Nippy Bus
Encyclopedia
Nippy Bus is a privately owned company that operate a number of bus services around Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...

, England. It operates local town services in Yeovil
Yeovil
Yeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...

 under contract to the County Council as well as rural services. An ex-London Transport Routemaster bus is available for private hire work. Nippy Club was launched in 2010 utilising a coach on chartered services twice a month for clubbers.

History

Nippy Bus was founded in September 2004 beginning with 5 partially demand responsive
Demand responsive transport
Demand Responsive Transport or Demand-Responsive Transit or Demand Responsive Service or Dial-a-ride or Flexible Transport Services is "an advanced, user-oriented form of public transport characterised by flexible routing and scheduling of small/medium vehicles operating in shared-ride mode...

 night bus (services N1-5), 4 of which (services N1, N2, N4 & N5) started from market towns via villages in South Somerset
South Somerset
South Somerset is a local government district in Somerset, England.The South Somerset district covers and area of ranging from the borders with Devon and Dorset to the edge of the Somerset Levels. It has a population of approximately 158,000...

 to Yeovil
Yeovil
Yeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...

 serving parts of the town before reaching the centre. The route N3 opertes as a local circular town service within Yeovil. In response to First
First Somerset & Avon
First Somerset & Avon Ltd provides bus services in Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Bath and West Wiltshire. It is part of First Group. First Somerset & Avon operates an extensive network of services in and around Bath, Bridgwater, Bristol, Taunton, Trowbridge, Wells, Weston-super-Mare and...

 cutbacks the company launched daytime services Route N7 to replace First's 61A and Route N8 to replace First's 56 Under Contract to Somerset County Council.

Originally based in Yeovil, the company moved to a purpose built garage in Martock
Martock
Martock is a large village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated on the edge of the Somerset Levels north west of Yeovil in the South Somerset district. The parish includes Hurst, approximately one mile south of the village, and Bower Hinton, which is located at the western end of the...

, at the same time a commercial route began between Martock and Yeovil as Route N9 operating as an express service in competition with First's Route 52 offering a much shorter journey time. A demand responsive service operates from Martock as Route N6 to provide connections to local villages including South Petherton
South Petherton
South Petherton is a small country town and civil parish on the River Parrett in the South Somerset district of Somerset, England. It is east of Ilminster and north west of Crewkerne. It had a population of approximately 3,200 in 2002...

.

Route N5 between Sherborne
Sherborne
Sherborne is a market town in northwest Dorset, England. It is sited on the River Yeo, on the edge of the Blackmore Vale, east of Yeovil. The A30 road, which connects London to Penzance, runs through the town. The population of the town is 9,350 . 27.1% of the population is aged 65 or...

 and Yeovil was withdrawn due to low passenger numbers. Routes 612 and 667 began to replace First Somerset & Avon routes of the same number.

Further expansion occurred with New Route N10 to replace Safeway Services Route 681, however at the same time South West Coaches
South West Coaches
South West Coaches is a privately owned company that operate a number of bus services around Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire, in South West England. It operates local town services in Yeovil under contract to the County Council, ex-Sureline routes in the Dorchester, Weymouth and Isle of Portland...

 offered to replace the route with Route 81 when they acquired the company resulting in a situation whereby two routes served the same villages at the same time.

Route N10 was subsequently withdrawn and more new routes began including the N11, N12 and N14 Under Contract to Somerset County Council to replace South West Coaches routes.

Night Routes were expanded owing to the success in Yeovil to Taunton
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....

. Three Routes were launched the T1, T2 & T3 in Taunton and serving local villages surrounding the town. In addition a positioning trip running between Yeovil and Taunton was made into the first inter-urban night bus in Somerset which was branded as the Taunton Flyer. These routes were subsequently withdrawn.

Routes N7 & N14 were withdrawn and parts of these routes have been incorporated into the N12. The company has won new contracts from Somerset County Council for Routes 63 & 633 which operate 3-4 Jorneys Monday-Saturday Daytime, these Routes were previously operated by Stagecoach South West, simultaneously they have won School Contracts for Route 16 ex Stagecoach South West and Routes 658 & 659 ex First Somerset and Avon.

On the 1st May 2011, the Night Routes N1-N4 were withdrawn due to the widespread local authority funding cuts. This has resulted in the majority of Yeovil being left with no evening bus services.

