Almost 700 people have had their say — and the message is overwhelming: bring back hourly buses, run services later and improve connections with trains.
A survey coordinated by the Western Area Transport Action Group (WATAG) and supported by Dorchester Transport Action Group (DTAG) has revealed huge public support for better bus services between Bridport and Dorchester.
More than 97% of respondents said they wanted more frequent services, ideally an hourly bus throughout the day. There was also significant support for later evening journeys.
The results underline what many local people already know: the current timetable makes travelling by bus unnecessarily difficult, whether for work, hospital appointments, shopping, education or simply meeting friends.
Two-hour waits and missed connections
The comments submitted alongside the survey bring the statistics to life. Respondents described long waits, missed train connections and the expense of having to take taxis when buses were unavailable.
One person summed up the problem with a simple plea: “Buses are our lifeline. Please sort out a decent service.”
For someone attending a hospital appointment, an infrequent timetable can turn a short visit into an exhausting day. One respondent explained:
“If I have a 10-minute hospital appointment, it’s an all-dayer with this service.”
Others described having to leave work early to catch the last bus, missing evening events or relying on friends and family for lifts. One respondent said that a more frequent service would allow them to travel to hospital independently.
The lack of evening buses also affects local businesses and community life. As one person put it:
“I would go to the restaurants in Bridport if I could get an evening bus back.”
Better connections with trains at Dorchester South were another recurring concern, with passengers describing waits of nearly two hours when bus and train timetables failed to align.
Four priorities for improvement
The survey report makes four recommendations:
- Restore an hourly X51 service between Bridport and Dorchester throughout the day.
- Extend evening services, with the last departures no earlier than 9pm and consideration of services until 10pm or later.
- Improve connections with trains at Dorchester South, particularly for evening arrivals.
- Investigate Sunday services, recognising that the survey did not directly assess demand on Sundays.
These improvements would give people a more practical alternative to travelling by car, help reduce congestion and emissions, and make it easier for residents without access to a car to get around.
DTAG supports WATAG’s call for improvements to the X51. The survey demonstrates the strength of public feeling and the importance of providing a service that people can genuinely rely on.
The demand is there. Now we need action.
Read the full survey report on the WATAG website