Councillors representing Brislington East have hailed the revival of the 36 bus route, noting it will connect some of Bristol’s most underserved neighborhoods. The service, stretching from St Anne’s to Bishopsworth, was axed by First Bus when it failed to turn a profit—a common challenge for Bristol’s privatized bus system, which relies on financial viability. Its return is now secured thanks to funds from the Bristol Clean Air Zone.
The 36 is among three new routes unveiled earlier this month. Brislington East councillors Tim Rippington and Katja Hornchen recently addressed local queries about the reinstatement in a post shared on the Brislington Community Forum Facebook Group. The duo had long pushed for the route’s comeback to improve access to healthcare and libraries for residents in and around Brislington.
In their post, they emphasized that the 36 will serve “many of Bristol’s most deprived areas.” Detailing its path, they wrote: “Westbound, it travels from Wotton Road through Guildford Road, St Anne’s Park Road, Newbridge Road, Wick Road, Allison Road, School Road, Bath Road, Stockwood Road, Hungerford Road, West Town Lane, Wells Road, and Broad Walk, before reaching Imperial Park, Hengrove, and Bishopsworth.”
The councillors hinted at potential expansion, though funding remains uncertain. “The government has earmarked new Bus Grant funds for 2025/26, but Bristol’s share is still unclear,” they noted. They also shared that Tim recently discussed with First Bus the possibility of syncing the nighttime X39 and No. 1 services between Bristol Temple Meads and Arnos Court to avoid overlapping schedules and long gaps—currently, both can arrive simultaneously, leaving a 30-minute wait for the next bus.
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