Introduction
In association with the Somerset Bus Partnership
With the cost of fuel and ever-increasing garage bills has there ever been a better time to bus it?
Somerset Council is working with the Somerset Bus Partnership which represents passengers to encourage more people in the county to use the bus.
It’s not just about what you put in your fuel tank, it is how much you have to spend on taxing, servicing and insuring your vehicle. Now is the time to look at what you could be saving.
Using the bus can save money and it can save wear and tear on your car. There are all sorts of deals with bus operators which can save you money.
Get around for £3
Bus fare cap on any single journey until December 2025
The Government confirmed from 1 January 2025 that a fare cap remains in place at just £3 for any single journey across Somerset and England. That’s still amazing value when you think about some of the miles you can cover and it applies to the majority of routes in Somerset.
It is worth remembering that the initiative applies to cross-county services, which means for example you can travel from Street to Bristol or Yeovil to Bridport for just £3.
The 13 operators involved in the scheme in Somerset are:
- ATWEST
- Bakers Dolphin
- Community Transport (South West) Ltd
- FromeBus
- Libra Travel
- Mendip Community Transport
- Somerset Council
- Dartline
- Faresaver Buses
- First South West (Buses of Somerset)
- First West of England
- Hatch Green Coaches
- South West Coaches
At risk routes safeguarded
Four at risk bus routes safeguarded after Council and Buses of Somerset reach agreement
Somerset Council and First Bus South West which operates Buses of Somerset reached an agreement last year to ensure four routes in the county could continue to run for another year.
The four services, 58, 54, 28, and 25 were at risk of being stopped or reduced due to low passenger numbers.
Somerset Council stepped in with Government money to keep the routes running and launched a campaign to drive up passenger numbers. The campaign achieved some success, with more passengers using the services, but not enough to negate the ongoing need for financial support. However following talks, Buses of Somerset and Somerset Council reached an agreement to keep the services running until the end of March 2025.
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. 54 Yeovil to Taunton 58 and 58a Yeovil to Wincanton 25 Taunton to Dulverton 28 Taunton to Minehead. These services will be reviewed with the operator to determine what happens beyond March 2025.
Timetables
Evening bus services
Leave your car at home
Somerset Council is subsidising a trial of evening services until March 2025 from Monday to Saturday connecting Taunton with the towns of Minehead, Bridgwater, Wellington and Chard after 8pm and running to at least 10.30pm. Currently most of the services stop between 8pm and 8.30pm.
A decision will be made about these routes after March 2025 as part of the 2025/26 Bus Service Improvement (BSIP) funding decision.
The evening bus routes are:
- 1E – Taunton to Priorswood/Musgrove Park/Silk Mills Park and Ride – hourly service with last departure from Taunton Parade to Silk Mills 10.35pm and last departure from Taunton Parade to Priorswood at 11.05pm.
- 21 – Bridgwater to Taunton (Musgrove Park Hospital) – hourly service with last departure from Musgrove Park Hospital to Bridgwater Bus Station 11.03pm and last departure from Bridgwater Bus Station to Musgrove Park Hospital 10.15pm.
- 22 – Wellington to Taunton – hourly service with last departure from Taunton Castle Way at 11.05pm and last departure from Wellington High Street at 11.50pm.
- 28 – Minehead to Taunton – (including diversion via Cotford St Luke and Norton Fitzwarren on last three journeys in each direction). Additional journeys at 8.30pm and 10.30pm from Taunton Castle Way and 8.45pm and 10.15pm from Minehead, Butlins.
- 30 – Taunton to Chard – Additional journeys at 8.10pm and 10.10.pm from Taunton Parade to Chard (via Taunton Gateway Park and Ride) and an additional journey 9.11pm from Chard, Boden Street.
Why not use the Park and Ride?
Taunton has two Park and Ride sites at Gateway, near Junction 25 of the M5 and at Silk Mills in the west of the town, close to the A38 Wellington Road.
It is just £1 for a single into town – why not use it for work, shopping or socialising, save the hassle of driving in and finding a parking place.
Keeping bus fares low
Council keeps fares low as bus use continues to rise
The current £1.50 fare trial for other services in Taunton remains half the price of a single fare in 2018. This trial will run until the end of March 2025.
Map below shows Taunton Zone.
Benefits of using the bus
Whether it’s commuting or day-tripping you could be saving money with some of the options available, so why not take a look?
You can work out the fuel costs of your journey on this Fuel Calculator on the Fuel Economy website.
Protect the environment
Catching the bus takes your car off the road. If 50 people take the bus instead of commuting, that is 50 cars fewer heading into town. Factor in bus lanes and the amount of time you are sitting in traffic at the busiest times and there are even more reasons to bus it. You could be saving money, and you will definitely be cutting carbon.
Time for you
On the bus, you can read your book, catch up with friends on your phone, check emails, or just relax and watch the Somerset scenery pass by. How does that compare with your car commute?
Can I save?
A £100 ticket bundle from Buses of Somerset buys you 20-day tickets. That is unlimited travel for £5 per day which can be used flexibly at any point in the year. If your daily commute by car is a round trip of 30 miles your petrol cost per day using an average consumption of 35 mpg is around £7.24 per day. That is around £144 for 20 days. If your daily commute is a round trip of 50 miles that’s a daily cost of about £12, so £240 for a 20-day period.
Find out more about Buses of Somerset ticket bundles (right) as well as weekly and monthly passes on Buses of Somerset – Ticket prices.
Use your bus pass
Are you using your bus pass? Have you applied for your bus pass?
If you are not using your bus pass, you are missing out on unlimited free travel across the county after 9.30 am. You could be exploring Wells, Minehead, Taunton, Glastonbury and Bath as well as visiting Exmoor. Now is the time to live life to the full and make the most of your bus pass!
Find out if you are eligible and how to apply on our Concessionary bus passes page.
Somerset’s Slinky Bus
Flexible transport on Slinky
Slinky Bus is a door-to-door demand-responsive transport service funded by Somerset Council for people not served by or unable to access conventional public transport. All the vehicles are accessible and the service can be used for various purposes including; getting to local health appointments or exercise classes, visiting friends or family, going shopping or attending social events. You can also use Slinky as a link to access other forms of public transport.
Plan your bus journey, and find links to operators, Slinky and community transport on our Somerset Think Travel portal.
