Road, Rail & Access Issues

[TheLocalYokel]

Bristol Airport Flyer

The Bristol Airport Flyer is a bus service operated by First on behalf of the airport that runs at 10-minute frequencies in both directions between the airport and Bristol city rail and bus stations and central hotels from very early morning till mid evening, after which frequencies are reduced to 20 minute then to occasional through the night.

The 12-strong fleet consists entirely of specially adapted Wright-bodied single-deck Volvo vehicles (I think B7RLE models but stand to be corrected) in airport livery with 37 passenger seats - there is also a large area for luggage at the front hence the reduction to 37 seats.

Because of the uneven nature of airline arrivals and departures Flyer loads can vary especially at this time of the year when it's not uncommon to see buses with literally a handful of passengers or even empty at times.

I tend to regard the Flyer loads as something of a bellwhether of airport passenger number health so I was impressed to see one Flyer leave the main rail station for the airport at mid afternoon today with standing passengers.

The Flyer is an excellent substitute for the lack of a rail connection to the airport and the through-ticket connectivity by rail to airport and vice versa from/to most UK destinations (with a similar National Express link from/to the bus and coach station) serves up an average of around 2,000 Flyer punters a day.

 

[Aviador]

It's good to see a success story with public transport and with buses in particular. I am sure the Flyer's success is largely down to the fact that it operates every 10 minutes for most of the day with services still operating throughout the night. This is where the planners usually get it wrong. When buses only operate from say 06:00 through till 23:00, passengers landing on flights through the night are put off from using the service through the day as they know it's going to be difficult to get home on the return leg. I hope other airports take note of the success of Bristol's Flyer service.

 

[Aviador]

Read else where that funding has been made available for a 710 space multi-storey car park at Bristol Parkway station.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Read else where that funding has been made available for a 710 space multi-storey car park at Bristol Parkway station.

Yes, that's right though it will have minimal if any effect on the airport which is on the other side of the city.

Bristol Parkway is on the northern edge of the city on the Paddington-South Wales main line and is an important station for the major business sector in North Bristol. Two trains an hour run between there and London in each direction.

Bristol's central station at Temple Meads also has two trains per hour to/from Paddington and uses Brunel's original Great Western main line via Bath and the Box Tunnel through the Cotswolds to join with the South Wales line (which uses the Sodbury Tunnel to cross the Cotswolds) at Wootton Bassett, or Royal Wootton Bassett as it now is, just to to the west of Swindon.

The Bristol Airport Flyer does not call at Parkway, only at Temple Meads (plus bus/coach station at city centre hotels).

The Parkway area is also to be the home of the Hitachi electric train depot when the Paddington to Bristol and South Wales lines are electrified by 2017. Hitachi will lease the trains to the franchisee, whoever that turns out to be.

Unusually for the Bristol area which invariably misses out on central government and EU funding as it's considered to be too wealthy to need such help (on very spurious grounds usually!) the area has been awarded central government funding for five major transport schemes.

The minutes of last month's Bristol Airport consultative committee meeting have been published on the airport's website and the Robert Sinclair mentioned these schemes three of which, he said, 'would significantly improve surface access to the airport'.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

[textarea]Enhanced summer schedule timetable for Bristol Airport Flyer

Timetable changes to be introduced in April will mean more night services for passengers using the Bristol Airport Flyer. The express bus service operates between the Airport and Bristol city centre, including stops at Temple Meads and Bristol Bus Station.

The changes will mean that passengers arriving late in the evening or in the early hours of the morning will have a shorter wait when using public transport for their onward journey. There are currently no services between 12:50am and 3:05am, but the new timetable includes 11 journeys from the Airport between midnight and 6:00am.

The timetable also improves access to the Airport, with the number of early morning services from the city centre increasing from five to eight. As well as benefiting passengers, these additional journeys will be welcomed by staff working early shifts. The Flyer is already well used by those working at the Airport, with journeys by staff up 20 per cent in the past 12 months.

Peter Downes, Bristol Airport’s Ground Transportation Commercial Manager, said:
“We have looked at the flight schedule for the summer and enhanced the Flyer timetable to better fit our customers’ needs. The changes mean the Flyer will now offer a genuine 24/7 service for arriving and departing passengers, providing a greater choice of onward transport options.”

Over 600,000 passengers used the Flyer last year following the replacement of the fleet with 12 new vehicles. The service runs every ten minutes during the day, and buses feature free Wi-fi and power points for charging laptops and mobile phones. The increased frequency of services also improves access to onward connections on coach and rail networks. Train tickets can be purchased from the Fast Ticket machine in the terminal building.

