing the city centre link when First withdrew the 47 service after its subsidy was ended.
“Despite this small win, there is a lot more to be done to improve Bristol’s buses. I will keep pushing private companies, WECA and Bristol City Council to ensure all Bristolians can access an affordable and well-connected public bus service,” she said.