New photos taken onboard the 178 bus service – which was scrapped in a shake up of the timetable by operator First West of England, cutting several villages out of the network – show that the route remains well used, even outside peak times.
The snaps by transport campaigner Damien Valentine were taken between morning and evening rush hours, when the double-deckers appeared to be over half full. High Littleton, Farmborough, Timsbury and Marksbury are all set to suffer from the cut, which comes into force on Saturday, October 8, depriving the villages of regular bus services to both Bristol and Bath.
A petition to save the 178 route has attracted more than a thousand signatures, as well as calls to Bristol Live about the effects it will have on residents. Mr Valentine said: “Today I used the 178 to get to Bristol and back, travelling at quieter times of day – the 10.15am from Timsbury and the 2.10pm back. Both were double decker buses, although I sat downstairs.
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He said that during the journey multiple people got on the bus as it travelled through the villages, then through Keynsham and Brislington and onto Temple Meads.
He added: On the way back, the bus was initially quieter but as we headed out from Bristol, more and more people got on. A lot of students got on at Brislington Park and Ride. A few got off at Keynsham but most stayed on for the villages. There must have been at least 15 to 20 spread between both floors when the bus reached Timsbury.”
The 178 is set to be replaced with the new 379, which will take the A37 rather than minor roads through Timsbury and other villages. Damien has presented the operator with a proposal for alternating 378 and 379 services between Bath and Bristol, leaving at half-hourly intervals, the former stopping at the villages and the latter bypassing them.
The campaigner, who has fought against two prior attempts to axe the 178 service, says his experience should encourage First to reconsider. “It clearly shows this is a well used bus even at these quieter times of day,” he said.
“If they had been single decker buses, it would feel much more crowded and there would definitely have been people standing on the way into Bristol.” Bristol Live has approached First West of England for comment.
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