WATAG has launched a survey of users and potential passengers of the X51 bus service.
WATAG campaigns for better public transport in West Dorset – our main priority is to seek an hourly service on the X51 bus running between Bridport and our county town Dorchester – seven days a week, all year round, together with journeys later in the evening.
Please help our campaign by completing our X51 survey. We will use your response to provide evidence for the level of public support.
A new summer evening bus service LB1 between Bridport and Lyme Regis calling at Chideock, Morecombelake and Charmouth will start on Friday 1 May.
The LB1 will run every Friday and Saturday night until Saturday 26 September.
The first LB1 will run from Bridport bus station at 18:15 with the last bus leaving Lyme Regis at 23:30.
There will also be the opportunity to link with the X53 service from Weymouth for the first two buses from Bridport, while the 23:30 return bus from Lyme Regis will travel back to Weymouth following the X53 route, offering passengers the possibility of a late evening out in Bridport or Lyme by public transport.
The service will be operated by First Bus, using double deckers, capable of transporting more than 90 people at a time.
The LB1 timetable is available here
The project for a late-night bus service was spearheaded by West Dorset Commons, which worked in partnership with Lyme Regis Town Council to secure a £20,000 grant from Western Gateway, the Sub-National Transport Body for the West of England. West Dorset Commons was also responsible for the Bridport to West Bay shuttle, the WB1, which was launched last summer.
Up to Thursday 2 April – Regular service
Friday 3 April (Good Friday) – Sunday service (No service CR6 or X51)
Saturday 4 April – Saturday service
Sunday 5 April (Easter Sunday) – Sunday service (No service CR6 or X51)
Monday 6 April (Easter Monday) – Sunday service (No service CR6 or X51)
From Tuesday 7 April – Regular service resumes
From 1st April 2026, new rail regulations will come into effect which mean that flexible walk-up tickets (such as Anytime, Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak) will only be refundable prior to the first day of validity.
If you want a refund, you should apply for it before 23:59 the evening before the day of travel.
Additionally, the same-day, post-purchase fee-free refund period is shortened from 1 hour to 15 minutes.
These changes will apply to all retailers, train operators and points-of-sale.
Tickets purchased on or before 31st March 2026 will not be affected by these policy changes, even if they were booked for travel after 1st April.
Your right to a fee-free refund when you abandon a journey due to disruption (delays, cancellations) is unaffected.
Refund requests from customers who experience significant personal events that stop them from travelling on the day (known as “exceptional circumstances”) will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
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In a nutshell, DON’T BUY A WALK-UP TICKET IN ADVANCE! If you have any doubt whatsoever about whether you will make your planned journey – buying your walk-up ticket in advance will risk you losing the option of claiming a refund or making changes.
Tickets affected are:
Day Travelcards
Rover tickets
Ranger tickets
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Advance tickets are already non-refundable, however the day or time of travel can be changed right up to the time your journey is due to begin (An admin fee may be payable).
There are several social media and YouTube videos circulating claiming that wide-ranging changes have been or are about to be made to the English National Concessionary bus pass. Some of these posts are quite convincing and sophisticated, making use of AI technology and even appearing to be presented by well-known media figures. The motivation of those behind these videos can only be guessed at, however they are clearly immune to the fact that they will be causing distress or confusion to some who rely on their bus passes for mobility.
Please be assured that these messages are false – there are NO plans to change the validity of passes; whether to routes, times of use or geographical availability. You may continue to use your pass as normal.
You can continue to get a bus pass for free travel across England when you reach the State Pension age or qualify for a disabled person’s pass.
WATAG’s public meeting held on 29 January 2026 included a presentation of our initial ‘Vision for the Future’ for public transport in our area. We believe that the frequency of bus services MUST improve but we need to demonstrate to both Dorset Council and the bus operators that investment will work for everyone.
You may view the presentation here and read the speaker notes here
We welcome your input – this is very much ‘work in progress’ – please email us with your feedback at watag@hotmail.co.uk
UPDATE:
The minutes for this general meeting (GM129) and the preceding AGM may be viewed or downloaded here
The next Public meeting of the West Dorset (Western Area) Transport Action Group (WATAG) will be held on Thursday 29 January 2026 at 18.30
Bridport Town Council Offices, Mountfield, Bridport DT6 3JP
The evening will start with our Annual General Meeting, at which the Chair will give a quick review of the last 12 months. We’ve had a busy year – with a number of new committee members bringing a wider range of expertise – and also relaunched a much improved website.
We then continue with our Public Meeting. This will include a presentation of WATAG’s initial “Vision for the Future” of public transport in our area. We believe that the frequency of bus services MUST improve but we need to demonstrate to both Dorset Council and the bus operators that investment will work for everyone. We will share our thinking on this – it is very much “work in progress” and we encourage feedback!
The meeting starts at 18.30 (doors open from 18.00) and we aim to finish by 20.00. As always, you will be most welcome to share your views and raise questions about local bus and rail services. We have invited representatives form Dorset Council and rail and bus companies to join us if they wish, to provide their own updates.
Anyone interested in public transport issues is encouraged to attend. We are also keen to widen our committee, so if you are interested in joining our Advisory Group, please let us know, either in advance or after the meeting.
This will be a ‘hybrid’ meeting, and a link will be provided to enable those unable to attend in person to join us on Zoom. Please consider joining our email list to be sent the link, or you are welcome to contact us at watag@hotmail.co.uk
22nd & 23rd December – normal weekday service
24th December – X51/53 Saturday timetable / CR6 – normal weekday timetable
25th & 26th December – No service
27th & 28th December – normal Saturday / Sunday timetable
29th – 31st December – X51/53 Saturday timetable / CR6 – normal weekday timetable
New Year’s Day – No service
2nd January – normal weekday service
DORSET COUNCIL MEDIA RELEASE – MONDAY 8 DECEMBER 2025
Dorset Council has secured £12m in multi-year bus funding from Government to improve services and stops across the county from 2026/27 to 2028/29.
While this is a welcome boost, it falls short of what’s needed to deliver consistent hourly routes and full Saturday timetables.
Over the next three years, £6.8m in revenue funding will help Dorset Council and local operators make targeted upgrades, such as restoring some Saturday services and improving frequencies where demand is strongest. £5.2m in capital funding will pay for better bus stops and real-time information, with capital support continuing to 2029/30.
These improvements will still make a difference for residents who rely on buses for essential journeys, even if they cannot match the scale of investment seen elsewhere.
However, Dorset’s allocation is significantly lower than neighbouring and similar rural authorities. Cornwall will receive £30m and Somerset £22m, while Plymouth and Wiltshire also have higher shares.
This means Dorset cannot deliver the same level of service improvements seen elsewhere, and the council will continue pressing for a fairer long-term share.