Latest News from Southwestbus

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. “

New Service 59 - from 1 December 2025 and change to X12 from January 2026

Southwestbus is pleased to announce the introduction of new service 59 between Wincanton and Shaftesbury from 1 December 2025. It will operate via Bayford, Bourton, Zeals, Mere, Milton on Stour, Gillingham and Motcombe providing five journeys each way Monday to Saturday daytimes. At Wincanton Memorial Hall the bus will connect with service 58/58A for Templecombe, Sherborne and Yeovil.  During school terms, the bus will also serve Shaftesbury School thanks to Dorset Council purchasing a number of annual passes for entitled students. 

From Monday 5th January 2026 again thanks to Dorset Council buying a number of annual passes for entitled students, the Yeovil to Dorchester X12 will have a second bus introduced onto the service. This means more buses will be able to serve Evershot and Cattistock and there will be an increase in through journeys to/from Yeovil. There will be a mid afternoon journey from Dorchester to Cattistock.  

Yeovil College buses from 3/11/25

For over a year now, we have provided a number of dedicated bus services for students attending Yeovil College. 

We are pleased to announce that the last three of these routes begin more frequent operation from 3/11/25. 

Service YC1 is replaced with new route 66. It will link Gillingham and Shaftesbury with Salisbury, in addition to serving Yeovil. It will operate every two hours Mondays to Saturdays. 

Services YC3/4 are replaced with new routes X12 and X16 operating six days a week. X12 will offer shopping journeys off peak for the villages of Evershot & Cattistock on it's way to Dorchester, as well as fast 'through' journeys between Yeovil & Dorchester, stopping at Maiden Newton en route. 

X16 will operate between Yeovil, Sherborne, Cerne Abbas and Dorchester offering school journey opportunities into Dorchester and Sherborne, for which Dorset Council have bought a number of seats for entitled students ensuring the commercial viability of the additional bus required.  Frequency is broadly two hourly, but it's worth consulting the timetable as it's been devised to ensure school and college students can get to their destinations.