Road, Rail & Access Issues

[Jerry]

Does the airport flyer depart from outside of Temple meads station?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Does the airport flyer depart from outside of Temple meads station?

The stop is on the approach road to the station about 100 yards from the main passenger exit from the station. It used to be right outside the station passenger exit but the station canopy (which overhangs the pavement and the edge of the road is listed so can't be removed) is too low for double-deckers, therefore the bus stop was moved when the single-deckers were phased out.

The A1 Flyer begins and ends its journey at the Bristol Country Bus and Coach Station which is about a mile from Temple Meads on the edge of the Broadmead shopping district.

 

[Jerry]

The stop is on the approach road to the station about 100 yards from the main passenger exit from the station. It used to be right outside the station passenger exit but the station canopy (which overhangs the pavement and the edge of the road is listed so can't be removed) is too low for double-deckers, therefore the bus stop was moved when the single-deckers were phased out.

The A1 Flyer begins and ends its journey at the Bristol Country Bus and Coach Station which is about a mile from Temple Meads on the edge of the Broadmead shopping district.

Thanks for the info! My sister has had to change her plans and is now flying out of Bristol with Ryanair to Dublin as she needs an earlier flight than what Cardiff can provide. As she doesn't have a car she has to catch the train and then the bus and didn't where she'd have to catch it from.

 

[tpm]

There are also direct national express busses to the airport from various locations in Cardiff for what it's worth: http://nationalexpress.com/en/airports/bristol

 

[Jerry]

There are also direct national express busses to the airport from various locations in Cardiff for what it's worth: http://nationalexpress.com/en/airports/bristol

Thanks! She's on the train now!

 

[TheLocalYokel]

BRS press release today:

https://www.bristolairport.co.uk/ab...news-and-media-centre/2018/10/new-bus-service

The new A2 won't access the bus station nor, it seems, Temple Meads. It will begin its journey at Lewins Mead and route through Bedminster along the existing route of the A1.

New Bus Service to Bristol Airport
Created: 19th Oct 2018

A new bus service to south Bristol will commence from Sunday 28 October 2018, further enhancing public transport connections to Bristol Airport.

The new service is being introduced to coincide with the rerouting of the A1 Bristol Airport Flyer service to take advantage of new Metrobus infrastructure in Bristol. The A2 will operate between Bristol Airport and Bristol city centre (Lewins Mead) via Bedminster every half hour between 3.30am and midnight. This provides passengers and staff living near the existing Flyer route in south Bristol with continued access to public transport to and from the Airport.

The A1’s new route will follow the A38 from the Airport to Lime Kiln roundabout where it will join the South Bristol Link before turning onto the dedicated guideway to Long Ashton Park and Ride. From here it will continue along the Metrobus route to Bristol city centre via stops including the ss Great Britain – a popular destination for visitors to the city. Flyer buses – which have been adapted to use the guided bus rails along the Metrobus route - will continue to operate every ten minutes at peak times, with the reliability of journey times expected to be significantly improved as a result.

Paul Baker, Surface Access Strategy Manager, Bristol Airport said:
“We are delighted by this latest enhancement to public transport services to and from Bristol Airport. The new Flyer route will provide a better experience for our passengers, while the significant number of staff living in south Bristol will continue to be served by a regular bus to and from work.”

For the timetables and details for all bus services operating to and from Bristol Airport please check the website for more information: www.bristolairport.co.uk/to-and-from-the-airport/bus-and-coach

 

[tpm]

Nice, so to add insult to injury it looks like in addition to the much lower frequency people living in Bedminster might also get to enjoy a 50% fare hike now for a return ticket (was £6 return from Bedminster, but now we'll have to purchase two singles at £4.50 unless there's still a reduced fare from Bedminster). Won't affect airport staff of course.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Nice, so to add insult to injury it looks like in addition to the much lower frequency people living in Bedminster might also get to enjoy a 50% fare hike now for a return ticket (was £6 return from Bedminster, but now we'll have to purchase two singles at £4.50 unless there's still a reduced fare from Bedminster). Won't affect airport staff of course.

If I was affected I'd be contacting the airport to confirm the fares from Bedminster. I presume the airport sets the fares as it's their service, albeit operated for them by First.

