Council confirms an operator for MetroBus

The first bus operator to start running part of the MetroBus service is First Bristol, the joint Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset MetroBus team confirms.

First Bristol will start running the MetroBus route from Ashton Vale to Temple Meads as soon as infrastructure works are completed and roadside facilities are installed.

“I am delighted to welcome First Bus as the operator of our first MetroBus service, with their support for the new off bus ticketing system alongside their investment in brand new, high quality, low emission vehicles together we’ll be setting a new high standard for bus travel in the area,” said Councillor Colin Hunt, Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation and the Strategic Environment at South Gloucestershire Council.

Work completed so far

Currently, the bus guideway with its associated cycle and pedestrian track is well under construction, and the skew bridge that guides MetroBus over the Bristol to Portishead railway line and under the elevated section of the A370 is nearly complete.

Furthermore, the £3.8 million refurbishment of Ashton Avenue Bridge is finished and it is now open to pedestrians and cyclists, and the second bridge at Bathurst Basin that doubles the road space available to all vehicles and provides new space for cyclists and pedestrians is also progressing well.

“I am very much looking forward to MetroBus services starting that will benefit from the segregation and bus priority measures,” added Councillor Asher Craig, Deputy Mayor with responsibility for Public Transport at Bristol City Council. “These measures and new smart ticketing will generate a noticeable uplift of quality and reliability to the public transport network.”

The Quality Partnership Scheme

The councils are not contracting with or paying bus operators to run MetroBus services but rather the operators are commercial companies running commercial services and they will take the business risk.

MetroBus is a scheme open to any operator at any time, provided they meet the requirements of the Quality Partnership Scheme and associated Voluntary Partnership Agreement. The scheme sets out the minimum standards MetroBus operators must meet, including vehicle quality, vehicle emissions, branding, maximum fares, minimum service frequencies and how often the buses are cleaned.

To find out more about Metrobus and the Quality Partnership Scheme click here.