Starting today, residents across North Somerset will experience key changes to the WESTlink bus service, an innovative demand-responsive transport system operating without fixed routes or timetables. Users book journeys as needed, with the service running daily from 7am to 7pm, Monday through Saturday.
Launched in April 2023 as part of the UK Government’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), WESTlink has been a vital resource for many local communities. However, Cllr Hannah Young, North Somerset Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Sustainable Travel, acknowledged challenges: “The WESTlink trial has been a lifeline for many communities, but we’ve heard clearly that it hasn’t always been reliable or available when people need it.”
The newly introduced changes focus on enhancing service reliability, better integrating communities with the broader public transport network, and improving cost-effectiveness. These adjustments support the ongoing trial phase, which runs through March 2026, with outcomes guiding decisions on future transport services.
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Key improvements include updated shared and rural zones, consistent hub locations for boarding and information, and the distribution of comprehensive local guides. These guides, detailing scheduled bus routes and access to WESTlink services, will be mailed to residents throughout September. Additionally, all updated zone maps and hub information will be accessible via the WESTlink app and website.
Cllr Young emphasized the goal of these improvements: “These changes are about making the service work better so more people can reliably access public transport to get to where they want and need to go—including children and young people traveling to school or college. They also help us evaluate the most cost-effective way to utilize government bus grant funds to serve as many of our communities as possible in the future.”