Latest News from Southwestbus

From 5th July 2026, Southwestbus is entering the East Devon and West Dorset bus market.

This is a significant investment of around £4m by the company in vehicles, in people and in supporting the ongoing costs from the new services. Extensive market research has taken place during the autumn, winter and spring with a number of commercially viable services identified which comfortably support a second operator.

Some additional drivers are being recruited to work from our Chard base which will operate two East Devon services. 497 will connect Axminster with Seaton once an hour during the day, whilst 499 will connect Lyme Regis with Rousdon, Seaton, Beer and Branscombe to Sidmouth. This route offers five through trips a day each way. Onward connections for Axminster will be available in Seaton, and at Lyme Regis for Charmouth, Bridport, Dorchester and Weymouth.

The main trunk of the new network will be Service 31. It will operate between Axminster and Weymouth, via Lyme Regis, Charmouth, Bridport and Dorchester. It runs on an hourly daytime frequency with evening journeys to Axminster.

A two hourly Sunday and Bank Holiday service will be provided. Connections at Axminster are available onto service 30 for Chard, Ilminster and Taunton. We’ll use a fleet of green and cream double decker ‘Jurassic Coastlink’ buses on this service to allow customers to see the wonderful views the Jurassic Coast has to offer.

In Bridport, we will be offering additional journeys between Beaminster and Bridport alongside our current 47 service. An hourly service will be provided to Beaminster, and Court Orchard plus Bridport Hospital will be served also. Buses terminate at the Coach Station. This route is numbered 40.

New service 45 will operate between Bridport and Burton Bradstock once an hour. It takes in West Bay, which is seen on television rather a lot. Alongside, 44 will go to Weymouth via the coast road taking in Swyre, Abbotsbury, Portesham and Chickerell.

Last but not least comes the final service introduction. We’re entering the Weymouth bus market! Dorchester, Weymouth and Portland will be served by a new through service, the X10. It will operate half hourly Monday to Saturday daytimes. On Sundays and Bank Holidays it will still operate every half hour, but between Dorchester and Weymouth only. Between Weymouth and Portland, additional buses numbered 1X will operate every 30 minutes, meaning a basic 15 minute daytime frequency between Portland and Weymouth. Evening journeys are also provided until 11pm.

The company has opened a new depot site in Portland with an outstation in Bridport to handle this new work.

Commenting on the introduction of the new network, Southwestbus’ Stephanie Charlton said:

“For a long time now, our competitor has enjoyed a monopoly on bus travel in West Dorset ignoring the travel needs of the local population whilst catering entirely for the tourist market. We are very pleased to put a stop to that. Customers will now have a choice of who they can travel with. And we’re here to offer a better service that works for local people. We are looking forward to getting started. “

Owing to low customer numbers, from Monday 6th July changes are being made to services 32 and 33 in line with the end of the college year. The 32 is withdrawn due to low usage and replaced with Service BT18 which offers one return journey daily from Stoke sub Hamdon, Martock, South Petherton, Barrington, Westport and Curry Rivel into Taunton.  Service 33 will continue to operate after the 6th of July on it's current timetable. 

Changes to Minehead Services 39/39A - from 1st June 2026.

Last September 2025 we took on a local bus route in Minehead following it's withdrawal by another operator scaling back it's business.  It provided a vital local town service along with a link to Porlock. Whilst we worked out how best to run this service longer term the previous timetable continued in operation. We have completed this process and are delighted to announce changes which improve the service on offer whilst maintaining the local links.

From 1st June 2026, we are putting another bus onto the route. The service numbers remain as now - 39 to Porlock and 39A for the Town Circular but this second vehicle allows us to offer:

A once an hour daytime service between Porlock Weir, Porlock and Minehead.

Three buses per hour on the local town service in Minehead - on a 20 minute frequency. 

This new timetable takes effect on 1/6/26 and will operate Mondays to Saturdays. Discussions are ongoing with regards to a Sunday & Bank Holiday service but the 300 does offer a link from Porlock to Minehead.  

Click here for the new timetable -  Timetables are also available on board our buses. If for some reason they are not there please ask your driver or make contact with our head office and we will arrange for one to be mailed out to you. They’re also downloadable from our website.

From 17th May 2026 a number of network changes are taking place as we improve the service we offer you, the customer.

Bridgwater Town Services will be renumbered to B1/B2/B3/B4 from the above date. There are no timetable changes, just a change of service number.

Taunton Town Services will be revised completely from the above date. A new network will be in operation, reflecting actual customer usage of our services.

T1 will be a new circular service from the Town Centre, Railway Station, Wellsprings Road, Ladymead Road, Priorswood Shops, Nerrols Farm and Lyngford Road before returning to town.

It will have a 15 minute daytime frequency and after 7pm will operate every 30 minutes until 11pm.

The same 30 minute frequency will be provided on Sundays & Public Holidays during quieter periods of the day – but it will operate every 20 minutes between 900-1700.

T2 will operate between the Town Centre, Halcon Corner, Apple Tree Stores and Wheatley Crescent every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes.

T3 will operate from the Town Centre, to Lisueux Way, Normandy Drive and South Road every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes.

