Editing Bath, Somerset (section)

==Transport==
===Railways===
[[File:2008 at Bath Spa station - view from Widecombe.jpg|thumb|Bath Spa station]]

The city is served by [[Bath Spa railway station]], designed by [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]], which is on the [[Great Western Main Line]]. Services are provided by [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] on the following routes:<ref> {{Cite web |work=Great Western Railway |title=Train Times |date=15 December 2024 |access-date=4 April 2025 |url= https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/train-times}}</ref>
* {{rws|London Paddington}} to {{rws|Bristol Temple Meads}}, {{rws|Weston-super-Mare}} and {{rws|Taunton}}
* Bristol Temple Meads to {{rws|Salisbury}}
* Bristol Temple Meads to {{rws|Frome}}
* {{rws|Portsmouth Harbour}} to {{rws|Cardiff Central}}
* {{rws|Gloucester}} to {{rws|Westbury}}.

There is a suburban station on the main line, {{rws|Oldfield Park}}, which has a limited commuter service to Bristol.

[[Bath Green Park railway station|Bath Green Park station]] was once the terminus of the [[Midland Railway]],<ref>[http://www.bristolbathrailwaypath.org.uk/theoldrailway.shtml Bristol and Bath Railway Path: ''The Midland Railway''] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128175422/http://www.bristolbathrailwaypath.org.uk/theoldrailway.shtml |date=28 November 2011 }}. Retrieved 8 August 2009</ref> and junction for the [[Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway]], whose line, always steam hauled, went through the Devonshire tunnel (under the Wellsway, St Luke's Church and the Devonshire Arms), through the [[Combe Down Tunnel]] and climbed over the [[Mendips]] to serve many towns and villages on its {{convert|71|mi|km|0|adj=on}} run to [[Bournemouth]]. This example of an English rural line was closed as part of the [[Beeching cuts]] in March 1966. Its Bath station building, now restored, houses shops, small businesses, a Saturday farmers' market and parking for a supermarket, while the route of the Somerset and Dorset through the suburbs to [[Midford]] has been reused for the [[Two Tunnels Greenway]], a shared use path that extends [[National Cycle Route 24]] into the city.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bath, Two Tunnels |url=http://www.sustrans.org.uk/news/thousands-join-us-celebrate-opening-two-tunnels-greenway-bath |publisher=Sustrans |access-date=3 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505003713/http://www.sustrans.org.uk/news/thousands-join-us-celebrate-opening-two-tunnels-greenway-bath |archive-date=5 May 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Buses===
[[File:Bath First 39000 LJ07ECE hybrid bus.jpg|thumb|right|A [[Hybrid electric bus|diesel/electric hybrid bus]] in SouthGate on a Park and Ride service in 2010]]

Bath has a network of bus routes, operated by [[First West of England]], with services to surrounding towns and cities, such as [[Bristol]], [[Trowbridge]], [[Frome]] and [[Wells, Somerset|Wells]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Bath & Somerset |url=https://www.firstbus.co.uk/bristol-bath-and-west/routes-and-maps/route-maps |website=First South and West |access-date=22 April 2025}}</ref>

Faresaver Buses also operate services to surrounding towns. The [[Bath Bus Company]] runs open-top double-decker bus tours around the city,<ref>{{cite web |title=Bath Open-Top Bus Tours |url=http://www.beautifulbath.co.uk/tourbus.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219015607/http://www.beautifulbath.co.uk/tourbus.html |archive-date=19 December 2013 |access-date=26 August 2012 |publisher=Beautiful Bath}}</ref> as well as frequent services to [[Bristol Airport]]. [[Stagecoach West]] also provides services to [[Tetbury]] and the South Cotswolds. The suburbs of Bath are also served by the [[WESTlink (on-demand bus)|WESTlink on demand service]], available Monday to Saturday.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://travelwest.info/westlink/#where |access-date=5 June 2023 |website=WESTlink |language=en-US |archive-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605093728/https://travelwest.info/westlink/#where |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[National Express Coaches|National Express]] operates inter-city [[Coach (bus)|coach]] services from [[Bath bus station]].

