Proposals to transform the way local bus services are planned and
delivered across Wales have been published today. (Monday 31
March). They will benefit passengers, communities and encourage
more bus travel.
A new Bill has been laid in the Senedd which, if passed, will
provide the powers to create a bus network that meets passenger
needs.
The proposals include providing one network, one timetable and
one ticket across Wales, with services based on local knowledge.
The Bus Services (Wales) Bill outlines how through Transport for
Wales, in close collaboration with local authorities and
Corporate Joint Committees*, bus services will be planned and
co-ordinated at a national level and delivered principally
through franchised contracts by private, third and public sector
operators.
Welcoming the Bill, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North
Wales said it had the potential to transform local bus
services across the whole of Wales.
He said: “This is a historic day for public transport in Wales,
as proposals for bus reform begin their journey through the
Senedd. This is about putting people first by providing one
network, one timetable and one ticket across Wales.
“Change is needed. While many bus services work well, and
some areas are well-served, it is not the case everywhere and for
everyone. I want to see a bus network which puts
people and communities first, with reliable, affordable and
easy-to-use services; joined-up services which link with
other forms of transport such as trains and active travel.
“The benefits of better bus services are clear and include
increasing equity for those who need public transport the most
and providing an alternative to the car.”
Buses are a vital public service, carrying three-quarters of all
public transport journeys. Around 190,000 journeys are made by
bus every day in Wales. Barriers to bus use which the Bill aims
to tackle include poor reliability, tickets not accepted across
multiple operators and lack of integration with other modes of
transport.
The public will benefit from better information on bus services
with easy-to-navigate timetables allowing easier transitions
between bus and train services to reach destinations efficiently.
Ticket revenue will be reinvested across the whole of Wales,
ensuring services improve across the country in rural as well as
urban areas.
added: “We've already seen how an integrated bus
service can work, for example the Traws services, including the
T1 service which has a ticket which is fully integrated with
rail. Across North Wales we have the 1bws ticket which is
valid on virtually every local bus service in the area.
These are examples of what integrated services can deliver.
“I don't underestimate the scale of change the proposals in this
Bill will deliver, and for that reason it will be rolled out
region by region. But the change will be transformational.”
The roll out is intended to begin in South West Wales in 2027,
before North Wales in 2028, South East Wales in 2029 and Mid
Wales in 2030. While Mid Wales is the final region, it will
benefit much earlier from improvements through the Bridge to
Franchising work currently underway.
Notes to editors
Note
Traws Cymru T1 Service
- Since the Traws T1 migrated to Transport for Wales, we have
been able to collectively introduce new developments to the
service. Transport for Wales applied the ‘whole product'
approach, focusing on the whole customer experience. This
included purchasing buses with high-quality interiors, improving
customer service and support, enhancing driver training and
setting high quality operational standards, with a quality
monitoring regime. Passengers now benefit from simpler fares,
which are easier to understand, through the introduction of a
distance based lower single fare structure. The TrawsCymru T1
ticket is fully integrated with rail and a new website and app
has been developed to help passengers plan and book their
journeys. The app enables passengers to:
- o Plan journeys and calculate their carbon savings.
- o Purchase mobile tickets.
- o Track buses in real time.
- o Help connect passengers with rail services at
Carmarthen and Aberystwyth railway stations.
- We have introduced live on-bus displays, which provide
information about the next three trains departing from the
respective train stations. Each journey at either end of the
route is designed to connect with passengers arriving or
departing by train.
- The Bill will now be subject to Senedd scrutiny, and subject
to agreement Royal Assent is likely in early 2026.
- *Corporate Joint Committees are made up of the local
authorities and national park authorities in that area, and the
membership includes the executive leaders of the local
authorities.
