Improvements to the BU Bus Services 2015/16

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.

Revised Bus Services for Summer

bu-bus-2The Bus for BU vacation service will run from Monday 29 June.

The U1 service will be running a vacation timetable between the Lansdowne and Talbot Campuses, with buses running every 30 minutes. Please be aware that the services from the Talbot Campus to the Lansdowne Campus will be diverting at Cemetery Junction for Dorchester House, before heading to the Lansdowne Campus.

The U3 service will be running a skeleton vacation service.

The vacation timetable will run from Monday 29 June to Monday 21 September, when the normal timetable will resume.

The U2, and U4 services will not be running during the vacation period. The BU key card can be used on the M1, M2 and 15 services. The 13 and 14 more bus services are also available through the BU key card.

Route and time table information for the Bus for BU vacation service can be found on the Bus for BU website.

Please note that students can also now benefit from a 10% student discount on numerous Yellow Bus advanced fare adult products.

To help plan your journey, check the Yellow Buses website, or the Traveline South West web site.

You said, This Happened: Improvements to U1 & U2 Bus Service

In response to passenger feedback, the following improvements are being introduced to the university bus service from this week:

The U1 Service will run an enhanced term-time service with additional bus services from both campuses.

From the Lansdowne Campus:

  • 8.47am (departing Cranborne House not Dorchester House)
  • 9.43am (departing Dorchester House)
  • 10.43am (departing Dorchester House)

From Talbot Campus:

  • 9.25am (departing Fern Barrow)
  • 10.25am (departing Fern Barrow)

The U2 Service will also operate an enhanced level of service from 3.40pm to 7pm, where the frequency of service will increase to every 30 minutes.

Reece Pope, SUBU’s VP Welfare Officer, said: “The changes made to the bus service is a perfect example of how the voice of students are listened to and acted on here at BU. The University and Morebus have been very happy to listen to your feedback so feel free to contact me if you have any further suggestions on how to improve this service.”

Updated online timetables for the enhanced U1 and U2 services are available here and you can also check timetables and live bus information in our iBU mobile app.

Easter Vacation Bus Services

bu-bus-2The Bus for BU vacation service will run from Monday 30 March.

The U1 service will be running a vacation timetable between the Lansdowne and Talbot Campuses, with buses running every 30 minutes. Please be aware that the services from the Talbot Campus to the Lansdowne Campus will be diverting at Cemetery Junction for Dorchester House, before heading to the Lansdowne Campus.

The U3 service will be running a skeleton vacation service.

The U2, and U4 services will not be running during the vacation period. The BU key card can be used on the M1, M2 and 15 services. The 13 and 14 more bus services are also available through the BU key card.

Route and time table information for the Bus for BU vacation service can be found on the Bus for BU website.

To help plan your journey, check the Yellow Buses website, or the Traveline South West web site.

Improvements to the University Bus Service

In response to student feedback the following improvements are being introduced to the Bus at BU From Monday April 20. Find out more >>

University Bus Services 2014/15

bus-wifi-bannerFollowing recent feedback from staff and students about the university bus services, some changes have been made to help make your journeys between campuses and around the Bournemouth area easier and more efficient.

These changes will come into effect on Monday 15 September and more information about the different services can be found on the Bus for BU website.

Main changes include:

  • A new Wi-Fi facility will be available on the entire BU bus fleet from 15 September. Passengers just need to connect to BusBU Wifi.
  • During term times the U1 service will operate duplicate services during peak periods between the Lansdowne and Talbot Campuses. These services will terminate at the Wallisdown Road stop, instead of Fern Barrow. Please check the destination blind on the bus before boarding. The U1 service will also operate an increased frequency between 5pm and 7pm.
  • The first U3 service of the day has an earlier departure time from Southbourne and is scheduled to arrive at the Talbot Campus at 8.25am. A new vacation service will also be available, so staff can use this route all year round – please see the timetable for details.
  • The U4 service has extended its evening timetable, with the last bus leaving Talbot Campus at 7.10pm.
  • The U1 vacation service will continue to run a half-hourly service during 2014/15, via the existing route of Wellington Road, Holdenhurst Road and Lansdowne Road. The first service of the day has an earlier departure time from Dorchester House and is scheduled to arrive at the Talbot Campus at 8.23pm. The last service of the day will leave Talbot Campus at 5.30pm.

Fares & Key Card

The current fares, which remain heavily subsidised, remain the same for 2014/15. Students are encouraged to register for a Bus for BU key card, to make paying for travel much easier.

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

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