Explore Cardiff & Valleys

[IanD]

Does anyone know if this ticket is still valid on buses and if so which ones?

I've had a look at various websites and some say Stagecoach in South Wales, Rhondda busses operated by Thomas Coaches and all local Cardiff bus services (although I can't find that one now!). But the Arriva trains Wales site only mentions the trains.

Cheers!

 

[Rover]

Bus information is hiden away in the terms and conditions:

https://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk/RoversRangersTermsConditions/#CardiffValleys


1. Explore Cardiff & Valleys - You can travel by bus or train after 0915 Monday to Fridays, and all day Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays.

2. Valley Lines Night Rider - You can travel by train after 1830 Monday to Sunday only.

3. Services of the following bus operators are included in the price of Explore Cardiff & Valleys. Please check with Traveline Cymru for details of the operators' complete network of services.

Stagecoach: Services in South East Wales
Rhondda Buses operated by Thomas Coaches

4. Each Explore Cardiff & Valleys allows one day train travel and one day bus travel. The Night Rider allows one evening train travel."

 

[IanD]

Thanks Rover. That's great.

I notice the main page says that the start time is 9:30am now - but no mention of the buses. The Stagecoach bus website has a map showing their services on which you can use the ticket but the info is from 2016 so wasn't sure if it was still valid.

I contacted both organisations but had no response from either.

 

[Dai Corner]

Bus drivers are not always aware of the ticket so it would be a good idea to carry a printout showing its validity.

Here's a link to the Stagecoach South Wales leaflet
https://www.stagecoachbus.com/media...es/ttg south wales web version 2017.pdf?la=en

They sent me a printed copy after I emailed them on [email protected]

 

[IanD]

Thanks, I will try.

 

[extendedpaul]

I queried the time restriction with Stagecoach South Wales a few years ago and received a reply confirming that the Valley Lines Day Ranger ticket (as I think it was then called) was valid on their buses all day.

I always took the e-mail with me as many bus drivers had never seen one. They can issue the tickets too which is useful if you want to start early though I always tried to get the ticket the previous day.

I haven't bought one since qualifying for a bus pass but I don't think it's a widely-used ticket even on the trains. The bus part is useful to travel between lines, eg from Merthyr Tydfil to Aberdare or Rhymney or Ebbw Vale, instead of having to return to Pontypridd or Cardiff on the same line.

 

[IanD]

I queried the time restriction with Stagecoach South Wales a few years ago and received a reply confirming that the Valley Lines Day Ranger ticket (as I think it was then called) was valid on their buses all day.

I always took the e-mail with me as many bus drivers had never seen one. They can issue the tickets too which is useful if you want to start early though I always tried to get the ticket the previous day.

I haven't bought one since qualifying for a bus pass but I don't think it's a widely-used ticket even on the trains. The bus part is useful to travel between lines, eg from Merthyr Tydfil to Aberdare or Rhymney or Ebbw Vale, instead of having to return to Pontypridd or Cardiff on the same line.

Thanks Paul. I'm hopefully going to Ebbw Vale to pick up the 'new' track at the town end today so a bus across to Merthyr is quite useful.

 

[Rover]

Thanks Rover. That's great.

I notice the main page says that the start time is 9:30am now ...
I contacted both organisations but had no response from either.

mmm,
One page says:
"The Explore Cardiff & Valleys ticket is valid for travel after 09.30 Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays), which is 15 minutes later than the current start time."

But the "Terms and Conditions" still say 09.15

Looks like they've changed the validity but forgot to the alter the t & c's.

 

[IanD]

I bought the ticket at 9am at Cardiff Central - I'd expected a mention of the start time but was just sold the ticket.

As suggested, the driver of the Stagecoach bus in Ebbw Vale had never seen one before but took my word that it was valid on the bus so happy days.

 

[IanD]

Just had a reply from Arriva Trains Wales (the first since I contacted them in September) saying they're sorry they have taken so long to respond properly. Not responding properly with the info I asked for, look you, but just apologising for not responding and asking if I would like a personal response. And I thought Virgin Trains WC were bad - at least they would have not given me the info but sent me £50 in rail vouchers instead.