TRANSPORT PLAN

INFORMATION

University Bus Service - U6

The University of Bristol is working in partnership with the University of West of England (UWE) to run a number of bus services for students and staff at both Universities and the general public. The services will be operated by Wessex Connect and will form part of the Wessex Red network.

Ticket types and prices
Fare prices, types of passes, smartcard information and more
Timetable
Route timetables for U6 service

Route for U6 service
Questions and Answers
Questions and answers, contact information and event information

Ticket types and prices (2011/2012)

Undergraduate students and Senior Residents in University allocated accommodation

Will receive an annual bus pass when they arrive at the University of Bristol.

All other students in private accommodation and all staff

There are a variety of ways to purchase tickets to travel.

1) Purchase a standard ticket on board the bus

2) Purchase a bus pass/smartcard

 There are three types of bus pass available for 2011/2012:

  • one-month pass – These passes are activated from the first time they are used on the bus.  They will last for one calendar month after activation.
  • one-term pass – These passes will last for one UoB term
  • three-term pass - These passes will last until the end of the third term (22 June 2012)

All types of pass can be used on any of the Wessex Red U services (including the U6)

Passes can be purchased at The Hawthorns , Woodland Road, UoB Precinct (from October 2011)

3) Purchase a 'top-up' smartcard

You can 'top-up' your smartcard to the value that you want; £10, £20 etc. A 'top-up' smartcard can be used on any of the Wessex Red Services.

Smartcards can be purchased at The Hawthorns , Woodland Road, UoB Precinct (from October 2011)

4) Purchase a bus pass/smartcard (2 above) with the top-up function (3 above)

This gives you all round flexibility

General Public

The general public can purchase a monthly pass from McColls Newsagents, 2nd Floor, The Mall Galleries, BS1 3XD

Tickets can be purchased on-board the bus

Prices (2011/2012)

Fare Payment with cash Payment with smartcardWhat is a smartcard?
Adult dayrider (available on bus) £3.00 £2.50
Adult single (available on bus) £2.00 £1.67
*Child dayrider (available on bus) £1.50 n/a
*Child single (available on bus) £1.00 n/a
One-term pass (for UoB students/staff) £92 (1st term), £84 (2nd term), £75 (3rd term) n/a
Three-term pass (for UoB students/staff) £249.00 n/a
one-year pass (for UoB students/staff) £309.00 n/a
Monthly pass (one calendar month) (for UoB students/staff) £39 (plus £1 if new smartcard is required) n/a
Monthly pass (one calendar month) (general public) £42.00 n/a
Child = under 16 years of age

Timetables (2011/2012)

Wessex Red Network timetables U1 - U8

*The U6 bus services will operate during the following months (term time only):

  • U6: 3 October - 16 December 2011, 13 January - 23 March 2012, 23 April - 22 June 2012

Note: some of the documents on this page are in PDF format. In order to view a PDF you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader

 

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Questions and Answers

1. Time and dates of operation

A bus timetable and operation dates are available above.

2. Who can use this bus service?

The U6 service is available for everyone to use – staff, student and visitors to the University of Bristol and the general public.

3. What are the types of passes and how much are they?

Types of passes and pricing information is available above.

4. Where can I buy a bus pass?

Information about where you can buy a bus pass is available above.

5. What is a smartcard?

A smartcard is a plastic card about the size of a credit card, with an embedded microchip that can be loaded with data and often used for electronic cash payments. Similar to the London Oyster Card, students, staff and Bristol's bus users can avoid the hassle of long queues and scrambling for change by taking advantage of this scheme.

Instead of having to find the right cash to buy a ticket on board the bus, you put your ‘topped up’ smartcard onto the ticket machine as payment. The machine still gives you a ticket but the time wasted at the stop is reduced. What's more, with a smartcard a single ticket is only £1.67 and a dayrider is just £2.50, so you save time as well as money.

6. How do I get/use a Ulink smartcard?

Follow the following simple steps:

  1. Buy a new 'blank' smartcard (from Hawthorns, UoB Precinct).
  2. Top up your card by paying the Hawthorns receptionist or bus driver £10 to add credit
  3. Instead of paying the driver with cash, put your card on the reader and ask for a single or day-rider ticket as normal.  Your receipt and bus ticket will tell you how much credit you have left on your smartcard.  £10 top-up gives you at least four days travel.

If you purchase a monthly or termly bus pass to use on the Wessex Red U Service (includes the U6) you can still 'top-up' your smartcard to enable you to use on the remainder of the Wessex Red network.