T4 will operate between the Town Centre, Ferndown Close, Claremont Drive and Galmington every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes.

Yeovil Town Services will be revised with the current services replaced with:

Y1 from Abbey Manor Park, Preston Road, Larkhill Road, Wessex Road, Stiby Road, Yeovil College, Yeovil Town Centre, Yeovil Hospital, Milford Road, Glenthorne Avenue, Bucklers Mead Road, Runnymede Road.

A 15 minute frequency will be provided Monday to Saturday daytimes, with a 30 minute frequency Monday to Saturday evenings as well as Sundays & Public Holidays.

Y2 will operate between the Town Centre, King Street, Highfield Road, Rosebery Avenue, Lyde Road, Meadow Road and Monmouth Road before returning to town. It wil operate every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes, with an hourly service provided on Sundays & Public Holidays.

Y3 will operate between the Town Centre, Tesco, Seaton Road, Preston Grove before returning to town.

Y4 will operate between the Town Centre, Tesco, Lysander Road, Forest Hill, Laburnum Way and the Council Offices. Both the Y3 and Y4 will operate once an hour Monday to Saturday daytimes.

The Rail Link service to Yeovil Junction Station, Stoford and Barwick continues as the 55.

Route 66 will gain additional journeys. Buses will depart Yeovil at 755, 915 1015, 1115, 1215, 1315, 1515, 1615 & 1715 and from Salisbury at 915, 1015, 1115, 1215, 1315, 1415, 1505 (College Days)/1515 (Saturdays and College Holidays), 1715 and 1815. A 1915 departure will go as far as Shaftesbury and Gillingham, with a morning departure at 745 from Gillingham and 800 from Shaftesbury into Salisbury.

The 16 service will gain a Sunday & Public Holiday variant – service 52 will operate every two hours between Bower Hinton, Martock and Yeovil. We’re delighted to add late evening Monday to Saturday journeys between Bridgwater and Yeovil with last buses at 2010/2210 from Yeovil and 2008/2208 from Bridgwater.

X94 will gain a Sunday & Public Holiday service from Yeovil, to Bournemouth, it will leave Yeovil at 935, returning from Bournemouth at 1630.

Timetables will be available now, on board our buses, if not available please ask your driver or make contact with our head office and we will arrange for one to be mailed out to you. They’re also downloadable from our website.

CRUISE ALONG THE COAST WITH SOUTHWESTBUS - from 3rd May 2026.

We're introducing two new services from 3rd May 2026.

The 300 will operate from Minehead, across the coast to Ilfracombe via Porlock, County Gate, Countisbury, Lynmouth, Lynton and Combe Martin. One journey will also start and finish in Bridgwater and in Taunton to allow residents there the opportunity to explore the Exmoor coast.

Between Minehead and Lynmouth we shall provide a broadly hourly timetable. These shorter journeys run with classic open top double decker buses.

The 400 will provide a 75 minute circular tour of Exmoor, starting and finishing in Minehead. It will take in Dunster, Timberscombe, Wheddon Cross, Exford and Porlock on it’s journey. And it will operate once an hour between 1035 and 1635.

You’ll be able to hop on and off the bus at various points along the route with your all day Exmoor Explorer ticket. This can also be used on the 300.

Like the Minehead to Lynmouth journeys on the 300, the 400 will also use classic open top double decker buses.

These buses will run daily for the summer season, ending in September 2026.

Commenting on the introduction of the new services, Southwestbus’ Stephanie Charlton said:

“We’re delighted to be introducing further new services from our Minehead base for the 2026 season. We believe we’re offering something different to the market in providing classic open top buses along some fantastic scenery. There is obviously a service provided with modern vehicles, so we must offer something different if we are to make an impact. Hence our classic open top buses.

Given the interest of our competitors in this service at the expense of the local population we thought we would discover what the excitement was all about. 

Our team is ready and waiting to welcome you aboard and provide you with the traditional high standards of service we’re known for.

So, why not take a trip back in time and cruise along the coast?”

CHANGES TO THE 28 SERVICE - from 5th April 2026.

We're delighted to announce that from the above date, the 28 increases Monday to Saturday daytime frequency from 20 to 15 minutes. Four buses an hour instead of the current three will be offered.

This enables us to meet the extra demand the summer season will place upon us as well addressing some capacity issues.

Four buses have joined our fleet to handle this expansion and further drivers have been recruited.

Also from this date, Service 14A will extend from Nether Stowey to Watchet, where onward connections will be possible on the 28 service for Taunton and Minehead. This restores a through link from Bridgwater in time for the summer season.

Commenting on the changes, Southwestbus’ Stephanie Charlton said :

“We have been overwhelmed with the positive welcome from our new customers on the 28 service.

So much so we have had to run duplicate buses from day one to cater for the additional people. That wasn’t something we expected when introducing our new service.

Our team are very proud of their achievements since we began the service. It really does demonstrate that when you offer a service the customer wants, then they will use it. Therefore we’re pleased to be improving the frequency of this route and provide additional capacity.

We can now cater for the additional holidaymakers we know will come during the summer months whilst ensuring we continue to offer local people the very best service.

You know when you go the green way you’re going to be looked after and that we’re going to get you to your destination and not leave you at the side of the road. “