Service Changes From Sunday, September 3

3 months ago Wed 16th Aug 2023

Starting from Sunday, 3rd of September, we will be implementing timetable and route changes to the bus network in Newport and in Chepstow. 

These changes come as a result of the company's rationalisation efforts to provide more stability and efficiency to the services following current changes in bus funding and travel habits. Through careful consideration, we have identified areas with growing patronage and have introduced new services to meet the demand. Additionally, some services are discontinued as they do not longer align with their economic feasibility.

Morgan Stevens, Operations Director, explains: "Like many other bus operators, in response to the changes in funding level and passengers' travel habits, we had to make some essential alterations to our services in order to preserve a sustainable and adequate bus network for the people of Newport and its surroundings.

In addition, we need to adjust our timetables to take into account the upcoming implementation of the new 20mph speed limit regulation. Over the next six months, we will continue collecting data to monitor the situation and adjust the timetables based on traffic hotspots and customer demand.

We have put together a feedback form for passengers to share their views and requirements. The Travel Feedback form will be available until the 15th of October. TRAVEL FEEDBACK FORM

We, at Newport Bus remain committed to providing a reliable and efficient bus service to our customers, and these changes are just one way that we are working towards achieving that goal. From September, timetables booklets will be available at Newport Market, the local libraries and main tourism venues. They can now be downloaded from our website onto your phone from the links below or within your route timetable pages. 

Details of the changes are:

