TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
The bus services in the area are also rather poor, judging by a quick Google for the timetables. So, if they are empty it could be because they don't provide a useful option to those who have alternative means of travel, rather than lack of demand. I think the current poor service is one of the reasons I suggested a TrawsCambria route, if there was a more useful normal service between Lampeter and Llandovery (that could be shown as a connecting service on the TrawsCambria network map) there would be much less need for a Traws one.
That depends. What's the difference between the 280 and 281, the timetables seem to list the same stops, unless I've missed something? And I note they both make some detours. If the TrawsCymru route doesn't make the detours, then giving the remaining local service a seperate number makes sense.
Ok, history lesson. The historic S52 (and before that 701) service that linked Aber with South Wales operated via Lampeter and then went over the top via Pumpsaint to Llanwrda, then via Llandeilo and Ammanford to Swansea. It really withered on the vine in the 1960s/1970s and by deregulation in 1986, it was in very bad shape. So much so that a tendered service that was operated from Lampeter to Llanwrda was quickly pulled as it was getting 1 passenger in every 3 journeys!!
The fact is that public transport must reflect the needs and wants of the travelling public and in Wales, that is often dictated by topography, not necessarily distance. Therefore, you're much more likely to travel to along the valleys; the hills are physical and mental barriers to travel. That is the case with such a service as you propose. I suspect I know the area much better than you though I don't claim to be an expert!!
You can't just look at a map and say "put a service there". In truth, where is the market? Better to focus on improving and extending existing flows. You can, of course, point to the T4 (704) as a service that did introduce regular links to some areas that didn't have them BUT it did combine a number of existing services and it does run logically down the valley into Newtown (which was a major improvement).
The 280/1 is identical between Carmarthen and Llandeilo but has a slight variation onward to Llandovery. In truth, it does a number of double runs into villages, and I'm not convinced that it really fits with a TC service. However, I don't think the money is available to improve it anyway.