Polarbear
Established Member
Yes, the X94 did get to Chester for around a year or so. Cut back to Wrexham due to reliability (lack thereof) issues I understand.
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TrawsCambria / TrawsCymru
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Yes, the X94 did get to Chester for around a year or so. Cut back to Wrexham due to reliability (lack thereof) issues I understand.
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Markdvdman
Member
The driver of the T1c I am on from Cardiff was informed this am the service has been granted an extension to April 2018.
WelshBuses93
Member
New timetable for the T2 from January. More journeys added to compensate for the loss of Express Motors service 1 and routed via Garndolbenmaen.
https://diogel.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/G...llau_-_Porthmadog_-_Bangor_from_01-01-18].pdf
https://diogel.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/G...llau_-_Porthmadog_-_Bangor_from_01-01-18].pdf
0B00
Member
Loving the single random journey via Criccieth at 0730 each morning! And a 'new' operator to the 'T' network in Gwynfor Coaches (actually since 5/11/17) on the 1915 Dolgellau-Porthmadog journey.
I note that two services are scheduled to depart/terminate at Penygroes. Does this mean that Lloyds intends to have an outstation on the present Express Motors site?
Interesting too, that Gwynfor Coaches seems to be picking-up a lot of extra work at Express's expense. I presume they have the necessary resources in place. Do they intend to establish an outstation in Gwynedd, otherwise these new contracts seem to involve a lot of dead mileage to/from Llangefni?
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TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
There's a nice 0600 Sunday run from Mach to Bangor - one hell of a positioning journey!
Gosh - you're right. I'd not noticed that before.
I don't somehow think that even with free travel they'll need a dupe at that time on the Sabbath!
0B00
Member
That 0600 trip has been running since Lloyds won the first southbound run off Express last year.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Still - it's one humdinger of a placement journey!
Markdvdman
Member
I know this is not Trawscymru, but rather than create a new thread for little discussion, will post it here.
First Call used to run the Merthyr - Swansea bus 4 times in the week, from 7:30am to 4:30pm, and 6 times on a Saturday same time range. Not a great service compared to what Stagecoach used to provide, but ok.
Now changed to 3 times each way - Merthyr to Swansea - 8:45am / 11:15am and 4:15pm : Swansea to Merthyr - 9:55am / 12:25pm and 5:25pm
I have used the service - buses are not great but stick to time, lack any facilities such as usb ports for charging and all that.
I wonder if this should be a route that Trawscymru should look at. The BIG change is if you find a job in Swansea from Merthyr, and do not drive, you cannot do 9am to 5pm anymore! Would have to go via Cardiff with increased costs.
Or is the route itself so problematic that economically, not very viable - probably this last point!
First Call used to run the Merthyr - Swansea bus 4 times in the week, from 7:30am to 4:30pm, and 6 times on a Saturday same time range. Not a great service compared to what Stagecoach used to provide, but ok.
Now changed to 3 times each way - Merthyr to Swansea - 8:45am / 11:15am and 4:15pm : Swansea to Merthyr - 9:55am / 12:25pm and 5:25pm
I have used the service - buses are not great but stick to time, lack any facilities such as usb ports for charging and all that.
I wonder if this should be a route that Trawscymru should look at. The BIG change is if you find a job in Swansea from Merthyr, and do not drive, you cannot do 9am to 5pm anymore! Would have to go via Cardiff with increased costs.
Or is the route itself so problematic that economically, not very viable - probably this last point!
extendedpaul
Member
I use this route most months and can confirm that the 10am departure from Merthyr is (was) very busy. I've been on a couple of journeys with all seats occupied and a few standing passengers for part of the route. It's always the same driver and he drives really fast. The bus used is pretty ancient and doesn't even have the usual smart ticketing machine. I don't know if other journeys are as well supported. For me the change is a good thing as I will use the 08.45 to reach Neath or Swansea earlier than I could before from Caerphilly.
317 forever
Established Member
The other reason I heard was to reduce how far into Wales people with English bus passes, most notably over 60s, could go.
