- The new coach service will improve public transport
connectivity between the north and the south of Wales and cut
journey times by over an hour.
- The north south coach will operate regular services every day
linking Bangor to Carmarthen.
- The service supports a shift away from car travel, backing
Wales' transition to a low carbon economy.
People across Wales will save over an hour on journey times
between the north and the south of Wales when a new long-distance
coach launches this autumn.
The new coach service will operate regular services every day
linking Bangor to Carmarthen to transform connectivity across the
country and improve access to jobs, healthcare, education,
businesses, and leisure. It is also expected to support improved
access for visitors to Wales.
The service will stop at Bangor Rail Station, Caernarfon,
Porthmadog Rail Station, Dolgellau (Eldon Square), Machynlleth,
Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth Bus Station, Aberaeron and
Carmarthen Rail Station.
Deputy Transport Minister, said:
We promised in our 100-day plan that we would prepare to launch a
new coach service linking the north of Wales with the south of
Wales and I'm delighted to confirm that plans are well underway
to introduce this service in the autumn.
For decades, many rural communities have been ill-served by
public transport, but this new coach service is the first step in
improving connectivity between the north and the south of Wales.
The service will connect key regional centres, running alongside
and enhancing existing services, including TrawsCymru, the rural
bus network, and Fflecsi to deliver an integrated, multi-modal
transport network across Wales.
As well as improving connectivity the service will also open-up
sustainable tourism to destinations, including Eryri National
Park, the Lln Peninsula and Cardigan Bay, and supports Wales'
transition to a greener economy by providing a low-carbon
alternative to the car.
Transport for Wales will use the coming months to develop the
service in line with the wider T Network' an integrated transport
network for Wales.
Lee Robinson, Executive Director for Regional Transport
& Integration, said:
"This new coach service is the result of a huge amount of work by
teams across Transport for Wales, working closely with partners
and drawing on insight from our Network North Wales programme to
design a service that truly meets the needs of communities. By
linking key towns and communities along the west coast, we're
creating faster, more reliable connections for work, education
and leisure.
"The new service is a key step in building the T Network, Welsh
Government's vision for a fully integrated public transport
system for Wales, strengthening the TrawsCymru network, helping
to deliver a more joined-up, multi-modal offer and making it
easier for people to travel sustainably with seamless connections
to rail and local bus services."
Funding for this service was announced in the First Supplementary
Budget last week, alongside £8m for extending the £1 bus fare for
all young people aged 5-21 years. This funding will extend the
scheme for a further seven months allowing more younger people to
access cheaper bus fares until 31 March 2027.
Notes to editors
- A £2m investment has been confirmed in the Supplementary
Budget which will cover the cost of running the service for one
year, developing an online booking system and promotion around
the service. Eight coaches have already been purchased to run
this service.
- We know from the well-used daily TrawsCymru T1C express coach
service linking Aberystwyth and Cardiff that there is demand for
longer distance coach services within Wales.
- More information on the £1 young person bus fare scheme can
be found here: Children and Young persons
£1 bus fare | Transport for Wales