NEWPORT City Network Changes

  • Route 1 Newport – Rogerstone: There are minor timetable changes to improve reliability. Here are the significant changes: this service will no longer serve Jubilee Park; Monday to Friday, the 17:20 journey from Newport will operate as far as Mount Pleasant only. We have removed the following journeys 06:30, 07:05, 18:18 & 19:18 from Newport and 07:10, 18:10 & 19:10 from Rogerstone; Saturdays, the 17:20 journey from Newport will operate as far as Mount Pleasant only.  
  • Route 2 Newport – Gaer: This is a major service revision to provide a much-simplified route around Gaer. The 2A and 2C are replaced by route 2, which already operates on Sundays. Route 2 operates via Stow Hill, Bassaleg Road, Melfort Road, Cae Perllan Road, Masefield Vale, Gaer Shops, down Shakespeare Crescent, Gaer Shops, Highfield Road, Bassaleg Road and Stow Hill. To serve Drinkwater Gardens, Gaer Park Parade and Gaer Park Road, we are revising route 37. We ensured that the same number of journeys as currently in the timetable by routes 2A/C remains.
  • Route 5 Newport - Gwent Europark: Minor timetable changes to improve reliability, specifically journeys will depart up-to 10 minutes earlier from Newport.
  • Route 6/7 Newport – Ringland: This is a major service revision to provide an extra service to the retail park and better journey spacing with the 8A/C. Services 6 & 7 will extend to and from Newport Retail Park for most of the day. From Alway, both services will operate via Ringland Way, Ringland Circle, Hendre Farm Drive and the Southern Distributor Road to the retail park. Route 7 will no longer serve Elgar Circle; however, the 6 will operate via the Elgar Circle loop both ways, i.e., to and from the city centre. The revised route and timetable mean all journeys to the city centre operate from the same side of the road on Hendre Farm Drive and Ringland Circle.
  • Route 8A/C Newport – Ringland: Minor timetable changes to improve reliability, particularly in the morning and afternoon peaks.
  • Route 9A/C Newport – Ringland (evening and Sunday service):  Minor timetable changes to improve reliability.
  • Route 13 Newport – Brynglas: On Monday to Friday, journeys between 09:50 and 13:50 will operate 5 minutes earlier; on Saturdays, all journeys will operate 15 minutes earlier.
  • Route 14 Newport – Ridgeway: On Monday to Friday, the 07:30 journey will operate 15 minutes earlier at 07:15 and will not serve Sorrel Drive. On Saturdays, all journeys operate 15 minutes earlier.
  • Route 16A/C Newport – Bettws: Minor timetable changes to improve reliability, in particular the 20:30 & 21:30 journeys which will operate 5 minutes earlier.
  • Route 18 Newport – Malpas: All journeys will operate 1 minute earlier from the bus station, with minor changes to times along the route to improve reliability. On Saturdays, the 15:55 journey is withdrawn.
  • Route 19 Newport – Malpas: Minor timetable changes on all days to improve reliability. We have improved the service on Saturday afternoons, meaning the bus will run every 30 minutes rather than every 40 minutes. On Sundays, all journeys will operate 4 minutes later.
  • Route 20/21 Newport – Newport Retail Park: Minor timetable changes to improve reliability. Some specific changes are Monday to Friday, we have withdrawn the 07:25 journey from Christchurch; on Saturdays, we have withdrawn the 07:35 and 17:45 journeys from the bus station and the 08:11 service from Newport Retail Park will now depart from the Ringland Centre at 08:20.
  • Route 26A/C Newport – St Julians: Minor timetable changes to improve reliability, in particular, some early morning journeys which will operate up-to 5 minutes earlier.
  • Route 27 Newport – Caerleon:  Minor timetable changes to improve reliability. Some specific changes are: Monday to Friday, the 29/29A will provide alternative journeys for the 05:48 from Caerleon Road, the 19:20 from the bus station and the 05:58 and 19:36 journeys from Caerleon; on Saturdays, the 29/29A will provide alternatives for the 07:10 journey from the bus station and the 07:26 from Caerleon. The 06:12 from the bus station will start at Caerleon Road (Richmond Road) at 06:32 and the 06:27 journey from Caerleon will start at 06:45.
  • Route 29/29A Newport – Cwmbran: This service will no longer serve Cwmbran railway station. There will be minor timetable changes to improve reliability, in particular, the 15:50 journey from Newport will run at 15:55 and on schooldays it will start at St. Joseph’s RC High School at 15:30. We’re adding new journeys Monday to Friday from Newport at 05:22 (route 29) operating as far as The Grange University Hospital and at 05:49 from The Grange University Hospital to Newport (route 29A).
