New bus service to be introduced provided by Wessex Connect

New U18 service to be provided by Wessex Connect and progress on the 20A/C route!

 

The University of Bath Students’ Union are delighted to announce the introduction of a new bus service provided by Wessex Connect.
 
For years students, staff members and local residents have been keen to see improvements to the 418, 18 and 20A/C services. Customers are particularly concerned with punctuality, ticket costs and infrequency of the current services.
 
The recent news that First were pulling out of the 20A/C route in the middle of the student exam period infuriated students and deeply concerned the University and Students’ Union. Ian Robinson (SU General Manager) and Alex Nicholson-Evans (SU President) met with Wessex Connect, a bus service provider working successfully in partnership with UWE (University of West England) to discuss the possibility of Wessex Connect working in the Bath area, particularly on the 20A/C and 18 routes. Representatives from B&NES and the University have also been heavily involved in the discussions.
 
Wessex Connect have now bid for the contract to run the 20A/C service as of the 10th May. Although there are still final details to be resolved, Wessex Connect is currently the Council’s preferred bidder for the tender.
 
Proposals have also been drawn up by Wessex Connect to provide a service from the University of Bath campus through to the Lower Oldfield Park loop (to be called the U18) from 06:55 until 20:30, Monday to Friday. This service will run approximately once every 10 minutes and will be supplemented by a slightly less frequent weekend service (similar to First). The service will be student focused with a pricing strategy to match.
 
The University of Bath Students’ Union are looking for this service to run along side the routes provided by First and the Wessex Connect timetable has been drawn up to complement the current service. We want to provide our students, the University staff members and the local residents with the best possible bus service, one that truly meets the growing demands. Wessex Connect are committed to running a customer focused service and improving the transport provisions in the Bath area. For 6 months the University of Bath Students’ Union (SU) has been meeting with First, asking for improvements and suggesting ways to better the service. We are still committed to continuing our work with First and hope that we can make progress with both services.
 
Alex Nicholson-Evans said: “The issue of “the buses” has been on the student agenda for years. Students just aren’t satisfied with the service they are receiving at the high prices they are currently being charged. I hope that the introduction of some healthy competition in the form of Wessex Connect’s service, alongside the current routes provided by First, will finally see the campus and Lower Oldfield Park being adequately served.”
 
Ian Robinson said: “We have been discussing improvements to the services to campus for some time. The additional 18 service will introduce a welcome element of competition and will meet many of the issues raised with us by students and staff. Wessex Connect have an excellent track record elsewhere in the UK, including the service to and from UWE, and have demonstrated they wish to work with the University to enhance current provision.’’

Comments

Qiong Gan
10:03pm on 6 May 09 <p>About the 20A and 20C, it's good to know that very likely it will be run again during the exam period, though by a different company. However, for people live in combedown and odd down, who have to take this every day, it's necessary to buy a term ticket or year ticket, but by wessex connect, which can't be used in "first" bus, on the other hand, the same, "first" bus pass can't be used in 20A/C, in that case, our cost on the bus tickets is increased, what should we do?</p>
Qiong Gan
10:03pm on 6 May 09 <p>About the 20A and 20C, it's good to know that very likely it will be run again during the exam period, though by a different company. However, for people live in combedown and odd down, who have to take this every day, it's necessary to buy a term ticket or year ticket, but by wessex connect, which can't be used in "first" bus, on the other hand, the same, "first" bus pass can't be used in 20A/C, in that case, our cost on the bus tickets is increased, what should we do?</p>
Daisymae Hart
12:26pm on 9 Apr 09 <p>The new 20A/C service is great yet im still going to have to use first's other busses to get to Uni since im not buying two bus passes next year.</p>
Scott Bevan
3:40am on 1 Apr 09 <p>Is there any more detail on the U18. Things I would like to hear are:</p> <p>1) Are there going to be academic year passes like first offer (as of september 2009). Otherwise it would be higher in price compared to firsts passes regardless of what each individual. If so, what would the price be?</p> <p> 2) What is the route? (e.g. which way does it go through oldfield park?)</p> <p>3) Will the capacity of the buses compete with that of firsts bendy buses?</p>
Jonathon Delve
9:08am on 30 Mar 09 <p>Whilst Wessex Connect aren't making any mention of improving the 20A/C route (as yet at least), that it's assured to run at all is great news!  I lived in Combe Down last year and you either waited faithfully for the 20 to turn up or you walked, so despite the fact that First bus passes may not be accepted, at least it's not too much of a step back considering the position many people (town &amp; gown included) were in when First decided to cancel the service. Perhaps with a smaller number of routes to manage both companies will be able to focus on improving their respective routes.</p>
Qiong Gan
3:19pm on 29 Mar 09 <p>I don't think bus route 20A/C is improved at all. There are two main problems of this route that haven't been solved.</p> <p>1st, the bus runs not frequently enough, now it's one per hour, why not change to one per 1/2 hr  at least? </p> <p>2nd, the bus is always late for at least 10mins, the longest time I waited was 20 to 30 mins, and it was very aweful.  The bus stop I get on the bus is Culverhay School in Odd Down.</p> <p>I think the above two problems are very important.  I remember some passengers mentioned these in a bus survey not long ago.  But it seems the problems are still not solved yet.</p>
Simon Foakes
7:07pm on 26 Mar 09 <p>I cannot convey in text how happy this makes me; to see some proper competition introduced. First might finally stop walking over the students to satisfy their shareholders. High 5 to Alex and Ian for moving this along for us - thanks very much you guys! Is there any update on when the 10-journey passes' validity might be extended to Oldfield Park?</p>
Alexandra Nicholson-Evans
6:20pm on 25 Mar 09 <p>B&amp;NES are working on this issue but at the moment, First bus passes will only be valid on First buses.</p>
Joanna Thorn
5:57pm on 25 Mar 09 <p>That is great news. Will we still be able to use our bus passes that we paid so much money fo though?</p>
David Board
3:12pm on 25 Mar 09 <p> Fantastic news!</p>
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