NAT Cardiff X1 bus - launching 11th May 2015

[ValleyLines142]

I noticed earlier this evening that NAT (New Adventure Travel) are introducing a new service, the X1, in Cardiff on 11th May. It's a Cross City service that will run from Culverhouse Cross to Pontprennau Asda via Ely, Canton, Cardiff city centre, Albany Road, Llanedeyrn and Pentwyn.

Running every fifteen minutes from 0600 to 2030, it will be operated with branded 15-reg Optare Versas. With a single journey priced at £1.60, a day ticket at £3 and a weekly ticket at £12, they are really going for the competition with Cardiff Bus (currently at £1.80 a single, £3.60 a day and £12 a week) and even at a slightly less but still respectful fifteen minute frequency compared with Cardiff Bus, I would even use them instead, although of course Cardiff Bus have been/will be the dominant operator in the capital.

This new route will go right past my house, and I shall be making use of it! Interesting bit of competition; I look forward to seeing what CB think!

More info here: http://www.natgroup.co.uk/crosscity

 

[317 forever]

As I shall be in the area in July, I hope to ride one. I am optimistic that I shall be able to use my Freedom of South Wales Flexipass on it!

 

[DaveHarries]

Very interesting. The bus shown on the front page of the X1 link is, however, an Optare MetroCity and not a Versa.

A search elsewhere on NAT's site (under the 'Latest News' section) reveals they have recently taken delivery (or are in the process of doing so) of 15x Optare buses on '15' plates including - it would seem - some Solo SRs.

Dave

 

[iantherev]

Running time of 68 minutes end to end crossing Cardiff City Centre? Best of luck with that....

 

[extendedpaul]

Must say I like NAT Travel and they are continually expanding. Nice buses and generally friendly drivers.

I recommend a ride on their route 303/304 Cardiff to Bridgend via Barry, Llantwit and Ogmore. Takes about an hour longer than the X2 First service but worth it if you have the time.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Very interesting. The bus shown on the front page of the X1 link is, however, an Optare MetroCity and not a Versa.

I did think it was slightly different to a Versa as it has a slightly more squashed appearance on the front!

Running time of 68 minutes end to end crossing Cardiff City Centre? Best of luck with that....

I thought the same, especially in the peaks. Could be achieved at the more quieter times, however.

I recommend a ride on their route 303/304 Cardiff to Bridgend via Barry, Llantwit and Ogmore. Takes about an hour longer than the X2 First service but worth it if you have the time.

The X2 already takes over an hour as it is, can't be more appealing going all round Barry and The Vale!

 

[anthony263]

The issue about the running tiems has already been raised particulary how the services are going to cope during the peaks. The buses which will be launched on 8th May in Cardiff with be the new metrocity models now optare versa's.

Their 303/304 are generally quiet leaving Bridgend however soon start to pick up as they leave town One thing I have noticed recently is that their last service from Bridgend at 2337 arrives into Cardiff at 0205.

 

[Teflon Lettuce]

Must say I like NAT Travel and they are continually expanding. Nice buses and generally friendly drivers.

I recommend a ride on their route 303/304 Cardiff to Bridgend via Barry, Llantwit and Ogmore. Takes about an hour longer than the X2 First service but worth it if you have the time.

Strange how the destination on the 304 includes the word "express" perhaps NAT should buy themselves a dictionary?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

The X2 already takes over an hour as it is, can't be more appealing going all round Barry and The Vale!

To be fair, the poster was saying its a nicer ride if you've the time. (I.e. Scenery is more important than time such as twirlies on a day out or someone just fancying a trip out). Surely you must concede that the scenery, esp. around Ogmore, is more picturesque than the "quick" route?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Strange how the destination on the 304 includes the word "express" perhaps NAT should buy themselves a dictionary?

I almost hear the words of Neil Hannon......

 

[ValleyLines142]

To be fair, the poster was saying its a nicer ride if you've the time. (I.e. Scenery is more important than time such as twirlies on a day out or someone just fancying a trip out). Surely you must concede that the scenery, esp. around Ogmore, is more picturesque than the "quick" route?

