Four bus routes at risk of being scrapped saved until March 2025
It follows weeks of campaigning across the county
Last updated 5th Sep 2024
After weeks of campaigning by the RMT union across Somerset, it's been confirmed a number of 'at-risk' bus serviced have been saved for another year.
It follows an agreement by Somerset Council and First Bus South - the operator of Buses of Somerset.
Four routes will now have the funding they need until the end of March 2025, despite questions being made by the operator over their financial viability.
The 58, 54, 28 and 35 were at risk of being reduced or scrapped because of low passenger numbers, and it was only back in the autumn when Somerset Council stepped in with Government money to try and keep them running.
They also launched a campaign to drive up passenger numbers - and help keep more routes 'commercially viable'.
Through these new agreements, it's been confirmed the 54 and 25 will continue to be supported using Government funding from the Bus Service Improvement Grant (BSIP Plus), provided by Somerset Council, and Buses of Somerset has agreed to run the 58 and 28 services without subsidy.
Buses of Somerset will continue to run and promote the services for a further year while working with Somerset Council and Somerset Bus Partnership to maintain an ongoing campaign to encourage bus use.
The services
- Services 54, 58 and 58a all remain unchanged
- Service 25 from Dulverton – Wiveliscombe – Taunton will continue to serve all points of the route, but in order to ensure the service remains viable, the timetable will see some changes. Some daytime journeys will divert on the Service 28 through Cotford St Luke and North Fitzwarren at certain times of the day, these will be renumbered 28a.
- Service 28 will be revised, including some direct journeys between Taunton and Minehead, with an express service to Butlins numbered X28, which will operate Mondays to Fridays. Following feedback from stakeholders, the evening services will be retimed to align with trains serving Taunton station
Further detail on the changes will be announced shortly.
Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Transport and Digital said: "We’re really pleased to be able to make this announcement today, after long and detailed negotiations. We know how important these services are for people and we’ve recently seen the strength of feeling around ensuring they are protected.
"Passenger numbers have been rising, which is positive, this trend still needs to continue to ensure the long-term future of the routes.
"The message to everyone is please do keep using and valuing these services, and we will continue to work with Buses of Somerset and Somerset Bus Partnership to promote bus travel."
James Eustace, Commercial Director at First Bus South which operates Buses of Somerset, said: "Reducing or withdrawing services is the last thing we want to do, so we’re delighted to have found a solution with Somerset Council that allows the four routes to continue to run. While running these services remains commercially challenging, we understand how valued the services are, which is why we’ve agreed to support the local community and continue to run the 28 and 58 routes without financial assistance.
"However, we need to be clear that for buses services to continue operating in the long term they need to continually be commercially sustainable and cover their cost of operations. We will continue to work closely with the Council and Somerset bus user groups to encourage more people to use the bus."
Somerset Council and the Somerset Bus Partnership launched the ‘Bus It’ campaign last year.
Figures show that bus use has increased by 32 per cent across the county between January and June 2023 thanks to initiatives such as fare capping and the Bus It campaign.