A number of Bristol bus services won't be running from tomorrow as Bristol Community Transport (BCT) ceases operations in the area. After having reached an 'advanced stage of negotiations' with another operator, BCT will be passing over the running of the Metrobus M1 route on the weekend (September 4 and 5) when the transitioning process begins.
The service will not operate on these days but will then resume under a new bus company on Monday, September 5. But BCT will also cease operation of other bus routes in the Bristol area from tomorrow (Friday, September 2) and, while apologising for the disruption, it has confirmed that local authorities are 'working to identify other operators to run as many of these routes as possible'.
Routes affected include routes 52, 53, 54, 55, 62, 505, 506, 511, 512, 515 and 516. Bristol Community Transport said: "It has been a privilege to serve the people of Bristol over the past decade and we are proud of the role we have played in the development of part of the Metrobus network, which has been critical to delivering great connections for people living and working in South Bristol to other parts of the city.
Read more: The bus routes set to be axed next month to offer ‘more reliable services’ amid passenger downturn
"We are deeply saddened to have been forced to make the decision to cease operations as BCT, but multiple challenges such as the financial impact of the pandemic and the current surge in fuel and labour costs have left us with no alternative."
The routes affected also include a number of key transport links to Bristol Airport - the number 54 service runs from Clevedon to Bristol Airport, while the number 55 runs from South Bristol to the airport.
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