126 Wells - Axbridge

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126
Overview
OperatorFirst West of England
GarageWeston-super-Mare and Wells
VehiclesWright Streetdeck

ADL Enviro400

ADL Enviro400 MMC
Peak vehicle requirement2
StatusOperating
Former operator(s)Libra Travel
Route
StartWells
ViaCheddar
EndWeston-super-Mare
Length22.3 miles
Service
Frequency7 jounerys in each direction, between every 80 and 135 minutes
Journey time0645-1920
OperatesMondays to Saturdays
Timetable[1]

The number 126 is a bus route that operates between Wells and Weston-super-Mare. The route is currently operated by First West of England.[1]

History

[edit]

In April 2021, a two-hourly Sunday and public holiday service was introduced for the summer months.[2]

In April 2022, the route was revised to terminate at the new bus interchange in Weston-super-Mare instead of terminating at the sea front on Marine Parade. The frequency on Saturdays was increased from two-hourly to hourly. In July 2022, the Sunday service was reinstated.[3]

In early August 2022, First West of England announced that it would withdraw the route along with routes X2 and X5.[4][5] Petitions against the withdrawal were launched by Conservative MP James Heappey and the Wells Liberal Democrats.[6][7][8] In September 2022, Somerset County Council announced that it would fund the service between Axbridge and Wells and that the route would be taken over by Libra Travel from 10 October.[9]

In October 2023 it was reported that North Somerset Council had secured new funding to reinstate the service until 2026 with an extension at the Weston end of the route to serve Uphill and Hutton. [10]

In January 2024, First West of England won the tendering process for the 126 and the route was extended to Weston-super-Mare via Winscombe, Sandford, Banwell, Hutton and Weston General Hospital using Wright StreetLites,operating from their Weston-super-Mare depot[11].

In April 2025, the 126 was rerouted away from Weston seafront, Weston General Hospital, Bleadon Hill & Hutton with the introduction with two new services, the 7B running between Weston-super-Mare Interchange and Bleadon Hill and the 7H Weston-super-Mare Interchange and Hutton.[12]

The current service is operated from both the Wells and Weston-super-Mare, with each depot using one double decker each. This is to reduce lost mileage and improve punctuality. [13]

Route

[edit]

Leaving Wells, the route travels along the A371 road through Easton, Westbury-sub-Mendip, Rodney Stoke, Draycott, Cheddar and Axbridge before joining the A38 at Cross. It then serves Winscombe and Sandford before rejoining the A371 at Banwell heading towards Weston-super-Mare, going past Locking & Locking Parklands and using Hutton Moor Road (Weston Bound) or Locking Moor Road (Wells Bound).

One journey in the morning is extended and one in the afternoon serves The Blue School.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "126 - Weston-super-Mare, Interchange - Wells Blue School". bustimes.org. 2025-07-28. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  2. ^ Lethaby, Tim (2021-04-11). "First West of England announces changes to the 126 service from Wells to Weston-super-Mare". Wells Nub News. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  3. ^ "Service changes in Bath & Wells from 24 April 2022". First Bus. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  4. ^ "North Somerset bus routes to be axed in October, council warns". BBC News. 2022-08-05. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  5. ^ McGuckin, Imogen (2022-08-08). "'Vital' bus service to hospital could be axed, MP claims". SomersetLive. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  6. ^ Leaman, Tom (2022-08-10). "Thousands sign petitions to save 'vital' Somerset bus route". Somerset County Gazette. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  7. ^ Dance, Emma (2022-08-09). "Thousands say 'Don't axe the 126 bus!'". Wells Nub News. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  8. ^ Williams, Charlie (2022-08-11). "Petition launched to halt planned bus cuts in North Somerset". Weston Mercury. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  9. ^ "Somerset County Council steps in to save crucial bus services". BBC News. 2022-09-29. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
  10. ^ "Full Weston-super-Mare bus route to be reinstated". BBC News. 2023-10-12. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  11. ^ "Councils join forces to provide vital 126 bus between Wells and Weston-super-Mare | North Somerset Council". n-somerset.gov.uk. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  12. ^ "Changes to North Somerset's bus services coming in April | North Somerset Council". n-somerset.gov.uk. Retrieved 2025-09-01.
  13. ^ "Changes to North Somerset's bus services coming in April | North Somerset Council". n-somerset.gov.uk. Retrieved 2025-09-01.