First Hampshire & Dorset (Wessex, Dorset & South Somerset)

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Revamped timetable from 26 October is now available online. There is an edited version on the link below (avoids the reams of paper with bus stop codes etc.)

Bridport Tourist Information Centre - Buses

 

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So First Wessex have sneakily retimed the 0630hrs X51 Bridport to Axminister to 0620hrs. They updated their website, but hadn't told anyone. Roadside publicity has not been updated.

 

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I used the 1115 X51 service from Bridport to Dorchester South on Monday 22nd. The service then continues to Weymouth. At the bus station we departed about 10 minutes late

By the time we got to Poundbury is was almost standing room only, and indeed at Dorset General Hospital a passenger with a pram was turned away. (At least they have the option of the 10).

At Dorset Museum and Brewery Square a lot of people got off, but almost as many got on. I alighted at Brewery Square and walked to Dorchester South as we were by then 25 minutes late and got there before the bus.

I was struck by the number of people using strollers and prams, inevitably delaying boarding and alighting. Despite delays increasing from 10 minutes, there was absolutely no sense of urgency from the driver. So the extended conversations at each stop did nothing to ease my anxiety, as I was travelling on an Advanced ticket from.Dorchester South. And clearly those passengers had no care in the world about us trying to get to the station. I know this is a moan and I know that it could be those other passengers only conversation that day but I just think there has to be another way... It can't be that to catch a 1233 train I need to leave Bridport at 0915?

 

[embers25]

X51/X53 drivers either drive like maniacs or like a sunday stroll. So journey tikes vary wildly.

 

[lightning76]

I used the 1115 X51 service from Bridport to Dorchester South on Monday 22nd. The service then continues to Weymouth. At the bus station we departed about 10 minutes late

By the time we got to Poundbury is was almost standing room only, and indeed at Dorset General Hospital a passenger with a pram was turned away. (At least they have the option of the 10).

At Dorset Museum and Brewery Square a lot of people got off, but almost as many got on. I alighted at Brewery Square and walked to Dorchester South as we were by then 25 minutes late and got there before the bus.

I was struck by the number of people using strollers and prams, inevitably delaying boarding and alighting. Despite delays increasing from 10 minutes, there was absolutely no sense of urgency from the driver. So the extended conversations at each stop did nothing to ease my anxiety, as I was travelling on an Advanced ticket from.Dorchester South. And clearly those passengers had no care in the world about us trying to get to the station. I know this is a moan and I know that it could be those other passengers only conversation that day but I just think there has to be another way... It can't be that to catch a 1233 train I need to leave Bridport at 0915?

Out of interest, what would you consider to be "a sense of urgency from the driver"? In definite terms, such as could be positively implemented by instruction.

 

[Sealink]

Out of interest, what would you consider to be "a sense of urgency from the driver"? In definite terms, such as could be positively implemented by instruction.

It's a difficult one to quantify. I was just aware of extended conversations with passengers that I have not witnessed before.

Maybe that's because at one point it seemed that allowing 28 minutes at Dorchester South between X51 and train would not be enough and that I would lose my Advance ticket. (Although I have just discovered SWR have reintroduced through tickets on X51, and more importantly on Advance fares not just Off Peak / Anytime etc.)

Funnily enough, SWR lists the connection from the 1115 bus as the 1213 from Dorchester South. 8 minutes!

I mean three minutes after passengers had boarded and safely in their seats, at one stop driver was still talking to a passenger who had alighted.

There was no real traffic once outside Bridport but the delay went from 10 minutes to 25. I cannot work out why apart from the conversations with passengers.

 

[lightning76]

It's a difficult one to quantify. I was just aware of extended conversations with passengers that I have not witnessed before.

Maybe that's because at one point it seemed that allowing 28 minutes at Dorchester South between X51 and train would not be enough and that I would lose my Advance ticket. (Although I have just discovered SWR have reintroduced through tickets on X51, and more importantly on Advance fares not just Off Peak / Anytime etc.)

Funnily enough, SWR lists the connection from the 1115 bus as the 1213 from Dorchester South. 8 minutes!

