Christmas times for other operators

Majority of other operators are running as followed;
Christmas Eve: Normal Saturday services
Christmas Day & Boxing Day - No Service...
Tues 27th December - No Service
Wed 28th until New Years Eve - Normal Weekday Service
New Years Day - No Service
2nd Jan 2017 - No Service

Do you miss visiting Wells market at the weekend?

Did you know that you can travel to Wells from Bath every half an hour
Hop onto the 267 then connect with the 173/ 174 after arriving at Bath. The 173/ 174 both run an hourly service from Bath to Wells giving you a bus service every half an hour...

Cost of a single West of England single ticket £7.50. If you can find 4 extra friends to travel with it could cost you as little as £3 each using a West of England group ticket costing £15

Fancy a spot of Christmas shopping in Broadmead? It will only cost you £6.50 using a Bath outer zone ticket. If you can find 4 more fiends to travel with it could cost you less than £3 each using the new Bath outer zone group ticket costing £13
Just hop on the 267 and connect with the 38/ 39 or x39 which all run hourly from Bath bus station.

Do you still need to get your Christmas presents but work all day and al week?

Visit Southgate shopping centre https://www.southgatebath.com

You could also travel by bus to that all important party in Bath or just to beat the parking queue's
https://www.firstgroup.com/bristol-bath-and-…/…/timetables/…
Hop onto the 267 that runs hourly from 0554 until 2310 Monday - Saturday and 2 hourly from 0925 until 1730...

If you can get 4 friends to travel with you it will cost you less than £3 each using the new Bath outer zone group ticket costing £13

Still not taken your kids to see Santa or stuck for last minute present ideas
Why not head to Whitehall garden centre https://whitehallgardencentre.co.uk
Open from 8.30am until 6pm
Catch the X34
http://www.faresaver.co.uk/timetables/57db957318b86.pdf ...
Kids go FREE  on Faresaver buses from 17th December until the 3rd January
LAST BUS departs Lacock Monday - Friday at 1652 arriving back in Frome at 1800 on Saturday departs Lacock at 1620 arriving back in Frome at 1747

Great NEW First bus group ticket deals

From 30 October our family day ticket in all areas of the West of England is changing to a new Group Day Ticket. This ticket allows up to 5 people (can all be adults) unlimited travel together in your chosen area until 4.29am the following morning.
Tickets are available after 9.30am Monday to Friday and all day Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.

Bristol Inner Zone	£8
Bath Inner Zone	£8
Bristol Outer Zone	£13
Bath Outer Zone	£13
Weston Outer Zone	£13
Weston Inner Zone	£7.40
West of England	£15

So whether you're out for a day trip, out with the family or out for a night on the town with your mates, this great value ticket is for you.

Available to buy on bus or the mTicket app from the 30 October

COMMING SOON
New 30 bus stop near Frome Medical Centre / Hospital from 3rd January 2017
The new timetable is now On Frome minibuses website. You can also pick copies of the new timetable up at Frome Town info desk at Frome library

Faresaver route changes on the 2nd December during the Chritmas tree lights Swith on

Friday 2nd December is Frome Christmas light switch on event. The Market Place will be closed to all traffic from 1630. After this time X34s will terminate/start from Fromefield and X67s will service via Rodden Road and Portway between Frome Hospital and Christchurch. The Market Place bus stop will not be in use during the closure

Front page and page 23 of the Frome Times 1/ 12/16

267 funding issues makes front page news in this weeks Frome Times. Huge thank you to Sam Blanchard from the Frome Times for his support

267 route change during the Christmas tree lights switch on

Faresaver Christmas timetable

Friday 23rd Dec - Normal weekday service
Saturday 24th Dec - Normal Saturday service
Sunday 25th Dec - No service
Monday 26th Dec - No service
Tuesday 27th Dec - Sunday/Public Holiday service provided by First on the X31 and their 272 (X72) and 267 (X67) services
Wednesday 28th Dec - Normal weekday service
Thursday 29th December - Normal weekday service
Friday 30th December - Normal weekday service
Saturday 31st December - Normal Saturday service
Sunday 1st January - No service
Monday 2nd January - Sunday/Public Holiday service provided by First on the X31 and their 272 (X72) and 267 (X67) services
Tuesday 3rd January - Normal weekday service.

