Jan 4, 2025

Bristol transport 2025: What’s happening with trams, new train stations, buses and scooters There were some major changes to the city’s transport network in 2024 and more huge changes are planned 13:00, 4 JAN 2025 Get the latest Bristol Live breaking news on WhatsApp Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Getting around Bristol has still been a struggle over the past year for almost half a million people who drive, cycle, get public transport, walk or scoot. But there were some major changes to the city’s transport network last year, and more huge changes are planned for 2025. The past 12 months saw disruption and disappointment for the dwindling number of people who ride e-scooters. In October 2023, the hugely popular Voi lost the contract to run the e-scooter trial in the West of England, which was taken over by rival firm Tier. Then this autumn, Tier was merged with another firm, Dott, leading to higher prices and service changes. Many scooterists were already complaining on social media about how Tier was worse than Voi, with frequent complaints including faulty kickstands and challenges finding an available parking spot. Then Dott increased the cost to rent a scooter by over a third, prompting complaints to the West of England Combined Authority, who were responsible for dropping Voi from the contract. A review is being carried out by transport bosses at the combined authority, who will soon decide whether to extend the controversial contract with Dott, which is due to end next October. They are now facing calls from increasing numbers of disgruntled riders to bring back Voi. For bus passengers there was some good news however. The popular birthday buses scheme was relaunched in December for another year, giving West of England residents free bus travel during the month of their birthday. The scheme aims to get more people in the habit of using public transport instead of driving, although some critics have called it a “wasteful gimmick”, especially a £120 cake baked to promote the scheme. Dan Norris and his dog Angel with a cake of a bus that cost taxpayers £120 (Image: John Wimperis) There was also some progress finally on bus franchising. This would see buses brought under public control, similar to in London and Greater Manchester, and bus companies such as First held to account for the quality of their service. After long facing calls to explore franchising, the combined authority has belatedly begun the work to see how the model would work locally. In Bristol, millions raised through the Clean Air Zone will pay for some bus services from April. A group of councillors is considering which routes should get support, with a focus on paying for the unprofitable bus routes that operators can’t justify funding themselves. Although overall, the quality of the bus network could still be vastly improved, so many people choose to drive cars instead. Bus passenger numbers have now returned to the same levels seen before the pandemic, after suffering a steep drop in ridership due to social distancing and people working from home. Whether that’s because of improving services or people going back to the office is hard to tell, but the extra income will be welcomed by operators such as First Bus. What won’t be welcomed by passengers is the incoming rise in fares. The previous Conservative government capped fares across the country at £2, but the new Labour government is increasing this to £3, with effect from this January. Bus fares in Bristol however will be capped at £2.40. A sign warning of the Clean Air Zone in Southville, Bristol (Image: Bristol Live) Last January, the first results of the effects of the Clean Air Zone were made public. Launched in November 2022, drivers of particularly polluting vehicles must pay to enter an area around the city centre, in a bid to reduce nitrogen dioxide emissions, which are harmful to human health. The results were mostly positive, apart from some spikes on the edges of the zone. This January, another report is expected to show the effects of the Clean Air Zone in its second year, as well as how much money drivers have paid the council in fees and fines. In May, former Labour mayor Marvin Rees left his office in City Hall for the last time after eight years in power. With him went the last remnants of hope that Bristol could get an underground metro network. His flagship policy was building four light-rail lines across the city, but after millions of pounds was spent and years of arguments, an underground metro is now very unlikely. Instead, transport bosses in the region are considering an overground mass transit system. This could be trams, or potentially an extension of the Metrobus network. The Greens, who now largely run Bristol City Council , are in favour of building a tram network — including deputy council leader Heather Mack, who is running to become the next mayor of the West of England. However, whatever sort of mass transit is eventually chosen, nothing will get built until at least the 2030s. That’s largely because of the arduous process that major infrastructure works have to go through to get government funding, meaning millions of pounds must be paid to engineering consultants to show any plans are “value for money”. The new Ashley Down railway station (Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC) In the meantime, a new train station opened this year, with a few more planned soon. Ashley Down station takes passengers down to Temple Meads or up to Filton Abbey Wood, and is the second new station to recently open in Bristol, after the Portway Park and Ride station opened in 2023. However, the trains only run once every hour, severely limiting the station’s usefulness. Two more new train stations are planned in Bristol. North Filton will serve the planned new indoor arena, expected to open in 2026 and further along the line, Henbury station will reopen, although it’s unclear when. Uncertainty remains around the planned Portishead and Pill stations, which were axed by the Labour government shortly after they were elected last summer. Bristol’s first liveable neighbourhood was finally rolled out in parts of St George, Redfield and Barton Hill. The controversial scheme stops drivers from cutting through the residential area and avoiding congestion on main routes such as Church Road, however all roads can still be accessed in a car. Over 5,000 people have signed a petition against East Bristol liveable neighbourhood scheme (Image: Tom Wren / SWNS) While some residents welcomed the changes, particularly on Beaufort Road where there's a history of speeding and car crashes, others are opposing them. Critics say the scheme unfairly impacts disabled people who rely on driving cars and vans, adds extra time to journeys, and worsens congestion on roads just outside the scheme area. A second liveable neighbourhood is planned in Bedminster , Southville, Totterdown and Windmill Hill. The council consulted the public about what traffic issues there are in the area, and what changes they would like to see. The changes are likely to be rolled out in either 2026 or 2027. Another major consultation was carried out regarding huge changes to the city centre. This includes pedestrianising the Horsefair, changing many bus routes, separating the Bedminster bridges roundabout into two roads with one specifically for buses, and building miles of new bike lanes. These changes are also planned for either 2026 or 2027, as well as many new bus lanes. Parking for drivers will soon see big changes too. Since the Greens won the local elections last May, councillors have begun drawing up plans for a workplace parking levy and an expansion of resident parking zones. However, they have relegated plans for a pavement parking ban to “quite low down the list of priorities”, despite calling for one before the local elections. A workplace parking levy would see drivers in some parts of the city centre charged to leave their car outside their place of work. A similar levy has raised millions in Nottingham, and the income would be only spent on improving transport in Bristol. Hospital workers and other sorts of jobs could be exempt from paying the fee. One bridge closed and another reopened in 2024. The Kingsweston Bridge reopened after its closure in 2015, connecting Blaise Castle Estate to Kingsweston Fields. The Banana Bridge closed for repairs, as well as the nearby York Road, making journeys longer for many. And finally, the Clifton Suspension Bridge grandiosely announced it was leaving X/ Twitter , prompting a raft of mocking jokes. Story Saved You can find this story in   My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow BristolLive Most Recent Most Recent