Bwsbro
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A T1c has now been published by Ceredigion county council on behalf of The Welch government for a daily coach Service to Cardiff. Leaving Aberystwyth at 09:30 daily and returning at 17:00 weekdays & Saturday & 15:00 on Sunday
The route will be different
Aberystwyth - Aberaeron - Synod Inn (Direct via A487) - Llandysul - Pencader - Carmarthen - Cross Hands - Port Talbot - Sarn - Culverhouse Cross - Customhouse Street
Swansea will not be served on the new service however Welsh Government looking at possible locations to connect with local bus service to Swansea. Swansea may be added to Sunday journeys
Teflon Lettuce
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Can you provide the link to this please? I can only find the current timetable on their website.
So they are changing the route are they? Shame that the Welsh Assembly can't just look at the old 701 and work out what made it a success!
The new routing has only one positive... Port Talbot is served once again... that was always a good traffic generator for the 701. HOWEVER it is now being routed via Llandysul? When Bryans coaches tried a journey via New Quay and Llandysul, Llandysul generated an average of approxiamately 1 passenger per journey! Also that means the new route misses Lampeter; that along with the villages in between was always a good traffic generator as was Swansea. I mean really a route that bypasses Swansea is designed to shoot itself in the foot... just ask Arriva what effect doing so had on their Aberystwyth-Cardiff service.
As for the timings... well.. there was a reason why the 0740 journey was always twice as busy as the 0940... and obviously the sunday timings are such that it will mean there will be no day tripper market on that day!
Try try and try again Welsh Assembly... one day you might admit that commercial operators actually know a bit more about route and timetable design than a politician does!
Markdvdman
Member
Indeed a positive for Port Talbot but not serving Lampeter is insane. Swansea not so bad as plenty of X10 services go there!
Timings suck mind you!
Teflon Lettuce
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yes but if you think about it it is a service for Aber going southwards... the X10 provides no alternative for those that want to go to Swansea.. it is totally insane that a service from Aber bypasses Wales' 2nd largest city... and as I said above, one of the things that really killed the Arriva service was when it was sent direct to cardiff bypassing swansea.
Markdvdman
Member
Good points. Missing out Swansea is insane. I suspect they are trying to cripple the service. Should simply have mirrored the 701 timings!
plannerman
Member
It was very popular as I remember, as the only service which went direct from Wrexham to Chester via the bypass, and also because of the Optare Deltas used which contrasted nicely to the standard route's mixture of VR's, Olympians, Lynx's and whatever else Crosville could be bothered to throw out of the garage
Swr28
Member
I've done it from Machynlleth to get me into Porthmadog for a gala on the ffestiniog railway, I nearly slipped up as the driver turned up at the depot and it then departed from there. I was waiting at the Town Clock the driver passed me and picked me up his car and assumed i was waiting for the bus. I was the only one on it as far as Dolgellau where a slightly inebriated person boarded.
It usually has the same driver on it most weeks and he said he does get a few on travelling to the hospital in Bangor from Port, Penegroes.
I then did the return 1855 from Minffordd. There were 10 of us until Dolgellau and 3 to Machynlleth where it connects with a train to aberystwyth and Shrewsbury
Bwsbro
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NAT to operate the new T1C coach service
- PG1079161/193 Registered (Short notice)
NEW ADVENTURE TRAVEL LIMITED
Route: Aberystwyth to Cardiff via Aberaeron, Llandysul
Service number: T1C
Service type: Limited Stop
Effective date: 16 Apr 2018
rich.davies
Member
I tried to plan a trip from Wrexham to Cardiff via Aberystwyth using the Trawscymru network but found it awkward when it came to connections from Aber. Would be nice to see the new T1C in the future, eventually connect with the T2 from Dollgellau/Bangor.
Is the new timetable different or does this involve a new area for NAT?
WelshBuses93
Member
T1S registered from April 16th to operate from Carmarthen to Swansea.
https://www.vehicle-operator-licens...registered-local-bus-services/details/517308/
https://www.vehicle-operator-licens...registered-local-bus-services/details/517308/
Markdvdman
Member
Timetable released on Firsts Website:
https://www.firstgroup.com/south-we...anned-changes/service-changes-16th-april-2018
Ayman Ilham
Member
So let me get this straight, the new T1C is basically gonna be rerouted to provide a faster connection between Aberyswyth, Carmarthen & Cardiff when NAT take over to provide a proper coach service rather than a standard bus that, as good as Wright Eclipses are, is a joke for a 4h35m express journey; and another possible reason for avoiding Swansea is that now it will be a different company to the X10 service, it probably needs to steer clear of potential revenue abstraction for Swansea to Cardiff passengers.