 

[vickersviscount]

I was travelling behind one of the new A2 services today making its way from the centre to the airport via bedminster. The bus had air connect on the rear and side panels and was a single decker.Couldn't be certain but did seem to be a different type of bus from the previous single decker.Funnily enough I often see the old single deckers on conventional first bus routes.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I was travelling behind one of the new A2 services today making its way from the centre to the airport via bedminster. The bus had air connect on the rear and side panels and was a single decker.Couldn't be certain but did seem to be a different type of bus from the previous single decker.Funnily enough I often see the old single deckers on conventional first bus routes.

The A2 uses similar single deckers as the A3 - I think they are Enviros (Alexander Dennis). In fact, the old A2 route between airport and Weston via villages used the same type as the new A2 - might even be the same vehicles. The previous A1 Flyer single deckers were larger Volvos. This link shows pictures of the various buses/coaches using BRS (scroll to bottom of the linked page), although the BRS website is its usual slow self and hasn't got round to illustrating the A1 route with the double-deckers that have been operating it all year.

https://www.bristolairport.co.uk/to-and-from-the-airport/bus-and-coach

 

[TheLocalYokel]

The new route for the A1 Flyer via the M2 Metrobus route commenced yesterday. I used the M2 service this afternoon and saw a few Flyers along the way. As mentioned earlier the Flyer is the first bus service to use the link road from near the Ashton Vale park and ride to the South Bristol Link Road.

The Flyer has also changed its route between Temple Meads and the country bus and coach station. Formerly, when inbound from the airport it used Temple Way, Old Market and Bond Street with the outbound routing via Centre, Bristol Bridge and Victoria Street.

The new route takes it via Redcliffe Bascule Bridge, The Grove, Prince Street and Centre in both directions. This means the bus tops in Victoria Street which were quite well used, often by people from the nearby hotels, will be without a service meaning up to a half mile walk to access the new route.

I also noticed a couple of vehicles on the new A2 route between Lewins Mead in the city centre, Bedminster and the airport. They are single deckers branded as Air Connect.

So in summary, the following bus/coach routes now serve BRS.

A1: Airport Flyer liveried double deckers, 24-hour service, operated by First on behalf of the airport between bus & coach station, Temple Meads and airport at frequency between 10 minutes and hourly (the latter in the early hours).

A2: part-liveried single-deckers, 0301-007 hours, operated by First between city centre, Bedminster and airport at 30-minute frequency.

A3: Weston Flyer liveried single deckers, 0305-0046 hours, operated by First on behalf of the airport between Weston-super-Mare and airport at 60-minute-frequency.

A4: Bath Air Decker liveried double deckers, 0300-0049 hours, operated by Bath Bus Company between Bath, South Bristol and airport at 30-minute frequency (60-minute early morning and later in evening).

A5: Village link mini-buses, 0700-1855 hours, operated by Carmel between Winford, airport and either Winscombe or Yatton at 60-minute frequency (Monday-Friday only).

216: National Express coaches, 0230-0015 hours between Cardiff, Newport and airport at roughly 2-hour frequency (10 return journeys per 24 hours).

South West Falcon: liveried coaches, 24-hour service, operated by Stagecoach between Plymouth, Exeter, Taunton, airport and Bristol at mostly 60-minute frequency (2-hours during early hours - 19 return journeys per 24 hours).

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I attended a public meeting today regarding proposals to build a ring road and numerous houses in an already congested area of south Bristol.

Marvin Rees, Bristol's elected mayor (Labour), was in attendance and part of one answer he gave involved his proposed underground/tram network, the first route of which he said would be from the central area of the city to the airport. Now the entire network is little more than an aspiration at present but he was adamant that the airport is an extremely important facility for the region's economy.

The previous elected mayor, the nominally Independent but with a Liberal history, George Ferguson, was anti-airport expansion prior to gaining office and became only lukewarm towards the airport when he became mayor. Even then he suggested a good way would be for Bristol Airport to share traffic with Cardiff Airport (so the former didn't become too big).

