TrawsCymru

[Stu]

Transport for Wales has announced a number of TrawsCymru long-distance bus routes have now been retendered as the service continues to provide vital public transport links for many communities in Wales.

The contracts awarded are:
T1C Cardiff-Aberystwyth – contract awarded to Mid Wales Travel with no immediate changes but from November there will be a new fare structure.

T2 Bangor-Aberystwyth – contract awarded to Lloyds Coaches with no immediate changes but adjustments to fares and timetable in November.
This service will be integrated with the X28 Aberystwyth-Machynlleth to provide an hourly service throughout the day and connecting into the T1 and T1C service in both northerly and southerly directions.

T3 Wrexham-Barmouth – contract also awarded to Lloyds Coaches, the main change on this route will involve the introduction of a T3C service connecting villages including Llanuwchllyn near Bala to Corwen where they can connect with the T3.
This will make the T3 service more efficient and sustainable, improving journey times along the route. There will be adjustments to fares and timetables in November.

T6 Brecon-Swansea – contract awarded to Adventure Travel. This service has recently been deregistered and whilst the new registration process continues, they will be running this service free of charge during the initial weeks of the new contract in early September.

T10 Bangor-Corwen – contract awarded to K&P Coaches as mentioned above there are no immediate changes, but fares and timetables will be adjusted in November.
In March 2024 TrawsCymru will be increasing the frequency of the service on Saturdays, Sundays and in school holidays between Betws y Coed and Bangor, providing an hourly service linking into services in Bangor and Eryri/Snowdonia including Sherpa'r Wyddfa.

James Price, chief executive officer at Transport for Wales, said: "We are pleased to see progress with awarding these contracts and are looking forward to upgrading the service standards in line with our T1 route.

"New EV buses are being procured for the whole TrawsCymru network, however there is a long lead time to delivery and we will therefore be replacing some of the older fleet with new Euro 6 diesel buses for the short term as we look to decarbonise the network and confirm charging depot locations."

From: https://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/business/local-bus-companies-awarded-long-distance-route-contracts-637030

[Stu]

New TrawsCymru route starts in February

Transport for Wales' latest TrawsCymru service will commence operation in February 2024, using new Yutong E12 electric buses. These will be the first electric buses on Gwynedd's public transport network, and will operate the new T22 route between Caernarfon, Porthmadog and Blaenau Ffestiniog. The vehicles and charging facilities have been provided with financial support from the Welsh Government and will be operated by Llew Jones International.

Scheduled to begin in February, the T22 will offer an hourly service between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Porthmadog, extending every two hours to Porthmadog and Caernarfon, supplementing the existing TrawsCymru Aberystwyth-Bangor T2 between Porthmadog and Caernarfon.

Read more: https://cbwmagazine.com/new-trawscymru-route-starts-in-february/

[Stu]

Improvements to T3 route between Barmouth and Wrexham from 29th June:

Transport for Wales (TfW) is delighted to announce significant enhancements to its T3 bus service between Wrexham and Barmouth.

TfW and Lloyds Coaches have worked together to make a series of key changes to the timetable and route, which will improve the overall reliability and its connections with other services, as well as providing a more accessible service for all.
The changes come as a direct result of valuable feedback received from passengers during engagement sessions held in Dolgellau, Bala, and Corwen last November
The key changes being made are:

• Llanwuchllyn: Whilst T3C services will continue to serve Llanuwchllyn, T3 services will now serve the top of Llanuwchllyn (Ysgol O M Edwards) in both directions ensuring safer access to the T3 for residents in the area.
• Sunday Service: Communities in Llanuwchllyn, Cynwyd, Llandderfel, and Llandrillo will have a T3C service on a Sunday, providing transport links for leisure, work, and social needs. This is being introduced on a trial basis.
• Improved Hospital Access: All journeys will now serve Maelor Hospital in Wrexham, ensuring increased access to healthcare appointments and medical services.
• School Transport: Monday to Friday the 16:32 from Barmouth will add stops in Llanuwchllyn, Cynwyd, Llandderfel and Llandrillo to give Coleg Meirion Dwyfor students a direct journey home.

https://news.tfw.wales/news/better-connections-greater-reliability-and-improved-accessibility-from-updated-trawscymru-route

And new operator of revised T4 service in September:

Celtic Travel to operate TrawsCymru T4 service 

Mid Wales-based bus operator Celtic Travel has been awarded a contract to deliver the TrawsCymru T4 service between Merthyr and Newtown from September.
The popular route has been operating for 14 years and is well used by commuters, students, residents, and tourists accessing Bannau Brycheiniog, the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show, and many of the lovely towns and villages along the route.
Celtic Travel, based in Llanidloes, Powys, has been delivering reliable transport services across Mid Wales and the surrounding areas since 2006.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales Ken Skates said: "It's good to see Celtic Travel join the Traws network and deliver the T4 from September this year. This is an important route linking towns and villages in mid Wales."
Phyl Davies, Director of Celtic Travel, commented: "We're excited to be taking on this new contract and will be working with our colleagues at Williams of Brecon to ensure we deliver an improved level of service and reliability for T4 customers using our many years of experience delivering coach and bus services to the people of Powys.
"It's great to be part of the TrawsCymru network, and with our knowledge of the local road network and an appreciation of the geography of this area, we feel we can bring a great deal to this service."

https://news.tfw.wales/news/celtic-travel-to-operate-trawscymru-t4-service

The TrawsCymru T4 will continue to be operated by Stagecoach until the end of August, then from September Stagecoach will launch a new X4 service between Merthyr and Cardiff with buses operating up to every sixty minutes, Monday to Saturday.
The new X4 service will serve Treforest Industrial Estate, offering improved connections to places of work, education, and leisure.

[cardew]

Improvements to T3 route between Barmouth and Wrexham from 29th June:

Coincidentally I'll be using the T3 next month for the Mawddach Trail although these changes don't have any impact.

By and large my experience of buses in Wales has been very good, with some good connectivity - e.g. a train ticket from New Street to Aberaeron lets you take the T1/T5 onwards from Aberystwyth. 

Not part of Trawscymru but further north the S1 from Betws-Y-Coed to Pen-Y-Pas and S4 onward to Beddgelert has some stunning snowdonia scenery, comes under the 1BWS £7 day ticket and is highly recommended

[Stu]

Coincidentally I'll be using the T3 next month for the Mawddach Trail although these changes don't have any impact.

By and large my experience of buses in Wales has been very good, with some good connectivity - e.g. a train ticket from New Street to Aberaeron lets you take the T1/T5 onwards from Aberystwyth.

Not part of Trawscymru but further north the S1 from Betws-Y-Coed to Pen-Y-Pas and S4 onward to Beddgelert has some stunning snowdonia scenery, comes under the 1BWS £7 day ticket and is highly recommended

Nice! Just be aware that the T3 is being regularly disrupted and delayed due to traffic congestion in Barmouth, according to Lloyds Coaches on Facebook. 

I'm off to Wales myself tomorrow on holiday, despite numerous trips there in the last few years, I've not actually had the opportunity to try out any of the TrawsCymru services for myself yet. Though I have made use of local services in both Borth and Tywyn.