Local residents across the region will be able to travel for free as new community-designed WESTlocal bus services hit the roads from Sunday 1 and Monday 2 September onwards. The launch is being marked with two week’s free travel on the eight new bus routes – thanks to Mayor Dan Norris.

WESTlocal services are designed and run by local people to meet the needs of their communities. They connect people to schools, colleges and places of work, as well as providing much-needed links to shops.

The new services range as far and wide as Avonmouth in Bristol, Keynsham, Chew Valley and in the north of the region in villages including Charfield and Hawkesbury Upton.

This is on top of the first two WESTlocal’s which launched in April this year – the X91 Chew Valley to Bristol service (which is being extended from September) and the 2V Radstock to Odd Down Park & Ride – with both getting off to a promising start.

I’m delighted these new services will soon be up and running. Giving people free travel for the first two weeks will get passengers off to a great start. My hope is it will inspire people to support their WESTlocal in the longer term.

Mayor Dan Norris

Having the opportunity to try the bus service for free is a great chance for people to hop on our new WESTlocal service 61, see where it goes and how they might use it going forward.

Nola Hersey from Dings Community Association

Passengers who use the new WESTlocal bus services will be able to do so for free for two weeks (between 1 and 15 September inclusive).

WESTlocal was set up by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, in partnership with North Somerset Council and funded from the Department for Transport’s Bus Service Improvement Plan.

The WESTlocal services will run until at least March 2026.

For more information on WESTlocal services visit: travelwest.info/westlocal/

The full list of new WESTlocal services that benefit from the free travel is:

• 532 Keynsham – Yate/Emersons Green
• K1 Keynsham
• Y8 Hawkesbury Upton – Yate
• 40 Avonmouth – Brentry
• 99 Chew Valley circular
• 534 Filton (SGS College) – Fishponds (via Emersons Green & Longwell Green)
• 61 St Anne’s/Sandy Park – Bristol city centre via the Dings
• P1 Bristol – Felton
• X91 Chew Valley – Bristol (this service launched in April 2024 but is being extended)

Original press release by West of England Mayoral Combined Authority