Bus operator Stagecoach West has taken over the operation of two key Bristol bus routes.

Stagecoach West, which currently runs buses across Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol, will take over the X5 and Severn Express - previously run by First West of England.

The X5 service which connects Weston-super-Mare with Clevedon, Nailsea, Portishead and Bristol’s Cribbs Causeway shopping centre and the Severn Express service between Bristol Bus Station, Cribbs Causeway, Chepstow and Newport will change operator on Sunday, September 1, 2019.

However, the route and times of both bus services will remain the same.

Stagecoach West will offer a daily explorer ticket for £7.20, which covers unlimited travel across their services, including these new Bristol area routes.

For more frequent customers, a one-week Megarider Gold ticket will cost £21.50.

Discounts are also available on tickets purchased through the Stagecoach Bus App.

Rupert Cox, managing director of Stagecoach West, which this year celebrates 25 years in business, said:

“We’re extremely pleased to be expanding our bus operations across the West of England.

“We have a strong track record of attracting more people to sustainable bus travel. We will continue to focus on providing good value, high-quality bus travel and look forward to welcoming our new customers from across North Somerset.”

The new Stagecoach West buses will also offer free Wi-Fi for customers to use whilst they travel. For further information on Stagecoach UK Bus visit www.stagecoachbus.com