I mean three minutes after passengers had boarded and safely in their seats, at one stop driver was still talking to a passenger who had alighted.

There was no real traffic once outside Bridport but the delay went from 10 minutes to 25. I cannot work out why apart from the conversations with passengers.

Thank you for your response, and my apologies for the question. Seems like you were unlucky on that occasion, probably experiencing a "customer focused" driver as taught these days. Not something I can relate to myself, although I have been referred to as "grumpy" and "miserable" often, at least my passengers get to their destination on time... go figure, as they say...

 

[Sealink]

Thank you for your response, and my apologies for the question. Seems like you were unlucky on that occasion, probably experiencing a "customer focused" driver as taught these days. Not something I can relate to myself, although I have been referred to as "grumpy" and "miserable" often, at least my passengers get to their destination on time... go figure, as they say...

Indeed, I was torn as I am aware that the interaction between driver and passenger could be that passengers only conversation with another person, and if I didn't have a train to catch I wouldn't have noticed

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Dec 2025 ==

Thank you for your response, and my apologies for the question. Seems like you were unlucky on that occasion, probably experiencing a "customer focused" driver as taught these days. Not something I can relate to myself, although I have been referred to as "grumpy" and "miserable" often, at least my passengers get to their destination on time... go figure, as they say...

Maybe you've just got a dry sense of humour

 

[dgl]

Of course what hasn't helped the X53 recently is accidents causing road closures, the road between Chickerell and Portesham was closed for a bit one day and we had to divert via Dorchester, Martinstown, Winterbourne Abbas then back to Portesham to continue on the normal route. Then you had the section between Abbotsbury and Swyre for most of the day because of another accident, meaning no service for passengers between West Bay and Portesham (diverting by going back to Bridport after West Bay and then A35 to Winterbourne Abbas and across to Portesham).
Would hate to have visited or lived in somewhere like Abbotsbury expecting a bus and none turning up.

Last week we also had more fun and jollities on the day we had really bad weather, delays and a breakdown.
After abandoning a quick round trip on the X51/53 (primarily to see Lyme's Christmas lights) at Bridport (the next bus back wasn't that long away when we got to Bridport Bus Station), we kept watching the screen and the due time didn't change, and on the bustimes map the bus looked to be stationary, turns out there had been a medical incident on board at Charmouth, no biggie in the end and we were finally on our way back after about an hour delay.
Well all was going fine until around the Langton Herring turn when the bus clearly entered limp mode, attempts by the driver to shut the bus down completely to clear the fault ended up with the bus not even turning over. Brilliant!
At that point there was only three of us and the driver (and one managed to get a lift) so in the end the bus was dumped and we all got taken in a car back to Weymouth (I believe in the end a driver going home got word of what had happened so stopped for us, rather than sending someone out specially).
Couldn't fault the driver, he did all he could, and it was an extra bit of excitement on the journey. I guess the bus had been through one too many floods and had thought "enough is enough!"

 

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The 0930 X51 from Weymouth broke down last Saturday, causing some passengers from Weymouth to miss an 1100am screening at Bridport Arts Centre. It arrived at Bridport at 1159am.


Also it looks like First have taken two buses from First Kernow. I wonder if we will see The Tinner livery around these parts!
(I doubt it, they haven't been in public service since 14th Feb)

Last tracked	Livery	Branding	Type	Name	Garage	Special features
33466	WK66 CDU	87	14 Feb	The Tinner	ADL Enviro400 MMC		Summercourt	USB-A	Flickr	Edit
33467	WK66 CDV	1	14 Feb	The Tinner	ADL Enviro400 MMC		Long Rock	USB-A	Flickr	Edit

 

[Nammer]

There are 5 in total due for Weymouth (33463-7)

 

[Callum15632]

There are 5 in total due for Weymouth (33463-7)

33463/64/65 are on loan to Bristol first until September I believe and then they will make their way to Weymouth.

 

[Whiteway215]

33463/64/65 are on loan to Bristol first until September I believe and then they will make their way to Weymouth.

It’s September is it? I thought it was until they were needed for summer uplift.

