A bus service linking south Bristol with the city centre, axed when its operator ceased trading, has been relaunched. Previously run by Bristol Community Transport, the 52 route will now be operated by Transpora Group.
The service connecting Bristol Community Hospital to Cabot Circus stopped on 2 September, when BCT was “forced to make the decision to cease operations” due to “the financial impact of the pandemic and the current surge in fuel and labour costs”.
Routes affected include the 53, 54, 55, 62, 505, 506, 511, 512, 515 and 516, as well as the 52. But the last of these was restarted just ten days later, after Transpora Group stepped in to take over. The revived service includes stops at Bedminster Down, Bishopsworth and Hengrove Park, and runs to the same timetable.
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Vehicles have been leased from BCT and some of the drivers have been retained by Transpora, which also operates minibuses and sightseeing tours in London, the Midlands and the South West.
The operator offered one day of free travel for passengers on the 52 route, including free drinks and snacks, to celebrate its relaunch. Charlie Butler, Transpora’s service delivery supervisor, tweeted that the new 52 had seen “higher than anticipated” passenger numbers and received “great customer feedback”.
Cllr Tim Kent, Lib Dem councillor for Hengrove and Whitchurch Park Ward, liaised with the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) on Transpora’s behalf. “The 52 is an essential service linking people to the hospital and the city centre,” said Cllr Kent.
“The key thing for me was that here was a company with the buses, the drivers and the ticket machines ready to go. I communicated with WECA for them and, within a day, they had been awarded a contract.”
He added: “If we can get more operators in, creating more competition, it should help with price, which is good news for Bristol residents.”
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