===Roads===
Bath is approximately {{convert|11|mi|km|0}} south-east of the larger city and port of Bristol, to which it is linked by the [[A4 road (England)|A4 road]] and is a similar distance south of the [[M4 motorway]] at junction 18. The potential new junction 18a linking the M4 with the A4174 [[Avon Ring Road]] could provide an additional direct route from Bath to the motorway.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/news/new-m4-junction-near-bath-1330697.amp |title=Location of a possible new M4 junction near Bath approved |date=12 March 2018 |access-date=10 August 2020 |archive-date=13 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313022051/https://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/news/new-m4-junction-near-bath-1330697.amp |url-status=live }}</ref>

In an attempt to reduce the level of car use, [[park and ride]] schemes have been introduced, with sites at Odd Down, Lansdown and Newbridge. A large increase in city centre parking was provided under the 2010 [[SouthGate]] shopping centre development, which introduced more car traffic. A [[bus gate]] scheme in Northgate aims to reduce private car use in the city centre.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/BathNES/transportandstreets/transportpolicy/plansandstrategies/bathpackage/ |title=Bath Transport Package&nbsp;– Major Scheme Bid |work=Bath and North East Somerset |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027135101/http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/BathNES/transportandstreets/transportpolicy/plansandstrategies/bathpackage/ |archive-date=27 October 2007 |access-date=2 May 2015 }}</ref>

A [[transportation study|transport study]] (the [[Bristol/Bath to South Coast Study]]) was published in 2004, after being initiated by the [[Government Office for the South West]] and [[Bath and North East Somerset Council]]<ref name="gov-news 2004">{{cite news |url=http://www.gov-news.org/gov/uk/news/bristolbath_to_south_coast_study_final_reports/57227.html |title=Bristol/Bath to South Coast Study&nbsp;– final reports published |work=Government News |date=13 February 2004 |access-date=28 September 2012 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130414222737/http://www.gov-news.org/gov/uk/news/bristolbath_to_south_coast_study_final_reports/57227.html |archive-date=14 April 2013  }}</ref> and undertaken by [[WSP Global]]<ref name="gov-news 2004"/> as a result of the [[Trunk road|de-trunking]] in 1999 of the A36/A46 trunk road network<ref name="hansard 2004">{{cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmhansrd/vo040106/text/40106w02.htm |title=Hansard 6 Jan 2004 : Column 218W |work=[[Hansard]] |publisher=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] |date=6 January 2004 |access-date=28 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128073008/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmhansrd/vo040106/text/40106w02.htm |archive-date=28 November 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> from Bath to Southampton.

The [[Bath Clean Air Zone]] was introduced for central Bath on 15 March 2021. A Class C zone, it charges the [[European emission standards|most polluting commercial vehicles]] £9 per day (and up to £100 per day for coaches and [[large goods vehicle|HGV]]s).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/bath-clean-air-zone |title=Bath's Clean Air Zone |access-date=23 January 2021 |archive-date=5 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105084347/https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/bath-clean-air-zone |url-status=live }}</ref> It is the first UK road pollution charging zone outside London, and reduced [[nitrogen dioxide]] levels in the city by 26% over the following two years, meeting legal standards.<ref name=bbc-20230825>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-66608299 |title=Bath air quality improves since introduction of clean air zone |last=Barltrop |first=Paul |work=BBC News |date=25 August 2023 |access-date=26 August 2023 |archive-date=26 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826220213/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-66608299 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Cycling===
Bath is on [[National Cycle Route 4]], with one of Britain's first [[Cycling infrastructure|cycleways]], the [[Bristol and Bath Railway Path]], to the west, and an eastern route toward London on the canal towpath. Bath is about {{convert|20|mi|km|sigfig=1}} from [[Bristol Airport]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Travelling to and around Bath |url=http://visitbath.co.uk/travel-and-maps/travelling-to-bath |publisher=Visit Bath |access-date=3 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314231449/http://visitbath.co.uk/travel-and-maps/travelling-to-bath |archive-date=14 March 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Bath also benefits from several bridleways and byways.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rights of Way in Bath |url=https://www.whatawalk.com/map/?zoom=12.57350801910208&lat=51.38417172622144&lng=-2.357755395879167&style=outdoors-v11&footpaths=false |website=What a Walk |access-date=22 October 2022 |archive-date=22 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022071722/https://www.whatawalk.com/map/?zoom=12.57350801910208&lat=51.38417172622144&lng=-2.357755395879167&style=outdoors-v11&footpaths=false |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Rivers and canals===
The city is connected to Bristol and the sea by the River Avon, navigable via [[Lock (water navigation)|locks]] by small boats. The river was connected to the [[River Thames|Thames]] and London by the [[Kennet and Avon Canal]] in 1810 via [[Bath Locks]]; this waterway&nbsp;– closed for many years but restored in the last years of the 20th century&nbsp;– is now popular with [[narrowboat]] users.<ref>{{cite book |last=Allsop |first=Niall |title=The Kennet & Avon Canal |year=1987 |publisher=Millstream Book |location=Bath |isbn=978-0-948975-15-8 |page=[https://archive.org/details/kennetavoncanalu0000alls/page/10 10] |url=https://archive.org/details/kennetavoncanalu0000alls/page/10 }}</ref>

