Bus users in the Ceiriog Valley can now look forward to two years of stability following the award of a two-year contract for route 64 to easyCoach by Wrexham County Borough Council following a full European open tender process.
Passengers on the route between Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog in Wrexham County and Llangollen in Denbighshire have faced uncertainty over the past nine months about the future of their service and have had two different operators working the route since the original operator GHA Coaches ceased trading in July 2015.
The route which operates through the Ceiriog Valley connecting Llanarmon DC and Llangollen with Glyn Ceiriog, Chirk, Black Park and Froncysyllte provides a vital lifeline to residents and gives them access not only to local shops and health centres but also to the Arriva Trains Wales network at Chirk railway station.
The two buses which operate the service have been named Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby who were known as the ‘Ladies of Llangollen’ and the service was officially launched at their former home Plas Newydd in Llangollen (Welsh for New Mansion) at an event attended by representatives from local councils and other invited guests.
Andrew Martin, Managing Director of easyCoach says: “We are really excited to have been awarded this new contract by Wrexham County Borough Council and look forward to providing the valley with a friendly and reliable bus service over the next two years and maybe longer.”