Our 'kids go free' offer will commence on Saturday 17th December whereby up to two children can travel free with any adult. Normal fares will be reinstated on Tuesday 3rd January

First bus Christmas timetable

A full guide on what services are running over the Christmas and New Year period, Travel Shop opening times and details of special services can be found at:
https://www.firstgroup.com/…/christmas-and-new-year-bus-ser…

Fare changes in Bath

From 30 October 2016 the following tickets will be changing:

Single Tickets in Bath Outer Zone

The on-bus price of single tickets in the Bath Outer Zone will be increasing. If your journey is over three miles you may find it more convenient and it will also save you money if your journey is further than six miles, to purchase your ticket as a set of 10 Single Journeys on the mTicket app.  

	Adult	Student/16-21 Years Old	Child
Up to three miles	from £1.70	from £1.20	from 90p
Three to six miles	from £2.70	from £1.90	from £1.40
Six to nine miles	from £4	from £2.80	from £2
Nine to Twelve miles	from £5	from £3.50	from £2.50
Over twelve miles	from £6	from 4.20	from £3

Bath Outer Zone 10 Journey Ticket 

The price of 10 single journey tickets will be increasing both on-bus and on our mTickets app.

	Adult	Student/16-21 Years Old	Child
10 Single Journey on-bus	£30	£21	£15
10 single journey mTicket	£27	£18.90	£13.50

Night ticket

Allows unlimited travel after 7pm until 4.29am the following morning in your chosen area.

	Adult	Student/16-21 Years Old	Child
Bath Inner Zone	£3	£2	£1.50
New Bath Outer Zone	£5	£3.20	£2.50

Group Day Ticket

This ticket will replace the Family Day Ticket and allows unlimited travel in your chosen area for up to 5 people after 9.30am Monday to Friday, all day Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays. There are no age restrictions so up to 5 adults can travel together in a group.

	Group (5 people)
Bath Inner Zone	£8
Bath Outer Zone	£13

Week Ticket

This ticket allows unlimited travel within the chosen area for 7 consecutive days. The on-bus price of all Inner Zone week tickets will increase and the on-bus price of the Child Outer Zone ticket has been rounded up.

	Adult	Student/16-21 Years Old	Child
Bath Inner Zone on-bus	£18.50	£13	£9.20
Bath Inner Zone mTicket or Touch Card	£17	£12	£8.50
Bath Outer Zone on-bus	£23.80	£16.70	£12
Bath Outer Zone mTicket or Touch Card	£22	£15.40	£11

All other fares in Bath Inner and Outer Zone remain unchanged

Buses in Bath are paying a heavy price for congested roads

Here is an extract of a letter we sent to Councillor Turner of BaNES council a month ago for those that may be interested.
.......As the one of largest independent operators of buses in Bath we despair at the attitude of Bath and North East Somerset Council towards buses and coaches.
Traffic in Bath is notoriously unpredictable and therefore we build contingencies into our timetables to try and allow delayed buses to get back on time and comply with our obligations to the lic...encing authorities. The problem arises when a bus does arrive on time is that the driver then has nowhere to go. We are allowed to stand on bus stops for up to ten minutes as long as the driver remains on the bus. When drivers either leave the bus for a ‘call of nature’ or drive around the corner to move out of the way, we are hounded by traffic wardens who regularly ‘ticket’ our buses.

What are we supposed to do ?
Bath is a World Heritage City. Regardless of the council’s political tendencies, there should be a realisation that buses and coaches are better than cars when it comes to reducing traffic, congestion and pollution. We often hear that a bus can replace 50 cars and this is a good thing. We have never heard a complaint that a coach is using up three car parking spaces and this is a bad thing.
Yesterday, the 19th September Bath once again suffered gridlock in the afternoon. Some buses were up to 35 minutes late. Perhaps the bus companies should close for a day to prove to Bath how much it needs public transport ?
We; The bus companies, the politicians, the local council, the residents should all work together to make Bath open to efficient public transport. Otherwise we may as well just have to accept that the battle is lost and Bath is just another victim of the motor car......
Here we are a month later and nothing has changed

The new way forward for bus travel

So why are First bus  encouraging you to buy your bus tickets on the free First Bus mTickets app?
See for yourself the difference between boarding a bus with customers paying by cash v mTickets. The results are unbelievable... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtUGq15dsnU&feature=youtu.be

                                                                    VS

                                         