Nippy Bus has been running a combination of demand responsive services as well as standard routes throughout South Somerset. Nippy Bus uses Yeovil as a hub where one can interchange between services.

Operation

There is some competition in their operating area with South West Coaches
South West Coaches
South West Coaches is a privately owned company that operate a number of bus services around Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire, in South West England. It operates local town services in Yeovil under contract to the County Council, ex-Sureline routes in the Dorchester, Weymouth and Isle of Portland...

 and First
First Somerset & Avon
First Somerset & Avon Ltd provides bus services in Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Bath and West Wiltshire. It is part of First Group. First Somerset & Avon operates an extensive network of services in and around Bath, Bridgwater, Bristol, Taunton, Trowbridge, Wells, Weston-super-Mare and...

. In most villages Nippy Bus are the sole bus operator and therefore many communities are heavily reliant on their services. Opening up many villages to Monday-Saturday services for the first time ever either as demand responsive services or on fixed routes compared to the once a week services offered by the incumbent South West Coaches. The geographical area covered is fairly small stretching from Martock
Martock
Martock is a large village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated on the edge of the Somerset Levels north west of Yeovil in the South Somerset district. The parish includes Hurst, approximately one mile south of the village, and Bower Hinton, which is located at the western end of the...

 in the west to Sherborne
Sherborne
Sherborne is a market town in northwest Dorset, England. It is sited on the River Yeo, on the edge of the Blackmore Vale, east of Yeovil. The A30 road, which connects London to Penzance, runs through the town. The population of the town is 9,350 . 27.1% of the population is aged 65 or...

 in the east and from Yeovil
Yeovil
Yeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...

 in the south to Street
Street, Somerset
Street is a small village and civil parish in the county of Somerset, England. It is situated on a dry spot in the Somerset Levels, at the end of the Polden Hills, south-west of Glastonbury. The 2001 census records the village as having a population of 11,066...

 in the north.

Fares and ticketing

The company participates in the County Ticket scheme in Somerset.

Singles, Returns, 10 Journey Tickets, Weekly, Monthly and Annual Seasons are available.

Free Travel for those holding an English Concessionary Pass is available across the bus network with time restrictions (excludes Night Services).

The company has a ticketing and booking system with on-board micro computers running booking
and route management software written and developed in house by their technology partners Mark One Consultants of Yeovil.

Depots

Current
  • Martock
    Martock
    Martock is a large village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated on the edge of the Somerset Levels north west of Yeovil in the South Somerset district. The parish includes Hurst, approximately one mile south of the village, and Bower Hinton, which is located at the western end of the...

     - Routes: 16, 63, 612, 633, 658, 659, 667, N6, N8, N9, N11, N12


Peak Vehicle Requirement = 10

Withdrawn
  • Yeovil
    Yeovil
    Yeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...


Vehicles Operated

A modern fleet, the majority of which are equipped with wheelchair lifts, constant running CCTV recording, digital radio communications and satellite navigation and on-board micro-computers for ticketing and demand responsive bookings.
  • Four Optare Solo
    Optare Solo
    The Optare Solo is a low-floor midibus manufactured by Optare in Leeds, UK since 1997. The name "Solo" is a play on the low-floor status of the bus, the manufacturer believing its vehicle having an entrance that is "so low" from the floor, namely 200 mm with kneeling suspension.The innovative...

  • One Routemaster
    Routemaster
    The AEC Routemaster is a model of double-decker bus that was built by Associated Equipment Company in 1954 and produced until 1968. Primarily front-engined, rear open-platform buses, a small number of variants were produced with doors and/or front entrances...

     (RM 191)
  • Several Iveco
    Iveco
    Iveco, an acronym for Industrial Vehicle Corporation, originally an alliance of European commercial vehicle manufacturers such as Fiat , Unic and Magirus. Iveco is now an Italian truck, bus, and diesel engine manufacturer, based in Turin...