Earlier this month a new concessionary fare scheme for local residents was introduced. One of the commitments the Airport agreed to provide in connection with its planning permission for development over the next decade, the scheme entitles anyone permanently resident at a property in the postcode areas BS40, BS48 and BS49 to half price travel on the Flyer.[/textarea]
http://www.bristolairport.co.uk/news-an ... edule.aspx

The Flyer is operated for the airport by First Bristol buses and drivers.

I always think the airport undersells the Flyer when it says it runs at 10-minute frequencies during the day. In fact, the 10-minute frequency in both directions runs from around 0530 until around 2030 followed by 20-minute frequencies until midnight.

The much reduced frequency period was through the night but now this is being addressed.

(Reproduced in full with link as it is an airport press release)

 

[tpm]

Not entirely happy about the new flyer timetable. There's now quite a gap in the 5-6am period, with only two busses, one arriving at ~5.17 one at 5.51. If you're on the early flight to Amsterdam or Brussels and don't need to check in any luggage, the latter is a bit tight, and the former leaves you hanging around the airport way longer than needed. I really wish there was an extra service in between. In the pre-April timetable there was a bus arriving at ~5.30, which was perfect IMHO. In my experience that bus was also always completely packed, so much that I was actually worried the driver might not allow me to get on a few times. So it seems to me that the demand is definitely there. And those extra 15-20 minutes do count so early in the morning

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Flyer

Welcome to Forum4Airports, tpm.

I can see what you mean.

The new timetable shows arrivals at the airport through the night at 0027, 0047, 0117, 0147, 0247, 0347, 0447, 0517, 0551, 0611, 0631 then at 10-minute intervals until 1917 when the frequency becomes 20-minute intervals until the 'night' starts at 0027.

There isn't going to be much call for the buses arriving at the airport after around 2000 but their return workings will be well used by incoming flights that occur until around 0200 in the summer, with the occasional charter later than that.

The morning rush of departures between 0600 and 0900 when up to 30 aircraft can be involved suggests that the higher frequencies to the airport ought to begin to arrive before 0631 and I seem to remember the timetable up till the end of March catered for this (as you mentioned with the 0530 arrival at the airport).

Let's hope the airport has done its calculations properly. If not, I'm sure you and others will soon let them know. You're no doubt aware that the Flyer is an airport operation though the vehicles and drivers are from First Bristol on contract to the airport.

I use the Flyer myself though not that early in the morning. I've noticed that it's becoming busier this year - last year it handled 600,000 passengers which was very good - and the lead-up to Easter saw the buses extremely well patronised.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

[textarea]Cardiff Airport: Direct South Wales coach route to rival Bristol Airport

Troubled Cardiff Airport is facing the prospect of a direct hourly bus service between south Wales and its nearest rival in Bristol.

Holidaymakers in Swansea, Cardiff and Newport will be able to catch a coach to Bristol Airport, 24 miles (38km) from the Welsh border, from March.

The Welsh capital's airport has seen a steady decline in passenger numbers in the last five years.

Last month the Welsh government said it planned to buy the airport.

The Greyhound coach firm, which already operates between Swansea and Cardiff, is extending the route to call at Newport railway station, and the service will end "just metres" from Bristol Airport's check-in hall.[/textarea]
Full report at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-21004266

Potentially this will help with access between South Wales and BRS but it will also improve connectivity between the Bristol and Cardiff city regions generally.

Although rail connectivity is good between the two cities with up to three trains an hour, surprisingly there is no direct bus service apart from Megabus and National Express which both route London-Bristol-Cardiff.

There is no 'local' bus route between Bristol and Cardiff. The nearest is the hourly joint First/Stagecoach route between Bristol and Newport, where a change of bus is necessary to travel on to Cardiff.

 

[tpm]

Will the service go straight to the airport, or route via Bristol city centre or Temple Meads? The timings suggest it will go straight to the airport, unless it backtracks into Bristol after stopping at the airport.

Also, is it expected to be cheaper than going by rail + flyer?

Something else I've been wondering: with all the Airbus shuttles going from BRS now - how are the Airbus people getting to/from the airport? Is there a private bus shuttle? Has a flyer route that goes via Temple Meads and then up the M32 and then along the A4174 and Bristol Parkway ever been considered?

