First Bus

Electric buses for Somerset as new timetables announced

First Bus in Somerset has announced its Summer network changes, effective April 20th 2025. The changes incorporate customer and driver feedback and have been made by working closely with Somerset Council and the Somerset Bus Partnership.

In partnership with Somerset Council, First Bus will introduce brand new, state of the art electric buses (EVs), serving a number of routes across the county. This is a first for Somerset and all town centre buses services in Taunton (the 1, 4,6,7 services) will be fully electric, bringing cleaner, greener air to the centre. First Bus has been able to add more EVs to routes than originally planned, with Routes 21, 22 and 28 services also operating with EV vehicles.

Meanwhile, buses on the 22 service will connect the new Orchard Grove housing estate community with a new frequent service every 15 minutes.

Terrance James, Head of Network for First Bus in Somerset, said: “We’re delighted to introduce these changes for Somerset, helping to improve services for our passengers. With brand new electric buses about to enter service for the first time across our network in Somerset we’re excited for our passengers to experience these new vehicles across many of our services.

“We’ve also listened to what our customers are telling us and we’ve added connections like the new housing estate at Orchard Grove. Reliability and punctuality remain a key priority and timetables have been revised to improve services for our customers.”

Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Transport and Waste Services said: “We’ll be seeing the first EV buses on our roads very soon and that’s fantastic news and is thanks to excellent partnership working between Somerset Council and First Bus.

“This is a really exciting development as we continue on our journey towards more sustainable transport in Somerset.

“There are also some positive changes across services and we urge bus users to take time to review the summer network changes before 20 April so they are fully aware of any that may apply to their route.”

First Bus Somerset changes (effective 20th April 2025):

  • 1 Taunton - Pyrland & Priorswood: Routes 1 and 2 will merge into one, serving both housing estates with electric vehicles (EVs) at a frequency of every 30 minutes.
  • 1E Silk Mills Park and Ride – Musgrove Park Hospital - Taunton – Pyrland: Now operating every 60 minutes with EVs.
  • 2 Taunton - Priorswood: This service is being removed, with the area now served by the new unified 1 Service.
  • 4 Taunton – Wheatley Crescent & Lane Estate: Minor timetable adjustments will be made; the route will operate with EVs.
  • 6 Taunton – South Road, Juniper Road, Normandy Drive & Wordsworth Drive: Frequency reduced to every 60 minutes based on demand, now operating with EVs.
  • 7 Taunton - Galmington: Underused railway station stop removed. This route will also operate with EVs.
  • 21/21A Taunton – Burnham-on-Sea via Bridgwater: New timetable improves reliability with a frequency of every 35 minutes, 21 service extended to Burnham on Sea until 23:30 Monday to Saturday. Now operating with EVs
  • 22/22A/22B/X22/22C Taunton - Rockwell Green, Wellington, Tonedale and Tiverton: A new timetable has been implemented for improved reliability and EV operations. The 22B service to Jurston Fields has been removed due to low usage. All remaining 22 patterns will serve Orchard Grove Housing Estate. The 22C will replace a previous X22 trip and continue to serve Cullompton.
  • 25/25A Dulverton-Taunton, Taunton - Wiveliscombe, Taunton – Norton Fitzwarren & Cotford St Luke: The route is split into two services, with the 25 serving Dulverton during peak times and the new 25A replacing the daytime 28A service.
  • 28/28A/X28 Taunton – Minehead via Bishops Lydeard: The X28 express service is removed, with remaining services enhanced to every 40 minutes on weekdays. The 28A will serve Norton and Cotford St Luke in the evenings and on Sundays.
  • 30 Taunton – Axminster: Minor timetable changes will be made.
  • 99 Taunton - Chard: First Bus no longer operates this route; it will be taken over by another provider.
  • B1 Bridgwater Estates: Additional services will run from 07:00 to 19:00, approximately every 35-40 minutes during peak hours, with new Sunday services added.
  • 14 Bridgwater – Cannington: Minor timetable revisions.
  • 15 Minehead - Bridgwater College: Minor timetable revisions.
  • 54 Yeovil – Taunton: Minor timetable revisions.
  • 58/58A Yeovil – Wincanton: The underused 58A service will be discontinued, and the 58 timetable will be revised.
  • 51 Yeovil Town: Minor timetable adjustments will be made, with a new Sunday service added.
  • Note: Timetable details for the Exmoor Coaster and CR4 Yeovil – Blandford, will be announced shortly

Full timetable details are available on the First Bus Somerset website, and passenger are advised to check details before travelling ahead of the new services coming into effect.