NEW West of England group ticket available from 30th October 2016

5 people can travel anywhere across the west of England zone for £15 a total of £3 each per person  (your group must travel together through out your journey) Great for a day out Christmas shopping or to get to the office party. This ticket offers unlimited travel across the West of England zone in one given day. You could use the ticket in the morning to buy presents and that new party wear and catch the bus to your party later in the day.
( Some examples across the West of England zone Frome, Bath, Bristol, Wells, Glastonbury, Street, Shepton Mallet, Melksham, Salisbury, Radstock, Midsomer Norton, Devizes and ( Chippenham evenings only using First buses x31 )

Spotted beside the 267 bay

Spotted beside Bay 10  for the 267 a  notice about the new fares in Bath. Their was mention of the new Bath outer evening ticket which will save you £1.50 for an evening out from the 30th Oct ( new price is £5 adult or £3.20 student) Their is also mention about the new group ticket that allows 5 passengers to travel for £15 ( so long as you all remain travelling together )

Room on the 267 bus after a Bath rugby match

It was standing room only on the 2310 from Bath on the 20/10/16 after a Bath rugby match. I hope that the 267 isn't cut next year or these fans will no longer be able to follow their team.

New evening bus ticket for the Bath Outer Zone

New Bath outer evening ticket. From the 30th Oct you can have a night out in Bath or Bristol for £5 adult or £3.20 student ( after 7pm )

CHANGES TO FIRST BUS FARES FROM THE 30TH OCTOBER 2016

-https://www.firstgroup.com/bristol-bath-and-west/more/30-october-fare-revision/fare-changes-bath

267 route during the B3090 road closure at Oldford Hill

The B3090 will be closed 24/7 for drainage works from Monday 17th to Friday 28th October.
Whilst the closure is in place service 276 will divert as follows:
Normal route through Beckington, left onto B3090 to roundabout taking 2nd exit onto A361. Straight over the next two roundabouts, right into Clink Road then Forest Road resuming normal route from the end of Forest Road.
This route will be used in both directions

WARNING the sports centre stop is omitted along with the stops after it until you reach Beckington

x67 and x 34 routes during the closure of Oldford Hill

The B3090 at Oldford will be closed between 17-26 October. During this closure X34 and X67 services will divert via the A361 and Clink Road/Berkley Road before rejoining normal route.  X67 Stonebridge Drive and Brunel way stops will be served in the normal direction of travel. The Frome College stop will not be served during this closure

The B3110 at Norton St Philip will be closed again next Wednesday and Thursday between 0930 - 1530. During the closure X67s will divert via the A36 and Branch Road to Hinton Charterhouse and will not be serving Norton St Philip.
Please be mindful that this diversion will be in addition to the diversion being following due to the Oldford Road closure between Beckington and Frome and therefore delays to the service are highly likely

Delighted to see that Simon Cowell has decided to catch the bus to the first of The X Factor live shows on Saturday evening!
#XFactor #CatchTheBus #ITV

Funding for Wiltshires buses next year

Update - Wiltshire Council has decided to cut £500k from next year's bus budget rather than five times that amount which was their least draconian financial opt...ion in the consultation. Excellent news; perhaps not sustainable to future years, but a real window of opportunity which possibility they acknowledge in their reports.

They are proposing to "buck the national trend and safeguard the services people really need".
Article on their web site at http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/…/bus-services-consultation-hel… and cabinet papers with some more detail mirrored at http://option247.uk/ptr_20161003.pdf .
Personal initial comment: "very sensible news on the buses - I understand that Wiltshire Council has scaled back the cuts it had planned to make in bus service support next year. That means that the support budget will be £4.6 million rather than the previously planned £2.6 million, versus £5.1 million this year. The Council has stated that 97% of passenger journeys are safe, and that services costing over £3.50 per passenger in support will be the only ones subject to review this year. This news is very welcome in that it protects many services that people depend on for next year, and that it opens a window of opportunity to review / recast services for the medium and longer term once the options offered by the Bus Services Bill (report to House of Lords on 12th October) and the linked statutory instruments have been fully defined and initially tested. Cornwall Council (covering a similar sized area and with a similar population density to Wiltshire) are at the forefront of using new powers, with a partnership that could be backed up by franchising if necessary, and although the Council there are busy doing the work rather than doing lots of presentations, I was honoured to be able to attend their first presentation (“of very very few at this stage”) in Plymouth last month, and had the opportunity to speak with their lead who was inspirational, copied his presentation to me, and has offered to talk / help to us in Wiltshire as things progress. We are likely to have one or two highly charged discussions relating to the 3% of passenger journeys (that’s 300,000 rides) subject to review; some services can be sensibly restructured ahead of bus service changes, but some are parts of support “baskets” and we need to be careful not to throw out the baby with the bathwater. I know of one service, for example, that’s often full and standing and yet part of a subsidy group that’ll be up for review."

Frome Town Council are holding a public meeting on Wednesday 21 September at 7.00 pm at Rook Lane Chapel. On the agenda will be the 267 bus and whether Frome Town Council should contribute something towards the bus services.
Do come along if you can to show some support and join in the discussion!

A busy few days on the 267 First Bus front....
Today was the BaNES Transport Committee meeting where we were presenting our case for the 267!
Big thank you to Linda Oliver (Somerset County Councillor for Rode and Norton St Philip and Mendip District Councillor for Frome North, Beckington. Norton St Philip and Rode).and Adam Boyden, Mendip District Councillor for Frome's College Ward) for their time and effort over the last few weeks and also taking the time to present to ...BaNES today.

A big we'll done to Frome and Villages Bus User Group's (FAVBUG) Tracey Harding who also presented to BaNES today....

This meeting was also attended by James Freeman MD and Andrew Sherrington  from First bus and David Redgewell MD from  bus users uk

l

 preparing to talk at #BaNES full council meeting on buses. I was asked at very short notice to read a speech at B&NES full council meeting yesterday. I was asked to read somebody else's long speech in 3 minutes which I knew I had no time to do. I took the very bold move after addressing my audience and said I assume that you have all read this paper before this meeting and went with my own on the 267.
I started with the West of England devolution deal
How much per head that they fund and how much they get back in customer spending
The affects on low paid workers. Managed to get in that it will cost commuters who work unsociable hours an extra £22.20 to get to work by train.
Lack of consultation notices
Length of their consultation period ( 3 weeks ) Wiltshire's consultation ran for 3 months and SCC for a month and a half

Deadline to save the 267 evening bus is Friday the 16th September
If you rely on public transport this would mean
No more nights out in Bath
No more opportunities to go to evening education classes
Commuters who work late couldn't get home...
People who need to go to evening hospital appointments / see relatives in hospital couldn't get home
E mail your thoughts on the proposed cuts to public_transport@bathnes.gov.uk
This should only take you a few minutes of your time to do. Thank you for your support

FROME AND THE SURROUNDING VILLAGES IS LIKELY TO LOSE ITS EVENING 267 BATH/FROME SERVICE
BaNES is consulting on ending its subsidy of 267 evening services and that could mean the end of 267 evening services between Bath and Frome.
If you are one of those that some times uses those evening services and you want to try and keep it, then you need to apply pressure on Bath businesses to write to BaNES asking them to maintain their subsidy of the 267.
...

Below is a note that might form the basis of a letter/email for you to send to any Bath businesses (pubs, bars, restaurants, clubs, theatres and cinemas) that you go to in the hope those businesses will ask BaNEs to keep the 267 evening services.
Dear
I am an occasional patron of yours on my evening nights out in Bath. I would very much like to continue to be able to be a patron of your business.
BaNES is faced with tough decisions going into its 2017/18 budgeting process and is looking to make cuts.
One of those possible cuts is a relatively modest £18,000 grant that maintains the evening services of the 267 bus service to Bath from Frome and villages.
Every evening this 267 bus service brings a lot of spending power into Bath. It allows people from Frome and neighbouring villages to have a night out in Bath without the problems of drinking and driving.
It has been estimated that each passenger typically spends around £30 per head during a night in Bath.
On the basis of 10,000 bus passengers over the year that would add up to £300,000. A pretty good ROI on an £18,000 investment. Plus all the social benefits this bus service delivers.
We therefore would urge you to take part in BaNES’ consultation process over this £18,000 subsidy for the 267.
If you agree with me this subsidy should be maintained because of the revenue it delivers to Bath businesses, educational establishments etc, then please send your views to: public_transport@bathnes.gov.uk putting into your email header: 267 Bus Service between Frome and Bath.
Many thanks

Frome and Villagers Bus User Group called an emergency meeting on Tuesday 23 August this week to discuss this crisis facing Frome bus users.

It was attended by 15 Councillors including Somerset County and Mendip District Councillor, Linda Oliver, Mendip District Councillors, Damon Hooton and Adam Boyden, BaNES Councillor Neil Butters along with Frome Town Councillors and parish Councillors from Rode, Norton and Hinton Charterhouse (all these are villages are on the 267 route) and the FAVBUG Committee (including Tracey Harding, Lucy Travis and Peter Travis).