Indeed but I haven't been down there since I was a baba, so I wouldn't remember.

Now that I finish uni on Wednesday, that can be a plan for the summer!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Indeed but I haven't been down there since I was a baba, so I wouldn't remember.

Now that I finish uni on Wednesday, that can be a plan for the summer!

First time I did it was when it was the 145 (?) and operated by Golden Coaches with a Willowbrook bodied Leopard on loan from Rhondda Buses. The old Bridgend bus station and depot were still standing but derelict - indicates how long ago it was. It is a nice run out.

As for NAT, that's quite an outlay for a relatively small firm in a competitive move?

 

[anthony263]

NAT do seem to be expanding quite rapidly across south wales and Kevin Jones has made no secret of his plans to expend nationwide including bidding for contracts in London.

The rise of NAT has worried other operators including the big boys like Stagecoach & first.

Mind you I remember another welsh operator having similar ambitions back in 2000 and look what happened there. I do hope fate doesn't strike again

 

[Envoy]

I understand that Cardiff Bus (Council owned) have had so called 'consultants' hired in to help them plan routes. Here we have NAT who keep coming up with innovative new routes such as linking Dinas Powis with central Cardiff via the Bay (Mermaid Quay) and now this cross city route. It also looks like NAT are undercutting the Cardiff Bus fares - well, at least they don't have to pay for 'consultants'!.

 

[DaveHarries]

NAT do seem to be expanding quite rapidly across south wales and Kevin Jones has made no secret of his plans to expend nationwide including bidding for contracts in London.

The rise of NAT has worried other operators including the big boys like Stagecoach & first.

Mind you I remember another welsh operator having similar ambitions back in 2000 and look what happened there. I do hope fate doesn't strike again

I also hope NAT don't suffer a similar fate as the operator referred to.

Dave

 

[anthony263]

I do think NAT have done their homework have been very careful with what they are taking on.


Cardiff Bus will have to be careful this time as eyes are going to be watching them. NAT do seem to be having a good few passengers on the X1

 

[ValleyLines142]

The only problem with the X1 is that for those who have a weekly ticket for Cardiff Bus, they'll obviously stick to what they know. Furthermore, despite generally being cheaper, they only operate one route, whereas Cardiff Bus operate all over the city. Ideal if you live on the route, as you can limit yourself to that route, but if you need to get several different buses across the city then Cardiff Bus obviously have that in their favour.

I've yet to use the X1 yet, purely because I haven't had time, but I do think it'll go far and a respected company such as NAT may even bring out new routes. Best of luck to them.

 

[Bwsbro]

How are the numbers on service X1 these days also how is the timings on this service as I will be heading down to Cardiff in August

Aski with the company stating that they are opening a new Newport Depot, the company have registered a new N1 service in Newport

PG1079161/149 - NEW ADVENTURE TRAVEL LTD, N.A.T. HOUSE, COASTER PLACE, CARDIFF, CF10 4XZ
Registration Accepted
Starting Point: Newport Bus Station
Finish Point: Newport Bus Station
Via:
Service Number: N1
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 01-SEP-2015
Other Details: Monday to Saturday excluding bank holidays

 

[DaveHarries]

Aski with the company stating that they are opening a new Newport Depot, the company have registered a new N1 service in Newport

This doesn't surprise me. The VOSA bus service registrations for Tuesday 14th July included a number from Newport Bus, all wef 01-Sep-2015, and it sounds to me as if some considerable changes could be afoot. The registrations from NB were, in summary:

New Services:
125 Newport (Market Square) - Llanwern High School

Changes:
TT: Timetable changes
RT: Route & Timetable
RST: Route, Stopping Places & Timetable

