Better bus connections to Yate town centre

A bus service, funded by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (WECA), is being extended to serve more of the area around Yate town centre.

The Y2C, which runs between Cribbs Causeway and Yate, will serve communities in Iron Acton, Westerleigh Road and more locations in Ladden Garden Village and Rodford Way by 30 August.

The extension of the service, which replaces the 918 route, connects many of the new homes built in Yate as well as providing more connections to Yate town centre for people living in retirement homes on Westerleigh Road.

WECA will also continue to support the Y8, which has also been extended to include Leyhill, on its route between Yate and Wickwar.

Funding for the 525, which runs between Yate and Westerleigh, will also continue. This remains the only bus service which connects Pucklechurch to Emersons Green directly.

You can see all of the upcoming bus changes here.

Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said: 

“Getting our region moving is one of our biggest priorities. Our investment in these routes and services means better buses for passengers across the West Country and gives people certainty until at least spring 2029.

“Building on the brilliant efforts of local people piloting some of these bus services and campaigners and councillors over the years, including across South Gloucestershire, together we’re starting to build the kind of bus network that local people deserve.”

Barbara Lawrence, local resident and bus campaigner, said:

“We are very grateful that the supported bus services will continue in and around Yate.

“It is testament to what can be achieved when communities work together to tackle rural isolation.

“The Y8 bus service proves that accessibility should never stop at county borders.  As a convenient community focused circular route operating 2 buses it is a lifeline for access to work, post 16 education, medical services, affordable shopping, recreation and onward bus or rail links.

“The long-term future of these services depends on passenger numbers, and we ask residents, commuters and shoppers to leave their cars at home and to use the bus whenever possible.”

The routes are funded by multi-million-pound investment from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority’s three-year Bus Grant from the Department for Transport, will improve connectivity for many rural communities and strengthen links to employment, education, and nature.

Chris Willmore, South Gloucestershire Council cabinet member for transport, councillor said: 

"I am delighted we have secured the future of these essential bus services, which are a lifeline between Yate town centre and surrounding communities, including Iron Acton, Wickwar, Leyhill, Westerleigh and Pucklechurch. 

“Reliable and accessible bus services are vital for helping residents get to work, education, healthcare, shopping and leisure opportunities, as well as connecting rural communities and new housing developments. We are particularly pleased that not only is the former Y2C service being continued, but the 918 school service from Severn Beach to Castle School is being incorporated into the service, giving parents and pupils three years of certainty. This is something we have fought hard alongside residents to achieve. I want to congratulate the parents who led the campaign and worked with us to secure this solution.

“We have also worked to restore buses to Iron Acton, and although a technical issue means the service cannot start until later in the summer, I am thrilled that by the autumn we will have Iron Acton reconnected to bus services. This is a really positive step forward and we will continue to work with the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, our residents and bus operators to improve public transport across South Gloucestershire.”

After a fare freeze on supported services for the past three years, single journeys will now be raised to £2.60 in line with commercial services.

The £2 fare cap, announced by Prime Minister Andy Burnham in Bath this week, will be in place from January 2027.

Better buses are a crucial part of the Transport Vision for the region shared by the Mayor and council leaders earlier this year, with a recent consultation to shape a new Bus Plan receiving more than 4,800 responses from across the West. Meanwhile, work continues at the combined authority to assess options for how to take greater control of the region’s buses – including through different types of franchising.

For more detailed information about bus service changes taking effect from 26 July, visit the TravelWest website.