I disagree with a lot of Mayor Rees's policies, as I did with his predecessor's, but at least he seems to be a fan of the airport.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

The new route for the A1 Flyer via the M2 Metrobus route commenced yesterday. I used the M2 service this afternoon and saw a few Flyers along the way. As mentioned earlier the Flyer is the first bus service to use the link road from near the Ashton Vale park and ride to the South Bristol Link Road.

The Flyer has also changed its route between Temple Meads and the country bus and coach station. Formerly, when inbound from the airport it used Temple Way, Old Market and Bond Street with the outbound routing via Centre, Bristol Bridge and Victoria Street.

The new route takes it via Redcliffe Bascule Bridge, The Grove, Prince Street and Centre in both directions. This means the bus tops in Victoria Street which were quite well used, often by people from the nearby hotels, will be without a service meaning up to a half mile walk to access the new route.

I also noticed a couple of vehicles on the new A2 route between Lewins Mead in the city centre, Bedminster and the airport. They are single deckers branded as Air Connect.

So in summary, the following bus/coach routes now serve BRS.

A1: Airport Flyer liveried double deckers, 24-hour service, operated by First on behalf of the airport between bus & coach station, Temple Meads and airport at frequency between 10 minutes and hourly (the latter in the early hours).

A2: part-liveried single-deckers, 0301-007 hours, operated by First between city centre, Bedminster and airport at 30-minute frequency.

A3: Weston Flyer liveried single deckers, 0305-0046 hours, operated by First on behalf of the airport between Weston-super-Mare and airport at 60-minute-frequency.

A4: Bath Air Decker liveried double deckers, 0300-0049 hours, operated by Bath Bus Company between Bath, South Bristol and airport at 30-minute frequency (60-minute early morning and later in evening).

A5: Village link mini-buses, 0700-1855 hours, operated by Carmel between Winford, airport and either Winscombe or Yatton at 60-minute frequency (Monday-Friday only).

216: National Express coaches, 0230-0015 hours between Cardiff, Newport and airport at roughly 2-hour frequency (10 return journeys per 24 hours).

South West Falcon: liveried coaches, 24-hour service, operated by Stagecoach between Plymouth, Exeter, Taunton, airport and Bristol at mostly 60-minute frequency (2-hours during early hours - 19 return journeys per 24 hours).

The A5 Village link mini-bus route will see its frequency reduce in early February from hourly to two-hourly. The legs to Congresbury and Yatton will be scrapped leaving the route to operate between Winford and Winscombe via the airport. It will, however, operate a Saturday service which is something new.

The A5 is poorly used and when I'm on it I'm often the only passenger. Although the route is supported by the airport, no doubt as one of its local community ventures, it doesn't deliver many airline passnegers to the airport. I fear for its future even in the near term.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

A4 Air Decker

Bath Company was considering whether to miss out Keynsham on its route between Bath and Bristol Airport and would have sent its buses along the Keynsham bypass. Following a customer survey in which they received over 700 responses (they had expected a few dozen) they have decided to retain the current route through the town.

Together with the service from/to Cribbs Causeway the A4 is now the only regular bus link between the town and Bath (the Bristol-Bath X services use the bypass).

Travellers between Bath and the airport sometimes complain about its rather leisurely route, but apart from missing out Keynsham there is really no alternative to the other pinch points through the south Bristol suburbs.

Keynsham town centre has been operating a one-way system which the Bath Bus Company is not keen on. It calculated that the one-way system adds 6,000 kilometres and 2,000 litres of fuel annually. I make that a consumption of about 8-9 miles to the gallon around the one-way system which is very much stop-and-go because of traffic congestion. I suppose on the open parts of the A4 and the A38 consumption improves a bit.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Bus/coach connectivity.

Currently the airport has seven regular bus/coach services:

A1 Airport Flyer to Temple Meads and Bristol bus station, operated for the airport by First Group
A2 Air Connect to Bristol city centre (Lewins Mead), operated by First Group
A3 Airport Flyer to Weston-super-Mare, operated for the airport by First Group
A4 Air Decker to Bath, operated by Bath Bus Company
A5 Village link, operated by Carmel Coaches of Nailsea
South West Falcon to Plymouth, Exeter and Taunton, operated by Stagecoach
Service 216 to Cardiff and Newport, operated for National Express by Edwards Coaches of South Wales

There is a further bus route that is a useful option for accessing the airport, albeit it requires a walk of about half a mile from the bus stop nearest the airport (Lulsgate Bottom by the Airport Tavern) to the terminal.

