A NEW bus operator has been announced for a key service in the Dursley area.

The 62 service - which goes to Thornbury - has been taken over by Applegates Coaches.

It comes after the former provider Gwent Vales said in a statement it could not continue the service due to a number of ‘external factors’.

Gwent Vale's last service was on Saturday, November 9, with new operator Applegates taking over the service from today, Monday, November 11.

It is understood the timetable will remain the same.

The route also includes stops in Cam, Newtown, Berkeley and Falfield.

Gwent Vales - which is based in South East Wales - had been running the route since April this year.

Commuters previously issued calls for the route to expand and go directly to Bristol - like it used to when it was operated by Bristol Community Transport before 2022. 

A spokesperson from Applegates Coaches said: “We have been asked by Gloucestershire County Council to operate Route 62 until March 1, 2025 to keep the service running as normal.

“The service will then be re-tendered and the successful operator will be operating it as of March 1, 2025.

“We look forward to welcoming you all back on board and glad we could help out again to keep the local community moving.”

A "difficult decision"

A Gwent Vales spokesperson said: “After a long discussion with Gloucestershire County Council, we have reached an agreement to end our involvement with route 62.

“Our final day of operation will be Saturday, with a new operator starting to deliver Route 62 from Monday.

“It has been a difficult decision for us but there have been a number of external factors that have led us to this point and it was decided that the best course of action was to ask to be released from the contract.

“We would like to thank all our passengers and supporters.

“We have genuinely enjoyed delivering the service and are disappointed that we weren't able to see it through to July next year.”

GCC statement 

A Gloucestershire County Council spokesperson said: “We recognise the importance of providing the 62 service from Dursley to Thornbury to connect these communities, so we are pleased we have reached an agreement for it to continue.

"We will be retendering the contract next year and will keep customers updated if there are any changes.”