It’s time to deliver decent bus services

YESTERDAY I undertook my first visit for some time to Merthyr Tydfil, travelling by bus.

I was impressed with the layout of the new bus station. A great improvement over the previous bus station, especially in terms of places for the public to wait indoors, and facilities for boarding and leaving buses via automatic doors.

The old bus station had some sense of social life associated with its activities.

In the new bus station the absence of social facilities, now a walk away in the neighbouring shopping centre, made waiting for my change of bus less appealing.

As I waited I could not help overhearing open conversations taking place around me.

Of people’s discontent over the decline and collapse in frequency and reliability of their bus services.

Of the travel problems cancellation caused.

Digital information screens have improved information about bus departures, with so many lastminute changes taking place to bus services being announced.

Unless access to social media is available, there are no visible support services at the bus station to help people make sense of why they have been left waiting for a nonexistent bus and why expectations of their planned bus journey have been terminated.

Yes, we are hearing problems about lack of drivers, services disrupted by road accidents and congestion, trains being replaced by buses, and the impact of current Heads of The Valley road improvements on neighboring communities.

But there must be better ways for bus operators to plan and respond to these challenges, rather than

stranding bus passengers without any alternative means to complete their journeys, when the reason for needing a bus service is to get into the town centre, go shopping, attend health appointments, job interviews or reach a place of work on time, then home afterwards.

I do not think they are asking too much from bus operators.

So come on, bus operators, the people of Merthyr need your bus services. Start listening to their concerns, and delivering the type of bus services that they require and will support.

IM Thomas Cardiff