First Bristol has announced that its new Metrobus m2 service will appear on the city’s streets from Monday, 3 September.
The m2 is the second Metrobus service to launch in 2018, and will run between Long Ashton Park & Ride and the City Centre, serving Ashton Gate Stadium, SS Great Britain, Wapping Wharf, Temple Meads Station and Cabot Circus.
It replaces the current 903 service, which is operated under contract to Bristol City Council.
This will be withdrawn, leaving First to operate the m2 commercially without subsidy. During the first two weeks, the company will be offering a promotional week ticket for £10, representing a 41% discount over the normal £17 price.
Metrobus requires passengers to be in possession of valid tickets before they board – the first such service outside of the capital. Tickets can be purchased through the mTicket app.
From Monday to Saturday, the m2 will run from 0600 to 2130hrs; buses will arrive every 10 minutes during peak times, with the frequency dropping to every 12 minutes during the off-peak and three times per hour after 1900hrs.
On Saturdays, the service will run every 12 minutes from 1000 to 1800hrs, moving to three times hourly outside of this time slot.
James Freeman, Managing Director of First Bristol, said: “We are looking forward to taking Metrobus to the next level and start operating the m2 Service.
“Since we started operating the m3 Metrobus Service from Lyde Green to City Centre at the end of April, we have been delighted to see steadily growing passenger numbers with around 120,000 journeys made so far, and appreciated a lot of positive feedback from customers.
“A key benefit for future customers, including current 903 service users, is that all of First’s wide range of day, season and group tickets will be accepted on the Metrobus m2, allowing through travel onto other services.”