 

[Wilko82]

Also it looks like First have taken two buses from First Kernow. I wonder if we will see The Tinner livery around these parts!
(I doubt it, they haven't been in public service since 14th Feb)

Last tracked	Livery	Branding	Type	Name	Garage	Special features
33466	WK66 CDU	87	14 Feb	The Tinner	ADL Enviro400 MMC		Summercourt	USB-A	Flickr	Edit
33467	WK66 CDV	1	14 Feb	The Tinner	ADL Enviro400 MMC		Long Rock	USB-A	Flickr	Edit

Well I saw one of these operating the 10 service last night, and bustimes show that they were both out yesterday and today. This was on the outskirts of Dorchester last at about 2030 last night, but as it was dark and as I was on the incoming National Express service from London travelling in the opposite direction I couldn't get a decent view, however it appeared that it was still in red Tinner livery, minus specific Tinner branding.

 

[dgl]

I did see a Tinner in Weymouth depot over the weekend and wondered if it was going to be used yet, guess it is being used which is nice.

 

[Cheers Drive]

Well I saw one of these operating the 10 service last night, and bustimes show that they were both out yesterday and today. This was on the outskirts of Dorchester last at about 2030 last night, but as it was dark and as I was on the incoming National Express service from London travelling in the opposite direction I couldn't get a decent view, however it appeared that it was still in red Tinner livery, minus specific Tinner branding.

There’s a picture on flickr of it doing a 10 yesterday still has the map of Cornwall on it but no Kernow names

 

[dgl]

And here is one of the Ex. Kernow buses (WK66CDU) doing the morning 1/10A service to Thomas Hardy School. Didn't expect it to be my bus this morning but saw it would be on bustimes and thought a picture was in order.

 

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Both buses on the X51 and X53 this morning (Weymouth - Bridport - Axminster)

 

[dgl]

It also seems that all buses are getting internal dot matrix displays and next stop announcements.
I've been on a Streetlite and an E400 that has the displays fitted and announces "Welcome Aboard" when the doors open (and momentarily displaying it on the dot matrix display) and when the stop button is pressed it announces "Bus stopping, please remain seated until the vehicle has come to a complete stop", with "Stop requested" on the display.
No actual next stop information at the moment (well other than the E400MMC's and at least one of the Gemini 2's), so most of the time the displays just show the date and time.

 

[fgwrich]

44952 / WK18BVC has arrived at Hilsea tonight fresh from the Bristol paintshop in Solent two tone blue. It hasn’t been vinyled yet so will be a few more days until it releases 44951 for similar treatment.

16bbdc10 6cab 44ac 8414 eb4d2eab901c hosted at ImgBB

Image 16bbdc10 6cab 44ac 8414 eb4d2eab901c hosted on ImgBB

ibb.co

 

[dgl]

Saw my first open top bus of the year doing a 4 to Preston just now, I suppose it's to shake them down for easter as it's hardly the weather for an open top.
Did look resplendent in it's new Explore Dorset livery.

 

[Sealink]

Dorset Commons (a local fundraising group) have funded a new late night bus service between Bridport and Lyme Regis.

Every Friday and Saturday night, four buses each way, with the last service from Lyme Regis at 2330hrs. Operated by First.

Times etc. on the link in my signature.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Apr 2026 ==

The 2330 service from Lyme Regis referenced above will now continue along to Weymouth, via West Bay, Burton Bradstock etc.

 

[James H]

Times are now in Bustimes for the summer uplifts

X54 to Swanage: https://bustimes.org/services/x54-weymouth-kings-statue-wool-station?date=2026-05-24

55 to Monkey World and Tank Museum: https://bustimes.org/services/55-lulworth-cove-lulworth-cove

X52 Weymouth to Bridport: https://bustimes.org/services/x52-weymouth-kings-statue-bridport-bus-station

 

[K219UHA]

Times are now in Bustimes for the summer uplifts

X54 to Swanage: https://bustimes.org/services/x54-weymouth-kings-statue-wool-station?date=2026-05-24

55 to Monkey World and Tank Museum: https://bustimes.org/services/55-lulworth-cove-lulworth-cove

X52 Weymouth to Bridport: https://bustimes.org/services/x52-weymouth-kings-statue-bridport-bus-station

I'm guessing the X54 may drop the odd open top as it did last year, if the weather comes good in the May half term week particularly.