  • Route 30 Newport – Cardiff: There are major timetable revisions on all days by both operators, including the change of bus stop terminus in Cardiff. The terminus in Cardiff will be at Customshouse Street Stop JG which is on the opposite side of the road to the current stop. The significant changes to the timetables are: the 21:15 from Newport and the 22:10 from Cardiff will operate on Friday and Saturday nights only. Monday to Friday, there will generally be two buses per hour throughout most of the day. On Saturdays, the services will generally run hourly throughout most of the day. On Sundays, some journeys will operate 10 minutes earlier than currently.
  • Route X30 Newport – Cardiff: Minor changes to most journeys to improve reliability, in particular, Monday to Friday the 07:30 journey from Newport will operate at 07:25, the 07:35 & 08:15 journeys from Cardiff will operate at 07:33 and 08:20 respectively, and the 17:40 from Newport and 18:25 from Cardiff will no longer operate. On Saturdays, all journeys except for the 17:00 from Newport and the 17:50 from Cardiff will operate 10 minutes earlier.
  • Route 35/36 Newport – Duffryn: Minor timetable changes to improve reliability. The service will no longer serve the stop inside the Office of National Statistics. Journeys will extend to Celtic Springs in the morning and evening peaks only. 
  • Route 37 Newport – Rhiwderin: The route is being revised and will now serve Gaer. It will operate in both directions via Cardiff Road, Gaer Road, Drinkwater Gardens, Gaer Shops, Shakespeare Crescent, Gaer Park Parade, Gaer Park Road, Bassaleg Road, and Park View to resume the current route at Bassaleg School, serving Laurel Road, Cwm Cwddy Drive and Rhiwderin Village. The timetable has been completely revised with the 08:00 & 18:00 from Newport, 06:55, 08:25 and 18:24 from Rhiwderin withdrawn.
  • Route 40/41 Newport – Pillgwenlly: This service will no longer serve Harlech Retail Park, meaning that on Monday to Friday, the journey at 08:40 from Harlech Retail Park to the city centre is revised to start at 08:49 from Mon Bank. This journey will operate on school days only. We have withdrawn the 06:15 journey from Pillgwenlly on Monday to Saturday and replaced the Monday to Friday 07:20 route 40 journey with a route 41 journey at 07:19 from Pillgwenlly to the city centre. Monday to Friday, most journeys will also operate 10 minutes later; there are only minor time changes on Saturdays.
  • Route 42/43 Newport – Newport Retail Park: There are minor timetable changes to improve reliability. The two early morning journeys serving Halo Foods diversions are removed – see route 5 for a service to Halo Foods.
  • Route 44 Newport – Coleg Gwent: Regrettably, the service is not eligible for support as part of the Bus Transition Fund. Therefore, this service will end after operation on Saturday 2 September 2023.
  • Route 73 Newport – Chepstow: There are minor changes to most journeys to improve reliability, in particular the withdrawal of the 06:58 journey from Parc Seymour. On Monday to Friday, the 06:30 journey from Newport will continue through to Chepstow rather than ending in Parc Seymour. The 08:10 journey is replaced by a new journey at 07:22. We have added an additional evening journey from Chepstow at 19:03; this journey will not serve Parc Seymour. On Saturday, the 06:30 journey from Newport to Parc Seymour is replaced with a new journey at 07:15 operating through to Chepstow.
  • Route 74/X74 Newport – Chepstow: To improve reliability, there are significant changes to the peak journeys. From Newport, the first two early morning journeys will run up to 10 minutes earlier. The 18:20 journey will operate 20 minutes later at 18:40 and the 19:15 journey will be a 74 journey at 20:00. From Chepstow, the early morning journey will now depart 5 minutes earlier. In the evening, the 19:35 will now be a 74 journey departing at 20:00 and 20:35 will depart at 21:30. On Saturdays, the early morning service will now depart from Caldicot at a later time of 07:51.
  • Route 74A/C Newport – Underwood: Minor changes to most journeys to improve reliability. Many journeys will operate up to 10 minutes earlier. The 20:15 journey from Newport and the 20:45 from Underwood are replaced by a route 74 20:00 journey from Newport and 20:50 & 22:20 from Underwood to Newport.
  • Route 60/X60 Newport – Monmouth: There are minor timetable changes to improve reliability with some journeys operating up-to 10 minutes earlier. The 19:10 journey from Monmouth is revised to 19:25 and will operate as a 60 route rather than as an X60.
  • Route R1 Newport – Risca: We have been informed that the evening service is not eligible for support as part of the Bus Transition Fund. Therefore, regrettably, Newport Bus journeys on this service will end after operation on Saturday 2 September 2023.

