Bus it for free and enjoy a festive day out with the family

Released On 15th Dec 2023

Somerset Council and the Somerset Bus Partnership, First Bus South, are offering a free travel day on the 25, 28, 54 and 58/58A services all day on Tuesday 19 December.

Bus passengers on four routes in Somerset can take advantage of a completely free bus travel day on 19 December.

Working in partnership with Somerset Council and the Somerset Bus Partnership, First Bus South, which operates Buses of Somerset is offering a free travel day on the 25, 28, 54 and 58/58A services all day on Tuesday 19 December.

The initiative aims to highlight these services which are currently at risk of being dropped or reduced at the end of March 2024. Somerset Council is currently subsidising these routes using ring-fenced Government Bus Service Improvement Plan Plus (BSIP Plus) funding. First Bus South cannot continue to operate the routes without subsidy because currently not enough passengers are using them.

Passengers will not require a ticket, voucher or any form of code on 19 December – they can simply jump on and ride for free.

The routes are as follows:

54: Yeovil-Taunton, including stops at Langport, Somerton and Ilchester

58/58A: Yeovil-Wincanton, including Sherborne, Milborne Port, Henstridge

25: Taunton-Dulverton, including Cotford St. Luke, Norton Fitzwarren and Wiveliscombe

28:Taunton-Minehead, including Bishop’s Lydeard, Williton, Watchet and Dunster

You can find links to the full timetables on Somerset Council’s Bus It page – details below.

The latest round of the ‘Bus It’ campaign – supported by the Somerset Bus Partnership and Buses of Somerset, aims to support these four at risk routes and try to boost passenger numbers.

In the face of massive budget pressures, Somerset Council cannot commit to supporting the services from April. The authority recently declared a financial emergency driven by spiralling demands and costs of care.

However, First Bus South has said it will review the routes before the funding ends next year, taking into account new data on passenger uptake.