So guessing the X50 will return for the peak 6 weeks at least?

 

[Russel]

44952 / WK18BVC has arrived at Hilsea tonight fresh from the Bristol paintshop in Solent two tone blue. It hasn’t been vinyled yet so will be a few more days until it releases 44951 for similar treatment.

16bbdc10 6cab 44ac 8414 eb4d2eab901c hosted at ImgBB

Image 16bbdc10 6cab 44ac 8414 eb4d2eab901c hosted on ImgBB

ibb.co

Thought First were ditching local liveries and standardising on the new purple/silver livery?

 

[Nammer]

Thought First were ditching local liveries and standardising on the new purple/silver livery?

For Solent and Leicester, where they have an enhanced partnership with the local authorities, a local livery will remain.

 

[Russel]

Fair enough, thanks.

For Solent and Leicester, where they have an enhanced partnership with the local authorities, a local livery will remain.

 

[James H]

So guessing the X50 will return for the peak 6 weeks at least?

confirmed here: https://www.firstbus.co.uk/wessex-d...ervice-updates/updates/network-service-change

Service X50 – Weymouth- Wareham-Swanage (Summer Holidays Only)
During the summer holidays, buses on route X50 will operate every day of the week, offering an hourly service with the X54. For Bovington Tank Museum and Monkey World, please connect with route 55 at Lulworth or Wool Station.

 

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WATAG (the West Dorset Western Area Transport Action Group) are asking users and would-be users to complete a survey on the X51 (Axminster - Lyme Regis - Bridport - Dorchester) as they really want to push Dorset Council to help provide an hourly service.

There is an hourly service to Weymouth, Lyme Regis and Axminster; despite Dorchester being the county town and the site of the main hospital it sees a two-hourly service with early finishes.

The Big X51 Bus Survey - Bridport & West Bay

Please help us to improve the bus service by completing a survey: we will use your input to provide evidence for the level of public support

bridportandwestbay.co.uk

Our main priority is to seek an hourly service on the X51 bus running between Bridport and Dorchester – seven days a week, all year round and running later into the evening

Please help us to improve the bus service by completing the survey below. We will use your input to provide evidence for the level of public support
(If you prefer to complete the survey by hand, paper copies are available at the Bridport Tourist Information Centre)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 May 2026 ==


This also happened the other day, WATAG are on the case...

X53 – Weymouth – bustimes.org

bustimes.org

The X53 left Axminster late, and bypassed Lyme Regis, Charmouth, Bridport and West Bay.

Many passengers inconvenienced, nothing displayed on the RTT signs, or communicated from First. I have been on buses more than 45 minutes late, to bypass where most of your customers live seems, well, typical of First.

 

[Russel]

WATAG (the West Dorset Western Area Transport Action Group) are asking users would-be users to complete a survey on the X51 (Axminster - Lyme Regis - Bridport - Dorchester) as they really want to push Dorset Council to help provide an hourly service. There is an hourly service to Weymouth, Lyme Regis and Axminster; despite Dorchester being the county town and the site of the main hospital sees a two-hourly service with early finishes.


Our main priority is to seek an hourly service on the X51 bus running between Bridport and Dorchester – seven days a week, all year round and running later into the evening

Please help us to improve the bus service by completing the survey below. We will use your input to provide evidence for the level of public support
(If you prefer to complete the survey by hand, paper copies are available at the Bridport Tourist Information Centre)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 May 2026 ==


This also happened the other day, WATAG are on the case...


View attachment 205050

I've only ever used the X51/53 routes a few times, always on a Wednesday strangely when they get snarled up in traffic heading into Bridport which has sort of soured by opinion of the roues, I'm not sure if this is a regular thing because of summer traffic or some other reason, but it added 30 minutes onto the journey easily from the Axminster direction, looking if anything can be done to avoid this, divert away from traffic hotspots etc would be more beneficial IMO.