2A, 2C Newport - Gaer (TT)
8A, 8C Newport - Ringland (TT)
15, 16 Newport - Bettws (TT)
17, 18, 19, 19E Newport - Malpas (TT)
27, 28, 28B Newport - Caerleon (TT)
29, 29B Newport - Cwmbran (RST)
34, 35, 36 Newport - Celtic Springs (TT)
42, 43 Newport - Moorland Park (RST)
73, 74 Newport - Chepstow (TT) (wef 19-Jul-2015)
121, 158, 159 School Services (TT)
146, 148, 150-153, 414 School Services (TT)
160, 161 School Services (TT)

Cancelled:
1, 1A, 1C Newport - Rogerstone
5 Newport - Baneswell
11A, 11C Newport - Brynglas Drive
140-144, 147, 149, 150, 154, 155, 156, 157, 415 School Services

And that, as far as I know, is that. I reckon that NAT will move to replace routes 1, 1A, 1C, 5, 11A & 11C and that the N1 is the replacement for the first 3 of those. The NAT Twitter feed also mentions that they held a recruitment day in Pontypool (16th July) and also says "17 new buses on order for delivery later this year for bus services throughout South Wales" so it may be that the new Newport depot gets some of those.

HTIOI,
Dave

 

[ValleyLines142]

How are the numbers on service X1 these days also how is the timings on this service as I will be heading down to Cardiff in August.

It's not doing too bad actually. I caught an X1 out of Cardiff the other day at about 5.45pm and it was almost full!

I can't comment on the loadings on the eastern part of the route, as I have only used it between Culverhouse Cross and the city centre, but it seems to be doing really well! I always catch it because it stops right outside my works, whereas other buses stop in Wood Street, about a 10 minute walk away.

 

[317 forever]

These MetroCity single-deckers are quite classy with blue and black leather seats. The fare from Pontprennau to the city centre was just £1.60. I was therefore willing to pay this fare even though I had a Flexi Rover which was not valid here.

 

[anthony263]

I did a few trips on the X1 on Saturday and the buses were carrying full loads from Pentwyn into Cardiff although most got off at Queen Street before more passengers were picked up close to Central station.

There is local talk of this route being expanded with buses running every 30 minutes after 8pm until 2330.

 

[DaveHarries]

Hmm. I know NAT have an order for 10 more Optare MetroCity buses for later this year - http://www.optare.com/news/2015/7/2...venture-after-impressive-fuel-economy-results - but with NewportBus having recently registered withdrawl of routes 1, 1A, 1C, 5 & 11 (see my earlier post above) it could be that these new MCs will go to Newport.

As for the school services around Newport that NB registered cancellation of, the VOSA registrations for today (27/07/2015) contained a number of school service registrations from NAT, all wef 01-Sep-2015.

Dave

 

[Bwsbro]

Nothing exiting in Newport.

The N1 are only School Buses along with a large group of new School Buses for the company

 

[Bwsbro]

Just seen this story on the Internet

Bus company steps in to take Brynglas and Allt-yr-yn routes axed by Newport Transport

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/ne..._in_to_take_routes_axed_by_Newport_Transport/

It seams that NAT Group will be operating services to Brynglas and Allt yr yn from Newport Transport when they get cancelled in September. These services will be operated in co-junction with the tendered school runs, the same policy Newport Transport Operated.

With NAT now expanding in Newport alongside the X1 in Cardiff could this be a turning curve in the future of the two municipal bus operators, Cardiff Bus and Newport Transport???

T9 Update
Also following the closure of Cardiff Bus Station, NAT Group are operating a shuttle service every 30 mins between Sofia Gardens (For National Express Coaches) and Customhouse Street (For T9) for connecting passengers on the National Express Network to Cardiff Airport

 

[Teflon Lettuce]

T9 Update
Also following the closure of Cardiff Bus Station, NAT Group are operating a shuttle service every 30 mins between Sofia Gardens (For National Express Coaches) and Customhouse Street (For T9) for connecting passengers on the National Express Network to Cardiff Airport

shame the T9 wasn't extended to sofia gardens... a much more sensible idea than expecting passengers to decant from a coach, haul luggage on a shuttle bus only to offload and reload in Cardiff City centre!