     Minibuses

Somerset

Nippy Bus run the following services;
Service From To Via Days of operation Frequency Notes
16 Monday–Friday college days only 1 journey Fixed route
Under contract to Somerset County Council
63 Monday–Saturday daytimes Every 120 minutes Fixed route
Under contract to Somerset County Council
633 Monday–Saturday daytimes Every 120 minutes Fixed route
Under contract to Somerset County Council
658 Monday–Friday college days only 1 journey Fixed route
Under contract to Somerset County Council
659 Monday–Friday college days only 1 journey Fixed route
Under contract to Somerset County Council
667 Street
Street, Somerset
Street is a small village and civil parish in the county of Somerset, England. It is situated on a dry spot in the Somerset Levels, at the end of the Polden Hills, south-west of Glastonbury. The 2001 census records the village as having a population of 11,066...

Wincanton
Wincanton
Wincanton is a small town in south Somerset, southwest England. The town lies on the A303 road, the main route between London and South West England, and has some light industry...

Butleigh
Butleigh
Butleigh is a small village and civil parish, located in Somerset. The nearest village to it is Barton St David, and it is located a short distance from Glastonbury and Street...

, Baltonsborough
Baltonsborough
Baltonsborough is a village and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 873. Apart from Baltonsborough village, the parish also contains the hamlets of Ham Street, Catsham and Southwood....

 (certain journeys), Barton St David
Barton St David
Barton St David is a village and civil parish on the River Brue adjacent to Keinton Mandeville in Somerset, England. It is situated south-east of Glastonbury and north-east of Somerton in the South Somerset district...

, Keinton Mandeville
Keinton Mandeville
Keinton Mandeville is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated west of Castle Cary in the South Somerset district. The village has a population of 991...

, Lydford-on-Fosse
Lydford-on-Fosse
Lydford-on-Fosse is a village and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England. The parish includes the hamlet of East Lydford.-History:...

, Castle Cary Station
Castle Cary railway station
Castle Cary railway station serves a largely rural area of the county of Somerset in England. The station is situated approximately north of the town of Castle Cary, and south of Shepton Mallet....

, Castle Cary
Castle Cary
Castle Cary is a market town and civil parish in south Somerset, England, north west of Wincanton and south of Shepton Mallet.The town is situated on the River Cary, a tributary of the Parrett.-History:...

, Shepton Montague
Shepton Montague
Shepton Montague is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England. It is situated on the River Pitt in the South Somerset district midway between Wincanton, Bruton and Castle Cary....

, Bruton
Bruton
Bruton is a town and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated on the River Brue seven miles south-east of Shepton Mallet, just south of Snakelake Hill and Coombe Hill, ten miles north-west of Gillingham and twelve miles south-west of Frome in the South Somerset district. The town has a...

 & Charlton Musgrove
Charlton Musgrove
Charlton Musgrove is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated north east of Wincanton in the South Somerset district. The village has a population of 375...

Monday–Saturday except evenings Every 90 minutes Fixed route
Under contract to Somerset County Council
N6 South Petherton
South Petherton
South Petherton is a small country town and civil parish on the River Parrett in the South Somerset district of Somerset, England. It is east of Ilminster and north west of Crewkerne. It had a population of approximately 3,200 in 2002...

 (not fixed origin)
Martock
Martock
Martock is a large village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated on the edge of the Somerset Levels north west of Yeovil in the South Somerset district. The parish includes Hurst, approximately one mile south of the village, and Bower Hinton, which is located at the western end of the...

Area of service (pre-booking required) Monday–Saturday except evenings Every 60 minutes Demand responsive from area of service inbound to Martock
Under contract to Somerset County Council
N8 West Coker
West Coker
West Coker is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated south west of Yeovil in the South Somerset district.-History:The name Coker comes from Coker Water ....

Yeovil
Yeovil
Yeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...

North Coker, Wraxhill Road, Forest Hill & Westlands (on request) Monday–Saturday except evenings Every 60 minutes Demand responsive from area of service inbound to West Coker then fixed route to Yeovil

Under contract to Somerset County Council
N9 Martock
Martock
Martock is a large village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated on the edge of the Somerset Levels north west of Yeovil in the South Somerset district. The parish includes Hurst, approximately one mile south of the village, and Bower Hinton, which is located at the western end of the...

Yeovil
Yeovil
Yeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...

South Somerset District Council
South Somerset
South Somerset is a local government district in Somerset, England.The South Somerset district covers and area of ranging from the borders with Devon and Dorset to the edge of the Somerset Levels. It has a population of approximately 158,000...

