Improvements to the BU Bus Services 2015/16

Posted on Tuesday, September 15 2015

To help you get to and from the two campuses, as well as travel around the Bournemouth area, BU has a number of university bus services.

Following recent feedback from students about the services, some changes have been made to help make your journeys easier and more efficient. These changes will come into effect on Monday 21 September and more information about the different services can be found on the Bus for BU website

Main changes include:

  • During term times the first daily U1 service will leave 10 minutes earlier and is scheduled to arrive at Talbot Campus at 08:05. The U1 service will also benefit from additional journeys and duplicate services during peak periods. This will increase capacity and ensure a 10 minute morning frequency.
  • The U2 service will run an additional morning service, scheduled to arrive at Talbot Campus at 08:25. This will make it easier for staff and students to arrive at Talbot Campus earlier. The U2 service will continue to run an extended 30 minute frequency up to 19:10 each day.
  • The U3 service term time service will remain unchanged. The U3 vacation service is being retained following a successful pilot period. The service has been amended with the removal of the midday services due to a lack of demand.
  • The U4 service is being re-routed via St Peter’s road on services running towards Talbot Campus. This change has been made to serve new student accommodation in central Bournemouth. The capacity of the 08:25 service is being increased to cater for additional demand.

Fares & Key Card

The current annual pass and 10 single multi-trip fares will remain unchanged for 2015/16. To help make paying for travel much easier you can register for a Bus for BU key card. If you are in BU halls accommodation you will receive a BU Key card as part of your rental agreement and therefore do not need to apply for a BU Key card.

The BU key card can be used on the U1, U2, U3 and U4 as well as the M1, M2, 13, 14 and 15 from more bus.

From September 21, the single cash fare will increase by 20p to £1.50. A new return cash fare will also be available for £2.50. All fares continue to be heavily subsidised by the University

Free travel on the University bus service from September 21 to September 25

Travel on the University bus services will be free during the first week of term (September 21 to September 25), to speed up boarding times whilst new students familiarise themselves with how the service operates. A valid BU Key card/ticket will need to be used/purchased from Monday September 28 to travel on the service.

Using the University bus service for the first few weeks of term

The U1 and U4 services will be extremely busy during the morning periods for the first few weeks of term. Extra services are being provided to meet this demand; however please allow some additional time for your journey to Talbot Campus during this period.

Wilts & Dorset/more bus discounts

If you travel on the wider Wilts and Dorset/more bus network, you can benefit from these discounts:

  • Child fares are available on all other more buses at any time by showing your BU student ID card on the bus.
  • A 50p discount is available on more night bus single tickets (N1 and N2) by showing your BU student ID card on the bus.

Yellow bus discount

BU students can benefit from a 10% students discount on numerous Yellow Bus advanced fare adult products. A 10 trip-multi ticket can be purchased from Poole House cash office.

If you would like to take advantage of this discount, visit the Yellow Buses Customer Service and Lost Property office, on Avenue Road, Bournemouth, BH2 5SL to purchase your product. BU student ID will be required.

If you have any questions, please email the Travel Plan Group.