Another bus service was cut following the collapse of the company

A bus service started by Transpora earlier this year will be stopped at the end of this weekend. The number 23 bus from Broadmead to Ashton Vale will cease to operate from the end of Sunday.

The bus service was established in February after the Ashton Vale community campaigned to bring a bus back to the estate following the exit of First Bus. Just three weeks after the initial announcement of the new service by Transpora, First Bus has brought 24 back to the ‘bus desert’.

But earlier this week, Transpora “suddenly ceased operations” in Bristol and the wider region, putting its 13 routes in and around the city at risk. Three services, the 90 from Hengrove Park to Broadmead via Knowle West, the 925 from Newport to Bristol and the N2 night bus to Stockwood, were axed after services failed to pick up the routes and now the 23 has followed suit.

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In a message on X, formerly Twitter, West of England Sustainable Transport announced that the service would no longer operate. It said: “Please note that the 23 service will no longer operate from 22nd July (inclusive).”

The Big Lemon, who originally took over the service, told Bristol Live that the bus service was losing money and could not cover its costs. He initially took over the services of X10, 60, X91 and Arthur David staff following the collapse of Transpore.

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The Big Lemon said: “We took over the management of the 23 bus route but the service did not cover its costs. Money was lost and we had to make the decision to close the service.”

Stagecoach stepped in to take over the 25 services following the collapse of Transpora, Fishponds to the city center via St Werburghs and St Pauls relaunched in April 2023. A Stagecoach spokesman said following the collapse: “Following the news of Transpora’s exit from Bristol. bus network we discussed with WECA ways we can help.

“We are delighted to be able to step in and serve the community at short notice to ensure continued bus provision and to announce that from Monday 15 July Stagecoach will operate the Monday to Sunday 25 service between the City Center and Fishponds via St Werburghs. and Saint Paul.

“It will be operated on a commercial basis. Customers who have a pre-paid weekly pass will be able to continue using it until the expiry date.”