TRANSPORT campaigners are celebrating following the announcement of an upgraded commuter bus service for Yate.

The long-awaited move comes in response to complaints from passengers and Yate town councillors about an inadequate rush-hour service to and from Bristol.

Details have yet to be confirmed, but First Bus consultant Roy Steele revealed plans for a new high-speed service at a meeting with Yate Town councillors last week.

“I could’ve kissed him,” said Cllr Chris Willmore.

“We were all ready to argue our case, but then he asked if we would be okay with three buses an hour in the rush hours as far as Colston Street. 

“We practically fell off our chairs.

“It’s is really good news for commuters,” she said.

“This has been a long standing problem. For years, there has been a gap, at the peak of the rush hour, in the high-speed direct services to and from Bristol.

"There are slower services at those times, but people don’t want to spend over a hour on a bus going via Fishponds and Downend. 

"All of the buses go from the bus station. Some used to go from Anchor Road and Colston Street, which  provided a service to people who worked at places like Harbourside and Clifton.

"There was a lot of uproar when that was scrapped. One of the features of the new plan is to start from Colston Street, which will serve those workers again. 

"The X49 goes from the bus station via Pucklechurch to Yate  at 4.25pm, 5.40pm and 6.45pm. It takes over an hour, as it travels via Fishponds, Staple Hill and Pucklechurch.

"The 47 is the slow bus, which goes vis Fishponds and Downend and takes an hour.

"The X47 is the high speed bus, that goes up the motorway from the bus station and does not stop until Winterbourne - so it only takes 40 minutes, even in the rush hour. 

"The X47 leaves from Bristol bus station at 4.42pm and, 5.45pm and 6.05pm. There is a 47 in-between at 5.15pm, but that takes an hour via Fishponds and Downend. 

"Going in, there is the same gap, the X47 leaves Yate at 7.30am and then 8.50am - a one hour 20 minute gap. There are two 47 slow buses in between. 

"The final option is the 46/ X46. This is the best and fastest route. Again the 46 is the slow bus, via Frenchay and the X46 is the high speed one.

"There is an X46 from Bristol at 4.25pm, and then 5.40pm.  This bus only takes half an hour even in the peak, so this is the best option. But again, you see the big gap. 

"There is a slow bus at 5pm, but that gets to Yate after the 5.30pm fast bus, so is really not a service to Yate, it is a service to Winterbourne and Coalpit Heath.

"What people want is a high speed bus, so they don't spend an hour on the bus home; a service from Colton Street and Anchor Road, and a frequency of direct service.

“If you’ve got a high-speed service every 20 minutes, people will feel comfortable about using it. 

“They know they’re not going to have to wait at the bus stop for ages,” said Cllr Willmore. 

Yate Town Council produced an analysis of the town’s transport issues - the Let’s Get Yate Moving report - back in 2016. 

“We have been campaigning on it ever since, lobbying to get parts of it implemented,” said Cllr Willmore.

“And now we’ve won the battle of getting into Bristol.”