Tourismo comfort for daily Aberystwyth to Cardiff service
The Welsh Government (WG) has upgraded its TrawsCymru Aberystwyth to Cardiff service with a modern coach now scheduled to operate one return journey per day on the corridor.
TrawsCymru is the WG’s brand for Wales’ long-distance bus network comprising a number of routes – the latest upgrade also serving Carmarthen and Port Talbot Rail Bus Interchange at the town’s Parkway station.
Numbered T1C, the service is operated by Cardiff-based NAT Group using a 65-plate Mercedes-Benz Tourismo previously allocated to the former Stansted Citylink service, run by fellow ComfortDelGro operating company Metroline until it ended in October 2017.
Following feedback from passengers, the T1C service has introduced a modern wheelchair accessible high floor coach on the daily Aberystwyth to Cardiff long distance service, which will provide a more comfortable journey for longer distance passengers, complemented by the introduction of a shorter route which will offer quicker ‘end to end’ journey times of three hours, 35 minutes.
The TrawsCymru day ticket is valid on the service, so people can visit Cardiff for the day from Aberystwyth and return for £10 (adults) and £7 (young persons). The Welsh concessionary travel pass is also valid for use on the service.
Economy Secretary Ken Skates said: “When we took on the running of this route in 2016, we intended to not just maintain the continuation of this critical service, but to strengthen it.
“We have listened to passengers and have introduced coaches onto this key route, and have significantly reduced journey times.
“Along with the additional stop in Port Talbot, this long-standing service will add more value to already vital public transport links to and from rural Wales, giving passengers extra choice on this key strategic route.”
A daily TrawsCymru T1S bus link will also be maintained between Aberystwyth, Lampeter, Carmarthen and Swansea with additional short journeys between Carmarthen, Cross Hands and Swansea being operated during the day, Monday to Saturday.
