Taunton Time

In early April, I travelled down to the Somerset town of Taunton to sample the new arrivals. First have introduced twenty-five electric vehicles to the fleet, in partnership with BSIP funding. With their introduction, the local Buses of Somerset livery has also largely disappeared, with just six buses now wearing Buses of Somerset colours, along with a further six former Arriva London Enviro400s in the curious Buses of Somerset Green livery. 

The most prominent introductions are twelve Yutong U11DD buses - eleven brand new and a further example that was formerly a demonstrator. This batch are usually found on the 21 / 21A to Bridgewater and Burnham-on-Sea, the 22 to Tonedale and Tiverton (X22) and the 30 to Axminster.

The Yutong U11DDs in the fleet are re-using former First fleet numbers - this is fleet no. 30006 (YK25 OHR), which was previously used on a First PMT / First Manchester Leyland Olympian. 

First fleet no. 30009 (YK25 OHU) departs from the stops on Fore St en-route for Axminster on route 30.

The double decks are joined by nine full-length Wright GB Kite Electroliners. These have replaced former Glasgow ADL Enviro300s on route 28 out to Minehead. The frequency remains at a rather awkward 45 minutes for most of the day - it was half-hourly until recently, and, with Webberbus competition, I remember a time there were four buses an hour along the corridor. 

Fleet no. 63698 (BN75 NWF) sets off north for Minehead, pictured heading along Corporation St.

Most longer distance services terminate along Castle Way - such as the 21, 22 and 28 - although significant others, such as the 30 (Axminster), 54 (Yeovil) and 374 (from Wells & Bristol) terminate in the town centre. Here is fleet no. 63702 (BN75 NWK) arriving - with the Grade 2 listed 1953-build structure behind. 

Finally, four small Yutongs operate on what remains of the Taunton town service network. Once a busy hive of Mercedes-Benz minibuses and later a multitude of Enviro200s, now just four services remain. Route 1, heading out to the railway station and Ladymead Road, operates half hourly and takes up two of the buses. One buses operates route 4 (Lane Estate) and 6 (Juniper Road), with a further bus on the 7 to Galmington. 

Fleet no. 48502 (YK25 OHY) heads back to the town centre on route 1. This type are still relatively rare with First - the first of the type that I've photographed.

On route 7, fleet no. 48504 (YK25 OHA) arrives back in the town centre on route 7. This is another route operating at roughly a bus every 40 minutes. 

Further changes are expected soon to the infrastructure at Taunton. The bus station site, closed by First in March 2020 as the Covid Pandemic hit, has removed a central base for the interurban services in Taunton. The stops are Castle Way cope with the majority of services, but, regularly during my visit, I noted the stops having three or four buses deep, causing some congestion. Furthermore, as stated previously, a number of the longer distance services pick up from the town.

(c) Somerset Council

As pictured in the background of vehicles arriving along Tower St, the former bus station site is now being redeveloped in a £3.2m investment. It is suggested that, in this joint project, Somerset Council, Taunton Town Council and its partners are developinng a 'vital hub for bus services'. 

There will be eight new bus stops, plus two refurbished stops in Castle Way, with real-time information, a waiting room, toilet, cycle shelters and a cycle repair stand, along with environmental benefits such as 'rain gardens with attractive planting to manage rainwater run off". 

From the image above, it looks like a drive in, loop round and drive out facility - it will certainly be welcome for the town and I look forward to seeing it in place. It is due for completion by the end of 2026. 

Finally - a brief plug - please click here for all of my photos from Taunton, including the other operators in the town.