Wessex Connect was founded in Bristol by Rotala, through its subsidiary company Flights Hallmark to provide Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council with an alternative to the near monopoly currently held in the city by First Group.
In a deal which was finalised in March 2007 Wessex Connect took over two of the City's park and ride schemes. The Long Ashton operation was won from Bristol City Council while car park firm NCP gave Wessex Connect the contract for the Avonmouth scheme.
Approximately 68 buses run by South Gloucestershire Bus and Coach Company were taken over in late 2007 and most will be replaced by newer environmentally friendly easy access vehicles. Routes, which are currently contracted from Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council to South Gloucestershire Bus and Coach Company will transfer to Wessex Connect. The change of ownership will take place gradually as each contract is due to be renewed with the relevant local council.
The third line of attack was developed in collaboration with The University of the West of England, 'Ulink', a new high quality low cost bus service for students and staff.
Bus services operated by Wessex Connect[]
- Park and Ride
A4 Portway - (Service 902)
Long Ashton (Service 903)
- Council supported bus services
503 Totterdown - Windmill Hill - Bedminster - Broadmead
510 Bedminster Down - Bedminster - Hotwells
511 Stockwood - Knowle - Bedminster
517 Emersons Green - Downend - Frenchay - Parkway Station - Filton - Southmead - Westbury - Shirehampton - Avonmouth
518 Emersons Green - Downend - Frenchay - Parkway Station - Filton - Southmead - Westbury - Shirehampton (Dursley Road)
532 Keynsham - Oldland Common - Cadbury Heath - Aspects (Longwell Green)
533 Keynsham - Oldland Common - Cadbury Heath - Aspects - Kingswood - Downend - Staple Hill (Off-peak) - Mangotsfield (Peak services only)
558 Knowle - St Anne's - Broomhill - Brislington Village
559 Knowle - St Anne's - Broomhill - Brislington Tesco
584 Kingswood to Sea Mills
585 The Centre to Sea Mills
586 The Centre to Hotwells
587 Kingswood to Hotwells
626 Bristol Centre to Wotton under Edge
627 Yate - Charfield - Wotton under Edge
686 Wotton under Edge - Chipping Sodbury - Kingswood, Bristol
- Ulink
U1: Frenchay - Victoria Street, Temple Meads and Bower Ashton
U2: Frenchay - Victoria Street
U3: Frenchay – Glenside, St Matthias and Victoria Street
U4: Frenchay - Victoria Street (non-stop service)