Interesting trip out last Friday - not all relevant to this thread but I'm keen to post it somewhere.
Starting at Ystradgynlais:
NAT 64 Ystradgynlais 09.15, Ammanford 10.16
First 128 Ammanford 10.35, Llanelli 11.44
First 195 Llanelli 11.45, Carmarthen 12.40 (was running late or would have got an X11)
Celtic Travel X14 Carmarthen 13.33 Builth Wells 15.07 (Fridays only)
Stagecoach T4 Builth Wells 16.27, Talgarth 17.02
Stagecoach 39 Talgarth 17.20, Brecon 17.41
NAT T6 Brecon 18.10, Ystradgynlais 18.59
I thoroughly recommend the X14. Only once a week but the scenery between Llandovery and Builth Wells, especially near Sugar Loaf, is excellent. Between Carmarthen and Llandelio it runs the other side of the river from the 280/281. Surprised that quite a few passengers used it just to Llandovery when there is a regular service, but several more went through to Builth Wells and stayed on - it clearly goes on to Llandrindod. I was surprised it cost as much a £8 but good value for the distance. Run by a Solo.
What interested me was that the fare from Builth to Talgarth (35 mins - £2.80) was only about half the fare from Talgarth to Brecon (21 minutes - £5.50). Presumably because - as of last week - the T4 is tendered and the 39 commercial. I just wanted to stop off to see Talgarth and no doubt it would have been much cheaper not to (but then it would have been cheaper to stay at home!).The 39 was 10 minutes late but I had been following this struggling through the Hereford traffic on the Stagecoach website before leaving Builth and it was spot on the predicted time.
Now the 39 is the T14 and part of TrawsCambria is the fare from Talgarth to Brecon much less? The T4 journey I took diverted via Talgarth, presumably (during term times) for school or college children from Llandrindod judging by the times. With the new timetable just started there is no journey at a similar time (in the interest of a clockface timetable bwteen Brecon and Merthyr?) and only a morning journey diverts this way. Presumably these children will need a dedicated school bus now? And will Stagecoach be compensated for having their commercial 39 service to Hereford taken over by TrawsCambria with - perhaps - lower fares (at least in Wales)? The new T14 timetable is interesting in that on non-college days the first journey from Hereford and the last journey to Hereford break at Hay on Wye for 47/61 minutes. No doubt there is some reason for this - I would be interest to know what!
The last leg was another TrawsCambria route, the T6, also very scenic throughout the section I rode in early evening sunshine. I didn't expect there to be anyone else on it at this time but actually there were a few from Brecon and more around Abercraf.
Sounds like an excellent day out! Aside from the 39 (and possibly the 195 - I can't recall), I've not done any of those routes though I have been a frequent visitor to the area so know the roads and places - just a bit envious of you. The X14 would be a fantastic run out past Cynghordy and Sugar Loaf, and past the "museum" at Browns of Builth. Also, brave to effect a change at Talgarth!!!