 

[conns757]

eagle coach operating for airbus.

another aerospace company now using t2 !

westlands have eastern e135 from/to mxp tomorrow - as egdy not avbl.

with 15 Vickers flights per week plus airbus - t2 is quite busy!

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Will the service go straight to the airport, or route via Bristol city centre or Temple Meads? The timings suggest it will go straight to the airport, unless it backtracks into Bristol after stopping at the airport.

When I first read the BBC report and the comments of the BRS CEO re benefiting Wales's economy with inbound visitors I assumed (perhaps wrongly) that the service would link the cities of Bristol and Cardiff as well as Bristol Airport to take Bristolians to Cardiff (the city not CWL).

On re-reading the CEO's remarks he may well be referring to inbound visitors arriving at BRS with a final destination in Wales.

I wonder, therefore, whether Bristol Airport is helping to fund the service in some way.

Also, is it expected to be cheaper than going by rail + flyer?

I haven't seen any fare prices published.

I have checked rail journeys from Cardiff to Bristol TM in the past (I did so again earlier today) and it's sometimes cheaper to buy rail tickets (often as singles) between the two stations then buy a separate Flyer ticket than it is to buy a combined rail/Flyer return.

This is one of the anomalies of the rail ticketing system. When I travel by train I often find that two singles are cheaper than a return ticket.

Something else I've been wondering: with all the Airbus shuttles going from BRS now - how are the Airbus people getting to/from the airport? Is there a private bus shuttle?

Answered by conns757 in previous post.

Has a flyer route that goes via Temple Meads and then up the M32 and then along the A4174 and Bristol Parkway ever been considered?

At various times the airport has considered Flyer-type services to the likes of Bath, Weston and North Bristol but doesn't think they would work.

Bath Spa to Temple Meads is just eleven minutes on the HSTs and this feeds into the Flyer.

Weston and North Bristol aren't believed to be likely to provide sufficient passengers to make a decent frequency viable and Parkway has a fairly frequent rail service to Temple Meads though it can be a bit expensive, but then so are Bristol's buses.

If the BRT ever comes to fruition (thrown into doubt in the past few days thanks to the decision of the new mayor of Bristol to block one of the routes that took six years to establish an agreement) there could be a re-think I suppose.

 

[tpm]

According to The Post:

The new service to Bristol Airport will operate as a limited stop service, calling at Cardiff Bus Station, Newport Railway Station, the University of the West of England and Bristol Bus Station.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

You just beat me to it, tpm. I was about to post that link.

I note the First spokesman believes the UWE stop will also attract passengers from the North Bristol Fringe companies and institutions.

Two other things strike me:

1. It will be a long and roundabout journey from Swansea and to some extent from Cardiff.

2. There will be three separate services from the country bus & coach station to the airport; the Flyer via Temple Meads, First Greyhound (presumably direct) and the Bakers route 121 that goes on to Weston-super-Mare (a splendid tour of North Somerset villages for those for whom time is not in short supply).

BRS has now issued its own press release: http://www.bristolairport.co.uk/media-c ... hound.aspx

It managed to get some publicity for the venture today with a piece in the local paper plus a report on the BBC Bristol evening news tv programme from the airport.

[textarea]The Greyhound has landed…at Bristol Airport

Greyhound coach services, which currently operate between Swansea and Cardiff, are to be extended from 11 March to provide a direct luxury coach service to and from Swansea, Cardiff, Newport and Bristol Airport.

Having worked closely with Bristol Airport on the plans, the development of the new route will see up to an hourly Greyhound UK service launched between Swansea and Bristol Airport from Monday 11 March (up to two hourly service on weekends). In launching it, the company is not only responding to customer requests but is also increasing travel options for people in South and West Wales. Specifically the extension of the service will enable people in South Wales who wish to travel further than Cardiff ie onwards to Bristol City Centre and Bristol Airport, to do so with more ease. The new service to Bristol Airport will operate as a limited stop service, calling at Cardiff Bus Station, Newport Railway Station, University of the West of England (Frenchay Campus), Bristol Bus Station and Bristol Airport in addition to its current route between Swansea and Cardiff. End to end journey time from Swansea Bus Station to Bristol Airport will be just two hours and 45 minutes in the off peak (three hours during the morning peak period), while from Cardiff (Bus Station) journeys will take just one hour and 40 minutes.

The Greyhound UK coaches will drop off on the terminal forecourt, just metres away from the check in hall, and will make it much easier to get to and from Bristol Airport from South Wales without having to worry about changing between different modes of transport.

