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The majority of public transport users in the Bristol Urban Area are transported by bus, although rail has experienced growth and does play an important part, particularly in peak hours. There were plans for a light rail system, however this has now been dropped although it remains in the long-term local transport plan.
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Bus
The Bristol Bus and Coach Station, in Marlborough Street, was opened in 1958. It was redeveloped in 2006
There are five main bus companies operating across the Greater Bristol area. They are First, National Express, A-Bus, Bugler's and Wessex Connect. They provide services around Bristol and in to South Gloucestershire. The University of the West of England sponsors bus services (ULink) open to the public throughout the year, which are operated by Wessex Connect. National Express provides services including London, Plymouth, Glasgow and Swansea. Megabus run services to London, Newport and Cardiff. City Sightseeing Bristol operate tourist buses from all year except January.
MetroBus, a new bus rapid transit system, is expected to begin service in 2017 and consists of three routes: Ashton Vale to Temple Meads, North Fringe to Hengrove and South Bristol Link.
Rail
The main railway stations in Bristol are Bristol Temple Meads, near the city centre, and Bristol Parkway in the northern suburb of Stoke Gifford. Although the latter is in the Bristol urban area, it is in South Gloucestershire. There are services to UK destinations from both Temple Meads and Parkway stations. There are also smaller stations across Bristol on different railway lines, including the Severn Beach Line, South Wales Main Line, Cross-Country Route, Great Western Main Line and Wessex Main Line.
Journey time to Cardiff is around 45–60 minutes and to London around 90 minutes.
There are three private rail companies that operate across the Greater Bristol area. They are First Great Western, CrossCountry and South West Trains. First Great Western operate all the local and regional services and intercity services between London Paddington and South Wales/Southwest England that pass through or terminate at Bristol. CrossCountry run cross-country intercity services that serve Bristol on routes between Southwest England and the Midlands, North of England and Scotland. South West Trains operate four services a day between Bristol Temple Meads and Salisbury, three of which continue to London Waterloo.
There are several local, suburban rail routes throughout Bristol but many have either been closed or seen massively reduced services. The Severn Beach line which runs from Temple Meads to Severn Beach is regarded as a particularly attractive route.
Following a successful campaign by Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways, the Severn Beach Line began to be served by an increased frequency from May 2008. It is hoped this will pave the way for better services across the conurbation. An additional train now operates on the line meaning services average around every 40 minutes. Fares are set over two zones, and the trip from Bristol Temple Meads to Severn Beach is £3.00 return. There is, for the first time, a Sunday service to Avonmouth. The result is a service that can actually be used to commute to Bristol centre from outlying areas. Information has been improved at all the stations, from a push-button link to a computer-generated voice link, to real-time display screen. There has been a dramatic increase in passenger numbers, giving rise to complaints about not be able to buy tickets for through train journeys from the onboard train crew.
MetroWest
MetroWest is a current initiative in the West of England area to improve local rail services by reopening disused rail lines and stations and improving existing services. Phase One includes reopening the Portishead railway line to passenger traffic and improving services to the Severn Beach Line and Bath Spa. Phase Two will see the Henbury railway line reopen, along with half-hourly services between Weston-super-Mare and Yate. The phases are due to open in 2019 and 2021 respectively.
The West of England Local Enterprise Partnership also produced a Key Principles Report in November 2015 discussing future potential transport projects for the West of England region, including new rail transit based options referred to as MetroWest++. The options outlined include reopening the Thornbury Branch Line, a Yate to Bath route, the use of tram train technology, a link to the city centre and a connection to Bristol Airport.
Light rail
In November 2016, the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership began a consultation process on their Transport Vision Summary Document, outlining potential light rail/tram routes from the city centre to Bristol Airport, the eastern and north west fringes of the city, and a route along the A4 road to Bath.
Water
Bristol Ferry Boats operates passenger ferry boat services on Bristol Harbour in the centre of Bristol. Services are operated for the leisure market to and from both the city centre and Bristol Temple Meads railway station. Services are provided by a fleet of yellow and blue painted ferry boats.
In 2010 the city council supported commuter services formerly operated by the Bristol Ferry Boat Company were transferred to a new operator, Number Seven Boat Trips. This company also operates daily tourist services.
The Bristol Packet operates guided tours throughout the year around the harbour, and in the tourist season also downriver to Avonmouth and upstream to Beese's Tea Gardens, the Chequers Inn at Hanham and via the Kennet and Avon Navigation to Bath.
Landing stages used by all operators include: