ELECTRIC buses are to start running on West Somerset routes this summer as First Bus introduces changes to its timetable.
The new timetable from April 20 will see the company drop its X28 express bus from Butlin’s, in Minehead, direct to Taunton Railway Station.
The express service was introduced last year for Butlin’s customers in response to complaints that regular buses were often already filled by holidaymakers, stopping local people from boarding them.
But First Bus Somerset network head Terrance James said it was under-utilised because it stayed on the main road and the new service would have sufficient capacity for everybody with the larger electric vehicles
The No28 and 28A buses from Minehead to Taunton, which will be electric, will run every 40 instead of 45 minutes on weekdays, with the 28A serving Norton Fitzwarren and Cotford St Luke in the evenings and on Sundays.
The two villages will also be served during daytime by a 25A Dulverton via Wiveliscombe to Taunton bus as the route to Exmoor is split into two.
The 25 bus will operate the Dulverton to Wiveliscombe to Taunton route during peak times, and the 25A will replace the 28A.
First Bus is also making some minor timetabling changes on the No.14 route from Cannington to Bridgwater and the Minehead to Bridgwater College No15 bus.
The 1E service from Silk Mills Park and Ride to Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, will operate every 60 minutes and be served by electric buses.
Mr James said the bus firm had been working closely on the new timetable with Somerset Council and the Somerset Bus Partnership.
He said more electric buses were being introduced than originally planned, and all town centre buses services in Taunton would be fully electric, ‘bringing cleaner, greener air to the centre’.
Mr James said: “We are 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 are excited for our passengers to experience these new vehicles across many of our services.
“Reliability and punctuality remain a key priority and timetables have been revised to improve services for our customers.”
Mr James said timetable details for the Exmoor Coaster would be announced ‘shortly’.
Somerset Council executive Cllr Richard Wilkins said: “We will be seeing the first EV buses on our roads very soon, and that is 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 toward 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 so they are fully aware of any that may apply to their route.”
The timetable changes were announced as West Somerset bus campaigner Linda Sparks highlighted how on Tuesday morning (March 11) three consecutive No28 Taunton to Minehead buses were cancelled, resulting in huge queues in Castle Way.