TrawsCambria / TrawsCymru

Derlwyn said:

I like the idea of an Aberystwyth-Llandovery-Brecon route. Possibly this could run via Tregaron to Lampeter rather than via Aberaeron.

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Rhydgaled said:

I saw an Arriva bus this evening somewhere between Cardiff and Carmarthen which had it's LED displays set to service 20 to Aberystwyth. It seemed to be carrying no passengers and was an ordinary-looking bus, not one of the two coaches (not even one of the CymruExpress liveried Pulsars) carrying the new Arriva livery (the version with the darker turquoise around the bottom and the cream semi-circle not filled it).

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WestyAds said:

Conversely, I've taken a couple of 40s that were being run with one of the coaches, often passing a Cardiff service being run with either a regular Arriva bus or a Cymru Express-liveried Pulsar. Round these parts at least, Arriva's never really been good at coping with having certain buses reserved for certain routes, as they're far too keen on chopping and changing all over the place, presumably for operational reasons.

In other developments, I see that the 41 (formerly X41, Carmarthen to Llandysul) is now officially the first casualty of Arriva's new commercially-run network, with the last services having run today.

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Introducing Traws Cymru

The Welsh Assembly Government has recently announced plans to significantly upgrade two key Traws Cambria bus services early in 2012, and that all Traws Cambria services will be rebranded as Traws Cymru in a series of phases starting in March 2012.



The first two key longer distance bus corridors to be upgraded will be:-

* 10, 20, 40, 50 linking Aberystwyth – Lampeter – Carmarthen; and
* 704 linking Newtown – Brecon – Merthyr.

Both corridors have been selected in recognition of the key strategic importance they play in terms of providing links between major regionally significant centres and the rail network. Both routes also continue to perform well in terms of passenger numbers, and have both experienced good patronage growth over recent years. It is envisaged that investment in both schemes could be further protected through the use of new Statutory Quality Bus Partnership powers.

Both corridors will be rebranded to Traws Cymru and feature new service numbers. Subject to detailed discussions it is envisaged that the following Improvements will be delivered on both corridors will feature:-

Service TC1 Aberystwyth – Aberaeron – Lampeter – Carmarthen

A comprehensive package of improvements has been identified for this key corridor including:-

* Standard hourly service be reintroduced with regular clock face times at all key points along the route;
* Better connections with other services including rail services at Carmarthen and Aberystwyth, other longer distance bus services;
* Better integration with the proposed expanded Bwcabus project at Lampeter and Pencader;
* Faster travel times by re-routing the service between Lampeter and Aberaeron onto the A482 and then serving the smaller settlements of Cribyn and Llanwnnen by the expanded BwcaBus;
* Improved passenger interchange facilities at Carmarthen and Aberystwyth rail stations; and
* Introduction of a dedicated fleet of six new low floor coach style vehicles featuring more comfortable coach style seating, greater luggage space, real time information and WiFi.

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trawscymru27 said:

Arriva have cancelled the X32 from 23rd September. I have heard (but cannot confirm) that it will be replaced with a new service T2 operated by Lloyds Coaches (and possibly another operator, most likely Express Motors). Arriva will operate a commercial 32 between Porthmadog and Caernarfon, in competition with Express. The latter have cancelled the registration for service 35 Blaenau Ffestiniog - Dolgellau, which runs alongside the X32 for most of the route. It seems some interesting changes are afoot in this area. Lloyds have taken delivery of two of the Ceredigion CC Tempos - can't say which. Express have also registered changes for the 1/1B Bangor - Blaenau Ffestiniog and X1 Llandudno - Blaenau Ffestiniog, which may or may not be related. The new service(s) are due to start on Monday 24th September.

Edit: I now understand the Tempos at Lloyds are YJ55BKU and YJ55BKG.

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trawscymru27 said:

Arriva are changing the 10/20/40 timetable again from 2nd September. There will now be a service arriving in Aberystwyth before 9am on Saturdays, but only from Lampeter. The last journeys from Aber and Carmarthen end in Lampeter, and the first two to Aber start from there - could they be opening an outstation in the town??

Timetable here:http://www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/E...ts/bus timetables/Temp/10_20_40_23EPT2012.pdf

I think there may be some changes to the 50 too, but I don't know what they are as I haven't been able to get hold of a timetable.

Hope of Interest.

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WestyAds said:

Aberystwyth seems to cycle relatively quickly through boom and bust periods with regards its buses: every now and then, Arriva ups the frequencies of its routes and extends the running hours, only to cut everything back again six months or so later, ostensibly due to few or no people using these new services (certainly last time I caught the soon-to-be-axed 0500 40 service from Aber to Carmarthen, it was just me and the driver as far as Lampeter).

On the face of it, one can't particularly blame them for dropping services that don't attract enough passengers, but they never seem all that keen to promote the routes - you know, by telling people about them and stuff. Anywhere else, I'd expect to see details of routes, frequencies and saver tickets plastered all over the sides of the buses, yet Arriva seems reluctant do anything so vulgar as to advertise its services. It also doesn't help that most of the (largely tendered) services run by local, competing operators tend to be a little cheaper than Arriva.

All in all, one is left with the impression that Arriva's rapidly losing the little interest it ever had in Aberystwyth, even along what six months ago was considered the "flagship" 40 route to Carmarthen. Local competitors are only too eager to use every service change or price rise to stick the boot in to Arriva, who never seem all that bothered about answering these criticisms.

Certainly this latest bout of cuts - some of the more drastic we've seen in recent times - will do nothing to bolster Arriva's standing in the town. The way things are going, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Arriva scales back on - or even gives up on - local town services in the not-too-distant future.

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trawscymru27 said:

Latest news on the X32 seems to be that Express will be operating one return daytime journey in addition to their current evening service. There is a rumour that Lloyds may also be operating some journeys, but it remains to be seen whether this is the case. Of course, it would be ridiculous to hope that the public might be told about it just 10 days in advance...!

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anthony263 said:

Lloyds coaches have won the tender to operate new Trawscymru service T2 which will replace Arriva's service X32 Aberystwyth - Bangor.

Timetables should be published this week however service will be generally every 2 hours.

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PG1073209/6 - G H A COACHES LTD, UNIT 11, VAUXHALL INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, RUABON, WREXHAM, LL14 6UY

Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Wrexham and Barmouth given service number T3 effective from 04-Nov-2012. To amend Timetable.

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anthony263 said:

An update on the location of some of the older Optare Tempo's.

A photo has been published on the welsh bus photographs group showing, Optare Tempo YJ55BKV in Cheltenham being operated by Marchants on route F.

They do have another of these Tempo's although no registration available yet.

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