NEWPORT School services changes:

Bassaleg School

  • B1 Mount Pleasant - Bassaleg School: Minor changes to most journeys to improve reliability.
  • B12 Afon Village - Bassaleg School: Minor changes to most journeys to improve reliability.

John Frost School

  • JF1 Bus Station – The John Frost School: The morning journey will depart the bus station 1 minute earlier. Additional time is added to the afternoon journey.
  • JF2 Bus Station – The John Frost School: The morning journeys will operate up to 7 minutes earlier with more time added to complete the route. Additional time is added to the afternoon journey.
  • JF3 Fields Park – The John Frost School: The morning journeys will operate up to 3 minutes earlier with more time added to complete the route. Additional time is added to the afternoon journey.
  • JF4 Risca Road – The John Frost School: The morning journeys will operate up to 2 minutes earlier with more time added to complete the route. Additional time is added to the afternoon journey.

St. Joseph’ RC High School

  • SJ1 Ringland – St. Joseph’ RC High School: The route will no longer serve East Dock Road – see route SJ11 as a replacement. The morning journeys will operate up to 7 minutes earlier with more time added to complete the route. Additional time is added to the afternoon journey.
  • SJ2 Alway – St. Joseph’ RC High School: The route will no longer serve Nash College – see route SJ14 as a replacement. The afternoon journey is revised to operate via Glan Llyn before Ringland and Alway. The morning journeys will operate up to 2 minutes earlier with more time added to complete the route. Additional time is added to the afternoon journey.
  • SJ3 Corporation Road – St. Joseph’ RC High School: In the morning, this service will start at the Corporation Road Bus Depot. Afternoon journeys will end at Coverack Road. Victoria Avenue and Wharf Road will no longer be served – see routes SJ1 and SJ4 as replacements. The timetable is revised to allow for the change of route.
  • SJ4 Barnardtown – St. Joseph’ RC High School: Minor timetable changes. The route will be revised to operate via Summerhill Avenue and Victoria Avenue before rejoining Christchurch Road.
  • SJ5 Nash Road – St. Joseph' RC High School: The afternoon journey will end at Nash Road (Nash Drive) rather than Coleg Gwent. The morning journeys will operate up to 5 minutes earlier with more time added to complete the route.
  • SJ6 Barrack Hill – St. Joseph’ RC High School: Minor timetable changes.
  • SJ7 Western Avenue – St. Joseph’ RC High School: The morning journeys will operate up to 3 minutes earlier with more time added to complete the route. Additional time is added to the afternoon journey.
  • SJ8 Fields Park – St. Jospeh’ RC High School: This service will operate the current route via Fields Road, Edward VII Avenue, Fields Park Road and Risca Road to The Handpost. It will then operate via Bassaleg Road, Melfort Road, Cae Perllan Road, Cae Brynton Road and Cardiff Road to St. Joseph’s RC High School. St. Woolos and Shakespeare Crescent will no longer be served – see route SJ13 as a replacement. The timetable is revised to allow for the change of route. 
  • SJ9 Malpas – St. Joseph’ RC High School: Minor timetable changes.
  • SJ10 Bettws – St. Joseph’ RC High School: Minor timetable changes.
  • SJ11 Bus Station – St. Joseph’ RC High School: This service will operate via East Dock Road. The morning journey will operate up to 6 minutes earlier. Additional time is added to the afternoon journey.
  • SJ12 Cwmbran – St. Joseph’ RC High School: This service is withdrawn; however, one journey on route 29 is extended to St. Joseph’s RC High School as a replacement.
  • SJ13 Bus Station – St. Joseph’ RC High School: This service will start and end at Newport Bus Station and operate via Queensway, Bridge Road, North Road, Stow Hill, Bassaleg Road, Highfield Road, Shakespeare Crescent, Gaer Road and Cardiff Road to St. Joseph’s RC High School. This route will no longer serve Melfort Road and Cae Pellan Road -see route SJ8 for a replacement. The timetable is revised to allow for the change of route.
  • SJ14 Goldcliff – St. Joseph’ RC High School: Minor timetable changes.
  • SJ15 Nash Road – St. Joseph’ RC High School: New route.

Ysgol Gwent Is Coed

  • YGI1 Lyceum Tavern – Ysgol Gwent Is Coed: The route is revised. After departing Lyceum Tavern, the route will divert to serve Brynglas Turning circle then via the current route to The Handpost. It will then operate via Bassaleg Road, Melfort Road, Cae Perllan Road, Cae Brynton Road and Cardiff Road to St. Joseph’s RC High School. This route will no longer serve Stow Hill, Belle Vue Lane. Road - see route YGI2 for a replacement for Stow Hill. The timetable is revised to allow for the change of route with some stops served up to 6 minutes earlier.
  • YGI2 Bus Station – Ysgol Gwent Is Coed: The route is revised to operate from Newport Bus Station via Queensway, Bridge Road, North Road, Stow Hill, Risca Road, Melbourne Way, Western Avenue, Bassaleg Road, Highfield Road, Shakespeare Crescent, Gaer Road and Cardiff Road to Ysgol Gwent Iscoed.      This route will no longer serve Melfort Road and Cae Pellan Road - see route YGI1 for a replacement. The timetable is revised to allow for the change of route with some stops served up to 6 minutes earlier.
  • YGI3 - Caerleon Road – Ysgol Gwent Is Coed: Minor timetable changes.

CHEPSTOW Network Changes