Snow update...

Severe winter weather is forecast for much of the South West and Wales region overnight. What follows is some general information about what we are doing in response to this, what customers can do themselves, and details how you can find out the latest information for each area.

What we are doing to prepare

Snow and ice can be difficult to plan for. As a business we have been watching the weather forecasts from the Met Office closely over the past few days but until we know exactly which areas are likely to be affected, and to what extent, we cannot be specific about how services will be affected.

Overnight our teams will again be watching the situation closely. From early tomorrow morning we will have people assessing all the routes we operate - this has to be done manually and takes some time. The purpose of checking the routes is to see what is affected and how. This information is then collated by our operational teams and shared with our marketing and customer service staff and me, and then we upload it to the internet - our website, Facebook and Twitter pages. We understand that customers need this information as soon as possible and we aim to get it out as quickly as we can.

Thinking ahead to tomorrow there is a strong possibility that there will be some disruption to local services. We have worked with local authorities around the region though to ensure that key routes etc are gritted. In some cases buses will be diverted to serve main roads only - as if it very icy or snowy, then we can only use roads that have been treated. The information that we will post online about disruptions will be as specific as we can be about what diversions are in place

What customers can do:

Anticipating that customers may have queries in advance of the specific information being available online, where real time bus information is available, for instance in the West of England, customers can check the status of their service - finding our where buses are in relation to specific stops - by using www.nextbusbristol.co.uk. Useful information - including twitter feeds etc - can also be obtained from www.travelwest.info.

• Customers should check the above (or equivalents where available), our website and / or our Twitter / Facebook feeds for information about how buses are affected.
• If travelling in areas that are affected by snow / ice, customers should walk to main roads to pick up services.
• They should wrap up warm as services may be delayed en route, and they should leave additional time for important journeys. Our drivers will be doing their best, but the safety of our staff, customers and other road users is our priority at all times.
• Customers should also be mindful that the weather situation can change throughout the day - weather can improve or deterioate and that may have an impact on the bus service. With this in mind customers should keep an eye on our websites / Twitter etc and listen to local radio.
• NB First also has an app for smartphones (google and android) which is currently being tested in Hampshire. The information contained though is national and so customers may find it useful to download this - it links through to real time bus information etc where it is available. More information about the app can be found here: http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/hampshire/journey_planning/app/

FirstGroup websites,

For the West of England (one website, but different shortlinks depending on the area)
www.firstgroup.com/bristol
www.firstgroup.com/somerset
www.firstgroup.com/bath

For Hampshire
www.firstgroup.com/hampshire

For Dorset
www.firstgroup.com/dorset

For Devon and Cornwall (one website, but different shortlinks depending on the area)
www.firstgroup.com/devon
www.firstgroup.com/cornwall

For South and West Wales
www.firstgroup.com/cymru

Facebook

For the West of England
www.facebook.com/FirstWestofEngland

For Hampshire
www.facebook.com/FirstHampshire

For Dorset
www.facebook.com/FirstinDorset

For Devon and Cornwall
www.facebook.com/FirstinDevonandCornwall

For South and West Wales
www.facebook.com/FirstCymruBuses

Twitter

For the West of England, Somerset etc
@FirstBSA

For Hampshire
@FirstHampshire

For Dorset
@FirstDorset

For Devon and Cornwall
@FirstBus_Devon

For South and West Wales
@FirstCymru
For media

We will send information to media as soon as it becomes available. We have a core distribution list for this - if you want other names etc added, please let me know telling us which area you are interested in receieving updates for. .

Where possible we will facilitate radio interviews - we cannot do these before 0700 hours though as the specific information about the impact of snow etc is still being collated up until that point. Journalists can contact me for information as required, but please check the above sources of info first (ie web, twitter etc) , and please don't call before 0700 hours unless in an absolute emergency as there is no information that can be shared until that point.

Thanks.

With kind regards

Karen

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Karen Baxter
PR Manager (South West & Wales), First UK Bus
Enterprise House, Easton Road, Bristol, BS5 0DZ
Tel. 0117 373 6470 / 07894 785155
Email: Karen.baxter@firstgroup.com

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FirstGroup plc.
Registered in Scotland No. SC157176
Registered office: 395 King Street, Aberdeen AB24 5RP