Service type Bus services Chief executive Alex Carter Parent organization First South West Founded 2014 | Depots 3 Website busesofsomerset.co.uk Headquarters Taunton, United Kingdom Service area Somerset | |
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The Buses of Somerset is the trading name used by bus operator First South West for services operated in Somerset from depots in the towns of Taunton and Bridgwater. The services were formerly managed as part of First Somerset & Avon. The new brand identity and livery is the first major departure from the FirstGroup corporate identity and livery which was previously applied almost universally across the group's bus operations. The business instead now uses a two tone green and cream livery with bespoke branding, website and social media profiles.
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The company operates smaller vehicles branded The Buses of Taunton on its Taunton town services.
History
While the "Buses of Somerset" name is new, the livery bears a resemblance to the colours used by its historical predecessors Western National, and more recently Southern National, which operated buses in Somerset prior to its acquisition by FirstGroup in 1999.
Southern National was formed in 1983 as the Somerset and Dorset operations of Western National (then part of the National Bus Company). It was privatised in 1988, acquired by FirstGroup in 1999 and rebranded as First Southern National. In 2003 the Somerset operations of First Southern National were merged into First Somerset & Avon.
Depots
The Buses of Somerset initially operated from two depots in Taunton and Bridgwater along with an outstation in Minehead. Yeovil was added in 2016, having previously been part of First Hampshire & Dorset.