Thank you to The George Hotel in Frome Market Place for the meeting room.

Swathing cuts to buses across Somerset

Last minute timetable changes to the 178 Radstock to Bristol service show that B&NES are making swathing cuts to evening and weekend buses. Are any buses that they fund safe

Late changes confirmed to the 178 RADSTOCK - BRISTOL service from the 4th September.
Its been confirmed today, that the journeys operating on a Sunday and Public Holiday will now be withdrawn meaning that Service 178 will only operate Monday to Saturday.
The 23:20 journey that also was going to operate with financial support from Bath and North East Somerset, has been withdrawn.
Journeys on a Sunday, can only operate under financial support from the local authority, wh...o have pulled out at the last minute.

This means that the information booklet printed by the bus company is INCORRECT!!!

Lights out for nights out

Another bitter blow for Frome and the surrounding villages after B&NES announced their proposal to cut the funding to the 267 evening service. B&NES are proposing to cut the funding to all 5 of the 267 buses which they fund. If the proposed cuts go ahead bus users will no longer be able to catch a bus after 8pm and will result in the loss of Frome's only evening  bus. To read about the consultation and to air your views use the link provided   http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/…/your-council-and-…/consultations

THREAT TO 267 EVENING SERVICE

Now A Threat To Our Evening 267 Bath Bus
“The Council is considering changes to supported bus services to be implemented from May 2017.”
In that short sentence Bath and North East Somerset Council (BaNES) has raised the spectre of their axe falling on the evening services from 8pm from Bath to Frome for the 267 bus services This would mean a loss of 5 buses on the route
...

In the current era of austerity, County Councils are having to make big cuts to their budgets. Bus subsidies is one area that is being very hard hit. Hefty cuts have already been made to Somerset’s already modest bus subsidy budget, Wiltshire is in the process of making cuts too and now BaNES is embarking on a review of bus subsidies to see where cuts can be made from May 2017.
For many years BaNES has subsidised the 267 Bath to Frome evening services. Somerset stopped subsidising the 267 route in 2011. Bus services that straddle two or more counties are always more prone to bus cuts. Also a new West of England Mayor who would have great transport powers (and thus money) is likely to be established in 2017 which would cover the areas of: Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Most of the 267 route would fall outside the West of England area.
To read about the consultation click on this link : http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/…/your-council-and-…/consultations
Why does BaNES subsidise a route that mainly serves people who live in Somerset and not in BaNES?
Because the 267 brings a lot of business to Bath’s nighttime economy, hence the 267 is good for Bath businesses!
We have a meeting on Tuesday night and will post a further update after that about planned action and what you can do.
If you are from the press we will make contact with you the end of this week so please don't jump the gun and feature this news yet.
Lucy Travis and Tracey Harding
Frome and Villagers Bus User Group

Pick up your guide NOW  which will explain all of the forthcoming changes to bus services in and around Bath from 4/ 9/16. I picked my copy up on the 267 bus so other  First buses may also be carrying them or you can find copies at the bus stations

x67 and x34 new bus timetables for the 4th September 2016

Timetables are available to view now at www.faresaver.co.uk
Printed versions will be available on bus and at various outlets including Tourist Information and Town Councils later this month

Links to changes happening to First West of England buses from the 4th september 2016

Bus services across the West of England are changing on the 4 September (WS). To view the new timetables visit www.firstgroup.com/newtimetables
For information on what's changing in Bristol visit:
https://www.firstgroup.com/…/significant-bus-service-change…
...

For information on what's changing in Bath visit:
https://www.firstgroup.com/…/bath-city-bus-network-redesign…
For information on what's changing in Shepton Mallet, Glastonbury, and Wells visit:
https://www.firstgroup.com/…/buses-running-throughout-mendi…
For information on what's changing in North Somerset visit:
https://www.firstgroup.com/…/bus-services-north-somerset-be

Chnanges to the x34 and x67 from 4th September 2016

Timetables available to view at www.faresaver.co.uk
X34 - Chippenham - Melksham - Trowbridge - Frome
Revised timings on the current 0645 ex Chippenham and 0806 ex Frome with additional trips departing Trowbridge to Chippenham at 0906 and from Chippenham to Trowbridge at 1830....

X67 - Bath - Frome
Minor timing changes on the 0700 & 0900 ex Frome Critchill Road and the 0810 ex Bath by up to 10 minutes to improve punctuality

Bus driver gets a parking ticket for parking at Ambory bus stand this is so wrong and unjust