7. How do I replace a lost smartcard?

You should keep your smartcard safe at all times - it will probably work on the bus without even taking it out of your purse or wallet. However, replacement smartcards can be issued provided you have a record of the number written on the back. There will be a £5 charge for the replacement smartcard. Visit the Hawthorns Reception on Woodland Road.

8. What should i do if my smartcard has stopped working?

Smardcards that have stopped working through general wear and tear will be replaced by the Hawthorns Reception on Woodland Road. Smartcards that have been vanderlised, for example hole punched or snapped, can be replaced but there will be a £5 charge for the replacement.

9. Can I use the any other bus services with my bus pass?

The smartcards enable you to use any of the Wessex Red's U services (U1-U8). If you purchase a 'top-up' card this enables you to use all of Wessex Red's services in Bristol.

10. Where and when can I purchase the bus pass/smart card?

Smartcards can be purchased from October 2011 from the Hawthorns.

Their reception desk is open from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm. The telephone number is 0117 954 5555.

Undergraduate students in University allocated accommodation will need to collect their pass on arrival at their accommodation (from the 1 Oct 2011) No passes will be sent to students through the post pre-arrival to the University. Details on collection points/times will be available here soon.

11. Can Concessionary Passes (Diamond Cards) be used on the Wessex Red Network?

Yes, Concessionary passes can be used after 09:00 on the new Wessex Red Network (U1-U8).  If you would like to travel before 09:00 with a concessionary pass then you can with a top-up fare of £1.

12. Where does the new University bus go?

The route map for the services will be available here soon.

13. What is my nearest bus stop?

Travelling from the Stoke Bishop Halls of Residence to the Precinct:

There is a bus stop on Saville Road, at the end of Hollybush Lane.

Travelling from the UoB Precinct to the Stoke Bishop Halls of Residence:

There are three bus stops on the University Precinct; Elton Road, Woodland Road by Park Row and Tyndall Park Road.

All other student houses

The easiest way to find this out is to use the Bristol Streets website. Select 'buses' on the left panel and then move the map to find your house on it.

14. What are the University buses like?

There are four double decker buses on the new University service. They all have space for buggies and wheelchairs and are low emission compared to many others in Bristol.

15. Will Wessex Red buses be on time?

Bristol has some of the worst and most variable congestion in the country and this affects all traffic, but Wessex Red try hard to keep to the timetable and will always try to respond to any comments you may have on your journey.  To keep informed about traffic incidents, you may wish to visit the BBC Bristol website.

16. What are the UoB/ Wessex RedTerms and Conditions of travel?

    1. Replacements for lost passes will be charged at £5 each; available from The Hawthorns, UoB.
    2. Free replacements will be issued for damaged passes through general wear and tear (provided the ID number can be read clearly) from The Hawthorns, UoB.
    3. If the UoB finds that any passenger is travelling fraudulently - i.e., that they are using someone else's pass or have deliberately altered their pass (e.g., changing the ID number) the individuals concerned will face disciplinary actions and may have their passes revoked.
    4. Students must carry their Student ID card at all times when travelling on the Wessex Red ‘U’ network.
    5. Drivers have the right to refuse travel indefinitely to passengers who are considered to have acted improperly to UoB, UWE or Wessex Connect employees. Complaints in this regard should be forwarded to UoB Sustainability Department in the first instance.
    6. Refunds will be issued only for purchased  annual, 3-term and termly passes (not those included free within accommodation rents).  This will be at a rate of £5 per week remaining on the pass, minus a £5 administration charge.  No refunds for passes will be given where less than half the value remains on the pass. 

These terms & conditions are in addition to Wessex Connect's Conditions of Carriage.  In case of doubt, the above conditions prevail.

17. Where do I enquire about lost property?

Please contact Wessex Connect on 0117 969 8661.

18. How do I make a general comment for the improvement of the service?

Please email the UoB Sustainability Manager (Transport) amy.watts@bristol.ac.uk

19. How does this service compare with other bus services in the area?

The other major bus service provider in the area is First Bus. For details on their bus services, including timetable information, visit traveline.

Currently (August 2010), a single First Bus bus ticket costs £2.30, a return costs £3.30 and a pass for an academic year costs £352.60. Further information on the costs of First Bus student tickets.

 

Contacts

Ticket/smartcard enquiries:

Bus routes, timetables and other general enquiries:

Lost property

  • Please contact Wessex on 0117 3213190. If they do not have your item, it may have been handed in to the UWE lost property office at Frenchay, room 1E20 or the University of Bristol lost property office 0117 9288989.

About the scheme

For questions about the actual scheme, contact the Sustainability Manager (Transport): Amy Watts, amy.watts@bristol.ac.uk.

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