 Offices (on request), Laburnham Way, Plantagenet Chase & Westlands (on request)
Monday–Saturday except evenings Every 60 minutes Martock Express

Commercial
N11 RNAS Yeovilton Yeovil
Yeovil
Yeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...

Yeovilton
Yeovilton
Yeovilton is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated east of Ilchester, north of Yeovil, in the South Somerset district. The village has a population of approximately 670....

, Limington
Limington
Limington is a village and parish in Somerset, England, situated north of Yeovil in the South Somerset district. The village has a population of 199...

, Ilchester
Ilchester
Ilchester is a village and civil parish, situated on the River Yeo or Ivel, five miles north of Yeovil, in the English county of Somerset. The parish, which includes the village of Sock Dennis and the old parish of Northover, has a population of 2,021...

 & Yeovil Marsh
Yeovil
Yeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...

Monday–Saturday daytimes 3 journeys Demand responsive from area of service inbound to RNAS Yeovilton then fixed route to Yeovil
Under contract to Somerset County Council
N12 West Chinnock
West Chinnock
West Chinnock is a village in Somerset, England, situated near the A356 road north east of Crewkerne in the South Somerset district. The village forms the civil parish of West and Middle Chinnock with the neighbouring village of Middle Chinnock. The parish has a population of 564 .Middle...

Crewkerne
Crewkerne
Crewkerne is a town in Somerset, England, situated south west of Yeovil and east of Chard in the South Somerset district close to the border with Dorset. The civil parish of West Crewkerne includes the hamlets of Woolminstone and Henley...

Chiselborough
Chiselborough
Chiselborough is a village situated on the river Parrett west of Yeovil in Somerset, England. The village has a population of 335.The village consists largely of small cottages built in the local golden hamstone quarried at the local Ham Hill.-History:...

, Norton Sub Hamdon
Norton Sub Hamdon
Norton sub Hamdon is a village in the South Somerset district of the English county of Somerset, situated five miles west of Yeovil. The village has a population of 694....

, Lopen
Lopen
Lopen is a village and civil parish in the English county of Somerset, situated eight miles west of Yeovil in the South Somerset district. The village has a population of 248.-History:The name of the village means Lufa's pen or fold....

 & Hinton St George
Hinton St George
Hinton St George is a village and parish in Somerset, England, situated outside of Crewkerne, south west of Yeovil in the South Somerset district. The village has a population of 404....

Monday–Friday daytimes 1–2 journeys Fixed route under contract to Somerset County Council

Somerset

Service From To Via Days of operation Frequency Notes Date Withdrawn
N1 Martock
Martock
Martock is a large village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated on the edge of the Somerset Levels north west of Yeovil in the South Somerset district. The parish includes Hurst, approximately one mile south of the village, and Bower Hinton, which is located at the western end of the...

Yeovil
Yeovil
Yeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...

Ash, Tintinhull
Tintinhull
This article is about a village in England. For the Australian village, see Tintinhull, New South Wales.Tintinhull is a village and civil parish close to the A303 near Yeovil, south west of Ilchester, in Somerset, England...

, Stoke-sub-Hamdon
Stoke-sub-Hamdon
Stoke-sub-Hamdon is a village and civil parish in South Somerset, situated west of Yeovil, England. The parish is located near the River Parrett, and includes the village of East Stoke.-History:...

, Norton Sub Hamdon
Norton Sub Hamdon
Norton sub Hamdon is a village in the South Somerset district of the English county of Somerset, situated five miles west of Yeovil. The village has a population of 694....

, Chiselborough
Chiselborough
Chiselborough is a village situated on the river Parrett west of Yeovil in Somerset, England. The village has a population of 335.The village consists largely of small cottages built in the local golden hamstone quarried at the local Ham Hill.-History:...

, Montacute
Montacute
Montacute is a small village and civil parish in Somerset, England, west of Yeovil. The village has a population of 680 . The name Montacute is thought by some to derive from the Latin "Mons Acutus", referring to the small but still quite acute hill dominating the village to the west.The village...

, Odcombe
Odcombe
Odcombe is a village and civil parish in south Somerset, England, west of the town of Yeovil, with a population of 730 in 2002.The upper part of the village, Higher Odcombe, sits on the crest of the hill, while the lower part, Lower Odcombe, is built on its northern slopes...

