Bath to Bristol Airport bus service will help sell city to the world, says business leaders

“@saltfordboy - "The Flyer buses from Bristol bus station only ever have a handful of passengers with possibly ten picked up at Temple Meads...."

Yes, but if it's running upto every 10 mins during the day and is a 24 hour service, it's unlikely that every bus will be full. If I had a choice of getting a crowded bus or waiting another 10 mins, I'd chose the latter. This is approaching London service provision level.

In bath, a regular bus is one that' runs 2-hourly, right? Or about 4 journeys per weekend. Elsewhere, the world has moved on. This is a good move. I'm pleased Bath bus co are running it hourly. Just hope they have thought of off-bus ticketing.”

“A good idea but is there really that many people travelling from Bath to Bristol Airport to warrant such a service.
The Flyer buses from Bristol bus station only ever have a handful of passengers with possibly ten picked up at Temple Meads.I've often wondered who actually pays for them,as First won't be running them at a loss to it's shareholders.I expect either Bristol Council or Bristol Airport subsidise it.
I wonder if Bath Bus company are receiving any incentive to run this service?”

“by FromMendip

"I meant to add that there's always the taxi alternative.

And that's the thing, I suspect if there are more than 2 travelling a taxi will be the cheaper option.”

“I meant to add that there's always the taxi alternative.

There is never likely to be a rail link to Bristol Airport - far too expensive to construct as it would involve considerble heavy civil engineering.

Bristol Airport is not alone in this. In the UK such airports as Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool and Leeds-Bradford have no rail links. Other airports I've used without rail connectivity include those serving capital cities such as Prague and Lisbon (though I believe the latter may now have some sort of Metro link) and Melbourne in Australia.

Melbourne handles 30 million passengers a year. In UK terms only Heathrow and Gatwick are busier and the latter not by that much. Melbourne Airport has a regular bus link to Southern Cross rail station in central Melbourne, very similar to the Bristol Airport Flyer at Temple Meads. Currently there is no prospect of its getting a rail link which shows that even major airports can survive and operate efficiently without one.

Conversely, Prestwick Airport in Scotland does have a rail station but in recent years it has been one of the worst performing airports in the UK, losing half its annual passenger throughput since 2008 and seeing carriers pull out or reduce services.”

“The public transport alternative is a train from Bath Spa to Bristol Temple Meads, then the Flyer bus to the airport from there.

Through tickets are available.

The train/Flyer might be quicker from central Bath (the Flyer runs at 10-minute frequency from very early morning to mid evening then at reduced frequency for the rest of the time) though not from the other stops en the new bus service route but possibly a bit more expensive.

It will be interesting to see if this initiative really works as it will with the Greyhound coach service from South Wales to the airport that will run frequently from the early hours till around midnight, with that route starting in a couple of weeks.”

“""For planning purposes, the most important infornation is not shown here.
How long will the journey from Bath to the airport take?""


1 hour and 15 mins....”

“"by ceedee_
Tuesday, February 26 2013, 10:43AM

"Bath Bus Company's website says:
"This will be an hourly service and journey times are just over an hour."
http://tinyurl.com/bdpp8ub""

... So? Makes sense. Buses leave every hour and the journey takes over an hour.”

“Bath Bus Company's website says:
"This will be an hourly service and journey times are just over an hour."
http://tinyurl.com/bdpp8ub”

“For planning purposes, the most important infornation is not shown here.
How long will the journey from Bath to the airport take?”