BUS COMPANY TO BE WOUND UP

Licence was revoked in August:

BUSES will be returning to the routes linking seaside towns left without a regular service following the collapse of Express Motors.

Machynlleth-based Lloyds Coaches has stepped in to take on the 38 and 39 routes, linking Barmouth and Porthmadog in Gwynedd, and the 99 circular route from Port to Borth y Gest and Morfa Bychan.

Penygroes-based Express operated services on the routes until it was stripped of its operating licence by the Traffic Commissioner last year.

Lloyds Coaches general manager Dan Lloyd confirmed it was due to take over from April 16.

Mr Lloyd said: “Following numerous requests from residents and local councillors, we are pleased to be able to announce that we are able to re-introduce these vital bus services for the residents and visitors to Cambrian Coast. The new services will ll be on a trial basis initially and, should they prove a success and popular, we will look at enhancing them in future.

“It is now up to people who have asked us to run these services to use them and help spread the word to their friends and neighbours to secure the long-term future of these vital bus routes.

“We have worked hard trying to provide the best level of service with the available staff and vehicles.

“The new services have also created a number of new bus driving jobs locally.”

Gwynedd Council’s cabinet member with responsibility for transport matters, Dafydd Meurig, left, said: s “Following confirmation from the Traffic Commissioner, we are delighted that additional services will now be running from Monday onwards in these communities.” The 38/39 service will operate up to eight journeys a day between Porthmadog, Harlech and Barmouth, connecting with the T3 service to/from Dolgellau and Wrexham.

Seven journeys will also operate on the 99 circular service for Porthmadog, Borth y Gest and Morfa Bychan. Full details on the Council website: gwynedd.llyw. cymru/bus