M4 MetroBus

The forthcoming M4 MetroBus service is intended to provide a fast and reliable bus link between Bristol Parkway Station and The Mall at Cribbs Causeway, via the Brabazon mixed-use development that is being built on the former Filton Airfield.

Although originally specified as a link between The Mall at Cribbs Causeway and Bristol Parkway Station, the new service will in fact extend onwards to Bristol city centre via the University of the West of England (UWE) and the M32 motorway (see full route map below).

Services on the M4 MetroBus route will commence on Sunday 22nd January 2023.

First West of England will operate the service.

Buses are expected to follow a slightly amended route, most likely along Hayes Way, until the new road is built through YTL Development’s Brabazon site on the old airfield.

Route map

View a hi-res version of the above route map (on Dropbox).

Timetable

Current timetable, valid from Sunday 3rd September 2023:

• View the timetable interactively on the First Bus website (shows main stops only)
• View the route map and timetable on the First Bus website (shows main stops only) [PDF; 727kB]
• View the timetable interactively on Traveline SW (option to show all stops)
• View the full timetable downloaded from Traveline SW (shows all stops) [PDF; 55kB]

For information about amended timetables during holiday periods (Christmas, Easter etc.), see: Holiday Opening Hours

Previous timetables

• Timetable from 2nd April 2023 [PDF; 50kB]
• Timetable from 22nd January 2023 [PDF; 47kB]

Service frequencies

• Monday to Saturday daytime: Every 20 minutes
• Sundays & bank holidays daytime: Every 30 minutes
• Late evening (all days): Every 30 minutes

Journey times

Timetabled journey times (depending on time of day):

• Cribbs Causeway to Bristol city centre: 37 to 52 minutes
• Cribbs Causeway to Bristol Parkway Station: 13 to 16 minutes
• Bristol Parkway to Bristol city centre: 24 to 36 minutes

The last journey back to Stoke Gifford from the city centre leaves at 23:40 (Monday to Saturday) or 19:10 (Sundays & bank holidays).

Tickets

MetroBus is a ‘buy before you board’ or ‘Tap On, Tap Off‘ service. Tickets may be purchased on the First Bus smartphone app or using a Travelwest smartcard (now known as Travelcard). Paper tickets may be purchased from iPoints using a credit or debit card (but not cash). Concessionary passes are accepted.

‘Tap On, Tap Off’: Tap a credit/debit card (or use Apple/Google Pay on your smartphone) on the on-board card reader when getting on AND off the bus. Read more: ‘Tap On, Tap Off’ payment now available on all MetroBus and First Bus services (Bradley Stoke Journal)

Any single journey on any section of the M4 route costs £2.00. A day ticket offering unlimited travel on all MetroBus routes and all other bus services in the Bristol zone is £6.00. There is also a 2-trip ticket, available via the First Bus app or using ‘Tap On, Tap Off’, priced at £3.50.

A group ticket, valid for up to five people of any age from 9.30am Monday to Friday or all day Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, costs £12.00 (via the First app). This offers unlimited travel on all First buses in the Bristol zone for one day (excluding Airport Flyer services).

More information: MetroBus prices, validity and how to buy (Travelwest)

MetroBus network

The M4 will supplement the three existing MetroBus routes created as part of the North Fringe to Hengrove Package – M1 (Cribbs Causeway to Hengrove Park via Bradley Stoke, UWE and Bristol city centre); M2 (Long Ashton Park & Ride to Bristol city centre) and M3 (Emersons Green to Bristol city via UWE).

Related links

• M1 MetroBus (Bradley Stoke Journal)

MetroBus service stories in the Journal