Transport for Wales has officially launched a new electric bus route between Carmarthen and Aberystwyth using a fully electric fleet. Martin Curtis reports from the launch event
On Thursday 16 March, Transport for Wales (TfW), in preparation for the introduction later the same month (26 March), launched a fleet of eight Yutong E12 buses finished to a high specification for its T1 service between Aberystwyth and Carmarthen. At a distance of some 50 miles, it will become the longest bus route in the UK operated entirely by electric buses, though not quite the longest operated by electric vehicles; that accolade currently falls to Ember’s Glasgow to Dundee service, operated by electric coaches and around 80 miles end to end, and followed by the same company’s Edinburgh-Dundee route at just over 60 miles.
Expanding the brand
The TrawsCymru name (meaning Across Wales) was created in 2010 and began to be applied as moves commenced to improve connectivity across Wales. The number of services under this brand now totals fifteen, with buses on the T1 service wearing the latest version of a red white and grey colour scheme, which fits with the overall branding for Transport for Wales. Use of these colours will progress, with the service from Chepstow to Bristol possibly the next to be re-branded. With similar colours also applied to Transport for Wales trains, it isn’t just the appearance which is being coordinated, as the intention is to offer public transport connections across modes offering links between bus and rail as appropriate.
[…]By subscribing you will benefit from:
- Operator & Supplier Profiles
- Face-to-Face Interviews
- Lastest News
- Test Drives and Reviews
- Legal Updates
- Route Focus
- Industry Insider Opinions
- Passenger Perspective
- Vehicle Launches
- and much more!