===Trams===
The [[Bath Tramways Company]] began operations on 24 December 1880. The {{RailGauge|48in}} gauge cars were horse-drawn along a route from London Road to the railway station. The system closed in 1902 and was replaced by electric tramcars on a greatly expanded {{RailGauge|ussg}} gauge system that opened in 1904. This eventually extended to {{convert|18|mi|km}} with routes to Combe Down, Oldfield Park, Twerton, [[Newton St Loe]], Weston and [[Bathford]]. There was a fleet of 40 cars, all but six being double deck. The first line to close was replaced by a bus service in 1938, and the last went on 6 May 1939.<ref name=tramways>{{cite book |last=Oppitz |first=Leslie |title=Tramways Remembered: West and South West England |year=1990 |publisher=Countryside Books |isbn=978-1-85306-095-3 |page=74 }}</ref>

In 2005, a detailed plan was presented to the council to reintroduce trams to Bath, but the plan did not proceed, reportedly due to the focus by the council on the government-supported busway planned to run from the Newbridge park and ride into the city centre. Part of the justification for the plan was pollution from vehicles in the city, which was twice the legal levels, and heavy traffic congestion due to high car usage. In 2015<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/trams-work-bath/story-26246819-detail/story.html |title=Could trams work in Bath city centre? |date=28 March 2015 |last=Connolly |first=Nancy |work=Bath Chronicle |access-date=6 April 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015195452/http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/trams-work-Bath/story-26246819-detail/story.html |archive-date=15 October 2015 }}</ref> another group, Bath Trams, building on the earlier tram group proposals, created interest in the idea of reintroducing trams with several public meetings and meetings with the council.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bathtrams.uk |title=Trams for Bath – the Pros and Cons – Bath Trams |website=Bath Trams |access-date=28 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411060328/https://bathtrams.uk/ |archive-date=11 April 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2017, [[Bath and North East Somerset Council]] announced a feasibility study{{update inline|date=April 2023}} into implementing a light rail or tram system in the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/news/bath-news/council-look-whether-light-rail-127910 |title=Council to look at whether light rail tram system 'feasible' for Bath – Bath Chronicle |date=21 June 2017 |access-date=28 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623215930/http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/news/bath-news/council-look-whether-light-rail-127910 |archive-date=23 June 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> In November 2016, the [[Local enterprise partnership|West of England Local Enterprise Partnership]] began a consultation process on their Transport Vision Summary Document, outlining potential [[light rail]] or tram routes in the region, one of them a route from [[Bristol city centre]] along the [[A4 road (England)|A4 road]] to Bath to relieve pressure on bus and rail services between the two cities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jointplanningwofe.org.uk/gf2.ti/-/757442/23234053.1/PDF/-/Joint_Transport_Study__Transport_Vision.pdf |title=West of England Joint Transport Study – Transport Vision Summary Document |access-date=16 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117144458/https://www.jointplanningwofe.org.uk/gf2.ti/-/757442/23234053.1/PDF/-/Joint_Transport_Study__Transport_Vision.pdf |archive-date=17 November 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>