Bradley Stoke will be have a differently numbered ‘all stops’ bus service from Sunday 1st September 2024 when the 73 service disappears from the town and is replaced by an extended version of the current 74 service.
Aside from the number change, there are only minor changes to the route and timetable for journeys between Bradley Stoke and the city centre. However, south of the centre the amended 74 route differs from that of the current 73 in that it will terminate at the Hengrove bus depot (via Bedminster and Knowle) rather than in Whitchurch (via Totterdown).
Between Bradley Stoke and the city centre, the amended 74 route is identical to the current 73 route, i.e. Bristol Parkway Station, Filton Avenue and Gloucester Road.
Within the city centre, the amended 74 service will use the same stops as the current 73 service.
Operator First West of England says the use of the Hengrove terminus is part of a strategy that will see this depot become one of the company’s hubs for electric buses in the near future.
As with the current 73 service, the amended 74 service will run ‘every 30 minutes’ between the city centre and Bradley Stoke.
Additional journeys will operate on the 74 route between the city centre and Bristol Parkway Station to provide a 15-minute service interval on this section of the route from Monday to Saturday (except in the late evening).
The amended 74 service will follow the same clockwise one-way route along Woodlands Lane and Bowsland Way that was introduced on the current 73 service last April. However, a minor change is that a stop on Great Park Road (between Toby Carvery and the RAC) will now act as the nominal terminus.
A quirk of the above arrangement is that passengers travelling from the city centre to stops on Woodlands Lane east of Toby Carvery and along Bowsland Way may have to wait several minutes at the Great Park Road stop before the bus commences its return journey to the city centre and Hengrove. Furthermore, the last two journeys each day (one on Sunday) will not proceed beyond the Great Park Road stop.
A further retrograde step is that the amended 74 route will not serve Bristol Temple Meads Station. Whereas the current 73 service passes along the A4 Bath Road with stops reasonably close to the station, the amended 74 service will leave the city centre via Redcliff Hill, where the only stop is about 10 minutes walk from the station.
For information, the 73 service will continue to operate from 1st September, but will have its northern terminus at UWE Frenchay Campus. In the south, it will be extended beyond Whitchurch to operate to and from the Hengrove bus depot.
Timetables compared
Features of the amended 74 service and how it compares to the current 73 service for passengers travelling to/from Bradley Stoke.
Journeys to Bristol Parkway and city centre
Monday-Friday
- Total number of journeys increased from 33 to 34
- First departure from Eagles Wood at 0622 (currently 0628)
- Last departure from Eagles Wood at 2306 (currently 2308)
Saturdays
- Total number of journeys reduced from 33 to 32
- First departure from Eagles Wood at 0631 (currently 0528)
- Last departure from Eagles Wood at 2307 (currently 2248)
Sundays
- Total number of journeys reduced from 32 to 30
- First departure from Eagles Wood at 0717 (currently 0801)
- Last departure from Eagles Wood at 2207 (currently 2300)
Journeys from city centre and Bristol Parkway
Monday-Friday
- Total number of journeys reduced from 36 to 34
- First departure from The Centre at 0522 (currently 0608)
- Last departure from The Centre at 2300 (currently 2323)
Saturdays
- Total number of journeys unchanged at 33
- First departure from The Centre at 0634 (currently 0636)
- Last departure from The Centre at 2300 (currently 2325)
Sundays
- Total number of journeys reduced from 30 to 28
- First departure from The Centre at 0729 (currently 0801)
- Last departure from The Centre at 2130 (currently 2300)
Note: ‘Currently’ figures relate to the 73 service.
Passenger numbers increasing
Commenting on the upcoming route and timetable changes, Rob Pymm, commercial director for First West of England, said:
“It’s a really exciting time for the West of England. Not only are we eagerly awaiting the arrival of our first electric buses in the region next year as we move to a fully zero-emission fleet over the coming years, but we’re also seeing passenger numbers in Bristol continue to steadily climb, with a 14 percent increase over the past year.”
“This is great news for the city as it means more people are choosing to travel by bus, which means we can invest more in our network to improve routes, provide more buses and new services, and ensure our buses are more punctual whilst reducing pollution and congestion.”
“With all of these improvements and adult and child single fares still at £2 and £1 respectively we’re making bus travel accessible and encouraging many more people to travel by bus.”
Other services changing from September
The current 3X service, which links Aztec West with Bristol Parkway Station and the city centre, will be renumbered 71 and operate hourly via Bradley Stoke Way instead of Little Stoke Lane. Further details of this amended service will be provided in a future Journal article.
For details of all other changes coming into effect from 1st September, including services M1, 19 and Y6, visit:
🔗 Service changes in the West of England from 1 September 2024 (First)
More information and related links
- Service 74 timetable from 01/09/24 (First Bus)
- Service 74 timetable (main stops only) and route map from 01/09/24 (First Bus) [PDF; 237kB]
- Service 74 timetable (all stops) from 01/09/24 downloaded from Traveline SW [PDF; 178kB]
- Bus Services in Bradley Stoke (The Journal)
