Evening bus services launch in Somerset
Five routes will now be running into the late evening Monday to Saturday
Last updated 9th Jun 2024
From today, evening buses are running across parts of the network in Somerset, as the County Council hope to support the night time economy - and encourage those coming back from work to hop on board.
The services - subsidised by the local authority - run from Monday to Saturday and connect Taunton with Minehead, Bridgwater, Wellington, and Chard.
These buses will then run until at least 10:30 at night, at least two hours later than they currently stop in the region.
It's all part of Somerset's Government-funded Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) which aims to increase bus patronage by introducing a number of important initiatives.
From 5 December a £1 fare became effective for any single bus journey in Taunton, and further measures are planned under the BSIP in the coming months.
The evening bus routes
- 1E (Taunton to Priorswood/Musgrove Park/Silk Mills Park and Ride)
The 1E has an hourly service with last departure from Taunton Parade to Silk Mills 10.35pm and last departure from Taunton Parade to Priorswood at 11.05pm.
- 21 (Bridgwater to Taunton (Musgrove Park Hospital))
The 21 is running an hourly service with last departure from Musgrove Park Hospital to Bridgwater Bus Station 11.03pm and last departure from Bridgwater Bus Station to Musgrove Park Hospital 10.15pm.
- 22 (Wellington to Taunton)
The 22 is running an hourly service with last departure from Taunton Castle Way at 11.05pm and last departure from Wellington High Street at 11.50pm.
- 28 (Minehead to Taunton, including the diversion via Cotford St Luke and Norton Fitzwarren on the last three journeys in both directions)
Additional journeys at 8.30pm and 10.30pm from Taunton Castle Way and 8.45pm and 10.15pm from Minehead, Butlins.
- 30 (Taunton to Chard)
Additional journeys at 8.10pm and 10.10.pm from Taunton Parade to Chard (via Taunton Gateway Park & Ride) and an additional journey 9.11pm from Chard, Boden Street.
"The services will help improve the night-time economy"
It’s hoped evening buses will help boost the night-time economies in Taunton and the other towns on this evening network.
For those coming back from work, and don't work the 9-5 shift, it's also hoped these buses will be a welcome addition to getting home.
Somerset County Council and the Somerset Bus Partnership have launched the ‘Bus It’ campaign to support the BSIP improvements and encourage more people to use bus services at a time when some routes have been lost or are under threat due to lack of patronage.
Somerset County Council’s Lead Member for Transport and Digital Cllr Mike Rigby said: “Evening buses will play an incredibly important role in helping us to increase passenger numbers – we know this move is really popular with people and already there’s been a lot of positive feedback.”
“The services will help improve the night-time economy by allowing people to have a great night out without needing to drive and potentially saving a bit of money. They also mean our NHS workers and others working unsocial hours will have the option of catching the bus home.
“Combined with cheaper fares there’s even more reason now to ‘Bus it’ for a good night out in Taunton, Minehead, Bridgwater, Chard or Wellington, and all the towns and villages in between.”
“It’s vital people use the services and make them sustainable in the long-run so they become a permanent fixture.”
Simon Goff, Managing Director of Buses of Somerset, added: “The evening economy is an essential part of any vibrant community and we are delighted to provide great value for money services helping bring people to town for social activity.
“Our evening service extensions also support people who work outside of the hospitality industry, such as essential health-care workers. At a time when incomes are squeezed, our later services, combined with the £1 and £2 fare caps, mean that getting out and about in the evenings a really attractive proposition."
Visit the Somerset Bus It website for more information.