Free all-Wales bus travel scheme could be extended

A SCHEME providing free weekend travel on bus routes across Wales could be extended.

It comes after early figures show that some routes on the pan-Wales TrawsCymru network have experienced yearon-year increases in passengers of between 200% and 300%, after the free travel initiative from the Welsh Government was introduced over the summer.

The pilot will run until next May – but now Ken Skates, the Welsh Government cabinet secretary with responsibility for transport, said that it could be extended following the huge rise in passengers.

Some of the biggest year-on-year increases include:

The T4 Newtown-Brecon-MerthyrPontypridd-Cardiff service, which on Saturday, August 26 was up 328% or 1,510 passengers.

The T5 Aberystwyth-NewQuay-Cardigan-Fishguard service, Haverfordwest, which on Sunday, July 9 was up 280% or 409 passengers.

The T1 Aberystwyth-LampeterCarmarthen service, which on Sunday, August 13 was up 159% or 268 passengers.

Some £1m has been earmarked to reimburse bus operators on the routes by the Welsh Government during the pilot.

Mr Skates said of the scheme: “We will be producing official results once the pilot scheme is completed and then making a decision as quickly as possible on the potential to continue this service.

“But it shows that the TrawsCymru network is really reaching out to more people who want to travel on more journeys more of the time.”

He added: “The network covers large areas of Wales, some of which would otherwise be inaccessible by public transport and it’s extremely encouraging to see this pilot boosting summer passenger numbers.

“From Bangor to Cardiff and Fishguard to Wrexham, it provides a perfect opportunity for people from across Wales and beyond to jump on a bus and spend their weekends enjoying the diverse beauty of Wales.”

The Welsh Government-funded TrawsCymru network carried a record 1.6 million passengers in 2016-17.