New bus route to launch as part of plans for network

A NEW bus route connecting Capital Retail Park and Cardiff City Stadium with Pengam Green (Tesco) via Ocean Way and Grangetown will launch in September, operated by NAT Group.

The leading Welsh transport provider is also renaming and extending its current X8 route as part of its strategic network plans.

NAT Group will begin operation of the C2 service, part of its Cross City network, on Monday September 7, providing new links for commuters, shoppers and residents.

Running every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday, the route will incorporate Ocean Way, Cardiff Docks, Pengam Green Tesco Extra, Grangetown, Corporation Road, Clive Street and Penarth Road, and terminate at Capital Retail Park, Leckwith Road.

In conjunction with the C2 launch, the existing, popular X8 route, which connects Cardiff City Centre with Cardiff Bay to the south and Thornhill to the north, will be renamed C8 to correspond with NAT Group’s Cross City ‘Cardiff’ network branding.

All NAT bus routes in Cardiff will start with the prefix ‘C’, while the ‘X’ prefix will be reserved for Cross Country services.

From September 7, the C8, running every 30 minutes, will see a significant extension to serve Taffs Well. The changes will provide a fast service between Taffs Well, Rhiwbina and Thornhill, with the bus continuing into Cardiff. The change also provides a direct service from Taffs Well to Cardiff Bay.

NAT Group Managing Director Adam Keen said: “The introduction of the C2 and the extension and rebrand of the C8, are just two of the significant changes to our network that we are steadily rolling out.”