Bus passengers used to catching the 265 bus service between Frome and Bath will be able to use a new service from 29th April, as the First bus company launches a new premium bus service called ‘Discover.’
The Discover bus service will have improved connections between Bath and towns and villages in Wiltshire and Somerset, using easy-to-remember service numbers D1, D2 and D3. These will replace the existing 265, 267 and 271/272.
There has been significant improvements made to the buses themselves, the new Discover timetable and routes covered. The D2, which runs between Bath and Frome, will see a doubling in frequency, Monday to Saturday, from every 60 minutes to every 30 minutes.
The modern vehicles have been given a striking new yellow-brown livery on the outside as well as a thorough make-over on the inside, where passengers are welcomed by modern interiors, new seating, free WiFi and USB charging points, so passengers can stay connected on the move.
Andrew Sherrington, First West of England operations director for Bath, Weston super Mare, Wells and Westbury said, “We believe people will like Discover, with its much-improved frequency, and a much more attractive customer experience thanks to the new interior, USB charging points and free wi-fi.”
The name ‘Discover’ was suggested to Andrew Sherrington by Frome resident, Tracey Harding, from the local bus campaign group Frome and Villages Bus Users Group (FAVBUG) during a meeting on how to improve bus services. Andrew liked the ‘Discover’ name so much that he decided to use it when the opportunity arose.
He said, “Our decision to invest in this area is largely thanks to FAVBUG, led by Peter Travis, and the fantastic work bus campaigners did to encourage the community to catch the bus more often. Their grassroots campaign really increased ridership, securing not just the service continued operation, but also our commitment to invest in it, with a higher frequency and a premium experience. We hope even more bus passengers are attracted onto our buses.”
The Service D2 will see some significant changes to the route and timetable, compared to the 267 it replaces. The route between Bath city centre and Beckington will be unchanged, but there are a number of changes to the route in the Frome area.
An additional journey Monday to Saturday will serve Rode around 0930, which is expected to be welcomed by concessionary pass holders and leisure travellers heading towards Bath. Frome Hospital will no longer be served, which is due to extremely low customer demand. For those needing to go to Frome Hospital, an alternative stop is available at Windsor Crescent. This change will also benefit the majority of customers because it will lead to faster journey times.
Within Frome, alternate journeys will serve the sections of route serving Frome Sports Centre and Critchill Road. These changes to the route ensure that all current sections of route remain served at least every 60 minutes in each direction, and many customers will benefit from reduced journey times as a result. It will also be possible to travel from Critchill Road area to and from Sainsbury’s.
Considering the changes, passengers are advised to check the new timetable carefully before travelling. Timetables can be downloaded from: www.first group.com/bristol-bath-and-west/routes-and-maps/discover