The 47 was a bus route that operated between Bristol and Yate. It was operated by First West of England.

A number 47 bus on Sussex Place, Bristol

History

edit

In 2021, evening and Sunday services on route 5 were withdrawn and the leg to Bromley Heath was removed.[1][2] On 1 September 2022, First announced that route 5 would be withdrawn completely.[3][4][5]

Route 47 was introduced in October 2022 as a partial replacement for routes 5, Y3, Y4, and Y5.[6]

In late February 2023, First announced that the 47 would be withdrawn on 2 April, blaming low passenger numbers.[7][8] It was replaced with route 25 operated by Transpora Bus which runs from Monday to Friday between Bristol city centre and Eastville.[9][10][11] Another replacement service, route 525, was introduced between Emersons Green and Yate seven days a week operated by Stagecoach West.[12]

The route number was revived in 2024 for a route between Bristol City Centre and Oldbury Court, but this route is completely different from the original 47, mostly following the route of the 46, 48 and 49. In September 2024, it was replaced by the 47x, which operates fast between Bristol City Centre and Fishponds via the M32.[13]

Route

edit

The route started in Bristol city centre and ran through St Pauls, St Werburghs, Eastville, Fishponds, Downend, Emersons Green, Pucklechurch, and Westerleigh. On reaching Yate, the route took a 25-minute loop around the town before terminating at Yate Shopping Centre. The full route took around 1.5 hours end-to-end and ran on an hourly frequency.[14] There was no evening or Sunday service.[15]

References

edit
  1. ^ Rodgers, Steve (2021-12-06). "First to axe more bus services – including the 178". The Week In. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  2. ^ Cork, Tristan (2021-09-28). "Campaign launched to save well-used bus service". BristolLive. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  3. ^ Pipe, Ellie (2022-09-14). "Petition to save 'lifeline' Bristol bus service". Bristol24/7. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  4. ^ Deeney, Yvonne (2022-09-07). "Campaigners fight to save vital 'lifeline' bus route". BristolLive. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  5. ^ Driscoll, Alex (2023-12-03). "The abandoned Bristol route that buses no longer stop at". Bristol Live. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  6. ^ "Cutting of bus routes is a 'kick in the teeth' for residents". Yate and Sodbury Voice. 2022-10-09. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  7. ^ "First West of England to serve Midsomer Norton and our rural villages". The Midsomer Norton & Radstock Journal. 2023-02-27. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  8. ^ Deeney, Yvonne (2023-03-01). "Plug pulled on new bus service launched to replace axed route". BristolLive. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  9. ^ "25 timetable". Transpora Bus. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  10. ^ Booth, Mia Vines (2023-04-11). "New bus route hopes to reconnect east Bristol with city centre". Bristol24/7. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  11. ^ Cork, Tristan (2023-04-14). "New bus service launches in Bristol to revive axed route". BristolLive. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  12. ^ Deeney, Yvonne (2023-03-27). "Four new bus services set to launch this week amid huge shake-up". BristolLive. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  13. ^ [[cite web|title=September 2024 First Bristol, Bath & the West Service Changes|url=https://www.firstbus.co.uk/bristol-bath-and-west/news-and-service-updates/updates/service-changes-west-england-1-september%7Caccess-date=2024-09-18}}
  14. ^ "Cutting of bus routes is a 'kick in the teeth' for residents". Yate and Sodbury Voice. 2022-10-09. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  15. ^ "Number 5 bus route in north Bristol to be cut". BBC News. 2022-09-23. Retrieved 2023-03-06.