The A36 will be fully closed between Limpley Stoke and Monkton Coombe from Monday 12 August 2024 to Spring 2025. Details are available here from Highways England:
Last week Somerset Bus Partnership with Frome And Villages Bus User Group (FAVBUG) organised an urgent meeting for representatives of Frome Town Council and all the parish councils along the A36 and the B3110 (Norton St Philip and Hinton Charterhouse). The meeting was also attended by Somerset Council and Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES) councillors. East Somerset & Frome’s newly elected MP, Anna Sabine, also attended.
We have also had several meetings with First Bus about the route and timetable changes.
EFFECT ON THE D2X
The closure of the A36 will also have a major impact on bus services between Frome and Bath.
From August 12th, the First Bus D2x Frome/Bath service will be diverted and go via Radstock.
The D2x will go via usual route from Frome Sainsburys to Frome Market Place (ie via Critchill Estate, Badcox, Christchurch Street). After Frome Marketplace, the D2x will go along Welshmill Road, Whatcombe Road and the A362 (via Buckland Dinham) to Radstock then via the A367, Orchard Way in Peasdown St John, finally going down the Wellsway into Bath. The journey time from Frome via Radstock to Bath bus station is almost the same as going via the A36.
Because of the A36 closure, from August 12th, the D2x will no longer be able to serve Frome’s Stonebridge estate, Clink, Frome College, Frome Hospital nor the village of Beckington.
NEW D2X TIMETABLE
First Bus will produce a new D2x timetable and route map and this will be available soon. However, the new D2x timetable is available on Traveline, though not in a very user friendly format (make sure you select either inbound or outbound, Monday – Friday, Saturday, Sunday):
If the above link doesn't work try https://www.travelinesw.com/(select Route Timetables and D2x or D2 (make sure you also check the date next to the D2x or D2)
Or try Bus Times:
D2x timetable: Monday to Friday D2x timetable from August 12th
https://bustimes.org/services/d2x-bath-bus-station-sainsburys-superstore?date=2024-08-12&service=D2x
D2x timetable: Saturday D2x timetable from August 12
https://bustimes.org/services/d2x-bath-bus-station-sainsburys-superstore?date=2024-08-17&service=D2x
WHAT ABOUT THE D2?
The First Bus D2 will continue to go along its normal route. The D2 timetable will change from Sunday 1 September and have route amendments. At certain times of the day the D2 will go via Frome station and NOT to Sainsbury's
BUS STALL for SEPTEMBER changes
FAVBUG will hold a bus stall in Frome Marketplace on Saturday 31st August with printed D2 and D2x timetables to answer queries and try and address any concerns. Their will be changes to the D2 bus route to go via Frome station and NOT to Sainsbury's between the hours of 10 - 5
FARES
From July 28th First Bus West of England is increasing the price of their ‘local single Frome Town tickets’ by 30p to £1.80 for an adult.
For longer single journey, the £2 single fare continues. £1 single for child fare. The £1.80 return child fare stops.
Student and Young Person (16-21) tickets will no longer be available on the bus. Use the First Bus app to get your discounted tickets
PHOTO SHOWING THE CRACKED A36 ROAD THAT NEEDS REPAIRING ALONG WITH A D2X BUS 🚌