 & Abbey Manor Park
Wednesday–Saturday nights 3-5 journeys Demand responsive from area of service inbound to Yeovil Withdrawn 1st May 2011
N2 Ilchester
Ilchester
Ilchester is a village and civil parish, situated on the River Yeo or Ivel, five miles north of Yeovil, in the English county of Somerset. The parish, which includes the village of Sock Dennis and the old parish of Northover, has a population of 2,021...

Yeovil
Yeovil
Yeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...

Queen Camel
Queen Camel
Queen Camel is a village and civil parish, on the River Cam and the A359 road, in the South Somerset district of Somerset, England. It is about north of Yeovil. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 926. The parish includes the hamlet of Wales...

, West Camel
West Camel
West Camel is a village and civil parish in south Somerset, England, about north of the town of Yeovil. Situated either side of the River Cam it lies just south of the A303 and has a population of 490...

, Bridgehampton
Yeovilton
Yeovilton is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated east of Ilchester, north of Yeovil, in the South Somerset district. The village has a population of approximately 670....

, Podimore
Yeovilton
Yeovilton is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated east of Ilchester, north of Yeovil, in the South Somerset district. The village has a population of approximately 670....

, RNAS Yeovilton
RNAS Yeovilton
Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, or RNAS Yeovilton, is an airfield of the Royal Navy, sited in South West England a few miles north of Yeovil in Somerset...

, Limington
Limington
Limington is a village and parish in Somerset, England, situated north of Yeovil in the South Somerset district. The village has a population of 199...

, Ilchester
Ilchester
Ilchester is a village and civil parish, situated on the River Yeo or Ivel, five miles north of Yeovil, in the English county of Somerset. The parish, which includes the village of Sock Dennis and the old parish of Northover, has a population of 2,021...

, Marston Magna
Marston Magna
Marston Magna is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated north of Yeovil in the South Somerset district...

, Chilton Cantelo
Chilton Cantelo
Chilton Cantelo is a village and parish in Somerset, England, situated on the River Yeo north of Yeovil and east of Ilchester in the South Somerset district. The village has a population of 132...

, Mudford
Mudford
Mudford is a village and parish in Somerset, England, situated from Yeovil in the South Somerset district on the River Yeo. The village has a population of 649...

, Chilthorne Domer
Chilthorne Domer
Chilthorne Domer is a village and parish in Somerset, England, situated north west of Yeovil in the South Somerset district. The village has a population of 569. It is situated on the old coach road from Ilchester to Yeovil.-History:...

 & Yeovil Marsh
Yeovil
Yeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...

Wednesday–Saturday nights 3-5 journeys Demand responsive from area of service inbound to Yeovil Withdrawn 1st May 2011
N3 Yeovil
Yeovil
Yeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...

Yeovil
Yeovil
Yeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...

Wednesday–Saturday nights 3 journeys Circular town service Withdrawn 1st May 2011
N4 Crewkerne
Crewkerne
Crewkerne is a town in Somerset, England, situated south west of Yeovil and east of Chard in the South Somerset district close to the border with Dorset. The civil parish of West Crewkerne includes the hamlets of Woolminstone and Henley...

Yeovil
Yeovil
Yeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...

Haselbury Plucknett
Haselbury Plucknett
Haselbury Plucknett is a village and civil parish on the River Parrett in Somerset, England, situated south west of Yeovil in the South Somerset district. The village has a population of 641....

, Middle Chinnock, East Chinnock
East Chinnock
The Chinnocks are three villages in Somerset, England, south west of Yeovil in the South Somerset district:*East Chinnock*Middle Chinnock*West Chinnock...

, Hardington Mandeville
Hardington Mandeville
Hardington Mandeville is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated south west of Yeovil in the South Somerset district. The village has a population of 598.-History:...

, West Coker
West Coker
West Coker is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated south west of Yeovil in the South Somerset district.-History:The name Coker comes from Coker Water ....

, North Coker & East Coker
East Coker
East Coker is a village and civil parish in the South Somerset district of Somerset, England. Its nearest town is Yeovil, which is situated two miles north from the village. The village has a population of 1,781...

Wednesday–Saturday nights 3-5 journeys Demand responsive from area of service inbound to Yeovil Withdrawn 1st May 2011
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