And First Cymru's new T1 extension (T1S) seems to have new timings that would actually allow connection with the T2, improving North-South travel considerably, since that would mean people throughout Gwynedd all the way up to Bangor would be able to travel to Swansea much more easily! Also, Aberystwyth & Lampeter will continue to be connected to Swansea when the T1C bypasses the city! As for Lampeter to Cardiff, it would still be possible by using the T1 then changing at Carmarthen for the T1C!
Overall, this does seem to be a great improvement
and I see why they're numbered as they are now:T1C = Cardiff
T1S = Swansea
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Teflon Lettuce
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your assumptions are correct... except for the one that this is an improvement.So let me get this straight, the new T1C is basically gonna be rerouted to provide a faster connection between Aberyswyth, Carmarthen & Cardiff as NAT take over and provide a proper coach service rather than a service bus that, as good as Wright Eclipses are, is a joke for a 4h35m express journey; and another possible reason for avoiding Swansea is that now it will be a different company to the X10 service, it probably needs to steer clear of potential revenue abstraction for Swansea to Cardiff passengers.
And First Cymru's new T1 extension (T1S) seems to have new timings that would actually allow connection with the T2, improving North-South travel considerably, since that would mean people throughout Gwynedd all the way up to Bangor would be able to travel to Swansea much more easily! Also, Aberystwyth & Lampeter will continue to be connected to Swansea when the T1C bypasses the city! As for Lampeter to Cardiff, it would still be possible by using the T1 then changing at Carmarthen for the T1C!
Overall, this does seem to be a great improvement
T1C = Cardiff
T1S = Swansea
The whole debacle of the ending of the 701 and the miserable T1C replacement, and now the T1C "improvement" is a text book case of why politicians should not be given any say in how a bus/ coach service should be operated...
The WA refused to directly replace the 701. All enquiries to replace it on a commercial basis were scuppered by the WA arbitarily HALVING the payments made for concessionary passes, therefore wrecking the economics of the service... so no operator would take it on commercially
WA then spent 6 months denying there was a "social" need for the service, before relenting and putting on the T1C... in the meantime many people had found other ways of completing their journey.
Of course the original T1C service was operated with normal service buses and takes longer than the 701 did... not an attractive proposition and no-one really was using it... a flop... "proving" that there's no need for a service from Aber to Cardiff...
They tried withdrawing the T1C but again there was an outcry, so the contract was extended while they tried to decide what to do next...
We now have their answer... the T1C is going to be operated with a coach, but is going to operate via Llandysul instead of Lampeter and will NOT serve Swansea... therefore ignoring 2 lessons of history which means this service is doomed to yet more failure... in other words it is another exercise of "I told you so" and designed just to "prove" that their own political dogma was right all along!
Ayman Ilham
Member
So basically, the WAG are trying to stop funding the Aberystwyth to Cardiff connection so they can make more money and after their persistent denial of the actual demands, they deliberately provided inadequate service (first, a bus that's completely unsuitable for such a long journey and now, a coach service that bypasses important places like the university town of Lampeter and Wales' 2nd largest city) to force it to be a flop so they can make sure their point is "proven right" in order to save more money for themselves, as politics these days always does! On the other hand, what about the T1S? Doesn't that compensate for the controversial change of route?
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Dai Corner
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Meanwhile, Megabus operate a daily return service Aberystwyth-Lampeter-Carmarthen-Swansea-Cardiff which presumably makes a profit.
Teflon Lettuce
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not really... the whole popularity of the 701 was that it was a direct coach service... people don't like changing buses... even if the connection is operated by the same operator.... now think on this one... you decide to travel from Aber- Swansea... you get on the T1C at Aber... as you approach Carmarthen bus stn 2 mins late you see the T1S departing 2 mins early... you've missed your connection... but who do you complain to?
the driver of the T1C won't even be able to phone control to hold the connection if he knows he's going to be late can he?
Teflon Lettuce
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ah but you're confusing 2 seperate things there.... the 701 was a long distance limited stop local service operated by coaches, whereas Megabus is an express coach service. Megabus not only has extremely limited number of stops but also you have to prebook, whereas 701 and now T1C are pay on entry, so no need to plan ahead
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