It is the U2 service operated by First Group at hourly intervals throughout the day between Queens Road on the edge of Clifton and the University of Bristol veterinary complex at Langford. It's available for public use including those with pensioners' passes. I've used this double-decker service a couple of times and it's very quick.

It doesn't go near the city's central area as it routes via Hotwells over the Cumberland Basin complex to the edge of the Long Ashton Park and Ride before following the A1's route along the busway link to the South Bristol Link Road and thereafter along the A38 past the airport to Langford. On both occasions I used the service it took just 22 minutes to reach the Lulsgate Bottom bus stop from Queens Road, Clifton.

It's obviously not for everyone as it does require a certain level of fitness to walk up the slope of the A38 to the airport entrance, and those who are otherwise fit enough to do that walk might not want to with heavy suitcases.

Nevertheless, it's certainly an option for those living within range of Queens Road and on two occasions I've seen people alight at Lulsgate Bottom obviously making their way to the airport with light luggage. They were young people, possibly students.

I also wonder how many people heading for the city centre or bus station have cottoned on to the fact that if they don't want to go to Temple Meads the A2 is usually quicker than the A1 (and I believe cheaper). Its terminus at Lewins Mead is only 150 yeards from the bus station. The A2 is half-hourly compared with the A1's ten-minute frequency but it's usually had a reasonable load when I've seen it. Its main purpose is to link Bedminster with the airport now that the A1 uses a different route.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Fire near Bristol Airport

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/live-m5-traffic-bristol-airport-2854942

Severe traffic congestion earlier this afternoon following a fire at Lulsgate Bottom. Emergency crews' work on the A38 took up a considerable amount of the carriageway.

I was on the 1230 A4 Air Decker from Bath which was due at the airport at 1340. It didn't reach Lulsgate Bottom until 1425 having taken 45 minutes to travel the mile or so from outside the Fox & Goose on Barrow Hill. As the newspaper report suggests, numerous people took to Shank's pony to reach the airport from the stationary traffic.

By 1500 the situation was beginning to ease although traffic was still heavy.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I had an email from the airport today with an offer for 25% off the A1 (Bristol Flyer) and A3 (Weston Flyer) fares between 20 May and 10 June. Perhaps they aren't doing so well.

I've noticed that the A2 is taking quite a lot of passengers and I fancy that some A1 passengers are deserting that route for the A2. The A2 is only half-hourly but is cheaper than the A1. Unlike the A1 the A2 doesn't call at Temple Meads, but for anyone wanting the bus station (the A2 doesn't go into the bus station but terminates at Lewins Mead just outside) or parts of the central area the A2 is a very good option.

The A1is an airport service (although operated for it by First) but the A2 is a First commercial service.

By coincidence the First West of England MD was on Radio Bristol this morning taking listeners' questions in one of his regular sessions. Someone asked him why pensioners bus passes are no longer valid on the A1. His reply was that they have never been valid which is absolute poppycock. Until two or three years ago they were valid on the A1. In fact, pensioners who live in certain BS postal districts around North Somerset can get an authorisation from the airport to produce to the A1 driver along with their pensioners bus pass and ride free of charge. You'd think that First's local MD would know what can and what cannot be used on his buses, even if it is a contracted service for the airport.

 

[superking]

Did any one ring the radio station and tell them he was talking about some thing he knew nothing about. He didn't do his home work

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Did any one ring the radio station and tell them he was talking about some thing he knew nothing about. He didn't do his home work

I don't know. It was towards the end of the programme. I rarely listen to the Radio Bristol phone-ins but when James Freeman (First West of England MD) is on I do listen when I can to see what he comes up with.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/local-news/bristol-airport-park-ride-plans-2898918

Plans have been submitted to build a 4,000 car capacity park and ride facility near junction 21 of the M5 on the outskirts of Weston-super-Mare.

Interesting concept. The new North Somerest Council is probably not well disposed towards airport expansion with one of its many concerns the amount of cars in the area of the airport. This would go some way to alleviating that (in theory anyway) but the official airport car parks might take a hit.