Talking about the development, Marc Reddy, Regional Commercial and Business Growth Director for First in the South West and Wales, says: “The extension of this service is significant. We believe there is real potential for growth here, both from people in Wales who want to be able to access Bristol city centre and Bristol Airport more easily, but also from people and businesses in North Bristol, who for instance will benefit from a direct coach link from the University of the West of England (Frenchay Campus) to Bristol Airport. We anticipate the news will be particularly welcomed by those at UWE, the MOD site in Abbeywood and at Airbus and Rolls Royce, who will no doubt find the new service useful. We believe that the new service will also compliment the existing Airport Flyer service, which we currently operate on behalf of the airport, giving people additional choices over how they get to and from the airport.”

Robert Sinclair, Chief Executive Officer at Bristol Airport, adds: “We are delighted First has taken this step to enhance connectivity for people and businesses in Wales. This is an exciting new addition to the public transport options available for passengers in an important part of our catchment area.

“The new Greyhound UK service will enable people in South and West Wales to access the extensive range of destinations available from Bristol Airport, including recently announced bmi regional flights to Hamburg and Frankfurt. The Greyhound service provides a convenient alternative to much longer journeys to Gatwick or Heathrow. Inbound visitors will also benefit, making it easier to reach venues such as the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and Swansea’s Liberty Stadium for those attending sporting fixtures or concerts.”

The new Swansea – Bristol Airport Greyhound UK service will start on Monday 11 March.[/textarea]

 

[tpm]

Bristol Airport to Bath direct bus link announced

A new direct bus service linking Bristol Airport with the centre of Bath is to be launched in March
(...)
The service ... will be operated by Bath Bus Company.
(...)
The direct link will operate with double-deckers in a traditional green livery harking back to Bath’s original buses. It will travel through South Bristol, Keynsham and Saltford, and on its way from the airport. It will get passengers from the airport to Bath city centre in just over an hour.

Full article

 

[Aviador]

Should prove especially popular with the tourists.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

New bus link Bath-Bristol Airport

Thanks for that, tpm.

This initiative seems to be unconnected with the airport unlike the new South Wales service which has featured heavily on the airport's website, including a picture of one of the coaches driving along the runway.

Many have asked for a direct Bath connection to the airport. Let's hope they now use it.

The construction of the new transport interchange, part of the major expansion plans, might have to be expedited if this sort of thing continues.

I hope this is a success. Martin Curtis, the MD of the Bath Bus Company, has many years of experience in the bus industry at senior level, much of it in the Bristol/Bath area, and he's also written books on the subject. He's not someone who would be inclined to start something on a whim.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

First Greyhound coach link from South Wales

I've looked at the First Greyhound coach link to the airport from Swansea, Cardiff, Newport, UWE Frenchay campus and Bristol bus station that commences on 11 March and the operators seem to be giving it every chance.

There are 15 return journeys to/from Bristol Airport each day with nine of them starting and finishing at Swansea.

The other six return journeys commence and end at Cardiff. There are three in the early morning beginning at 0320 from Cardiff and calling at the above en route stops and three in the late evening/early hours.

These journeys at 85 minutes from/to Cardiff are speedier than the daytime ones and are obviously aimed at the concentration of early morning departures and the later evening arrivals.

It's almost a 24-hours service, like the Flyer (which is). Only time will tell whether it becomes anywhere near as successful.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

First Greyhound coach link from South Wales

Further to the previous post, tickets have been one sale for some time on the Greyhound website but so far only for March. The service starts next Monday (11th March).

The fare between Cardiff or Newport and the airport is £6 each way and from the UWE site in North Bristol £4 each way. The return (£8) from North Bristol is cheaper than the Flyer between the country bus & coach station/Temple Meads railway station and the airport which is £11 return.

I happened to be at the country bus & coach station when a Greyhound coach arrived at lunchtime today. About six or seven men got out all wearing hi-vis jackets. I took it to be a route familiarisation journey for the drivers who will operate the service.

 

[Aviador]

It should prove popular. The schedule seems workable (unlike the bus schedule at my local airport) with the near 24 hour operation. The early morning departures should see the majority of the airports first flights covered.

 

[superking]

agree with you aviador about should do well.
there is a lot of bill boards around wales about this service.
the bus service to lhr/lgw does well.as it does from bristol.its just a shame it does run. as a lot of pax from the bristol area can not get the flights they want from brs.
the same can be said from wales as well.
lets hope the service from wales to brs does well.and its given time to prove it self.
time will tell.