Operator procurement by Transport for Wales (TfW) for the north/south express coach service between Bangor and Carmarthen will begin shortly, with rollout of the new link due this autumn, the Senedd heard from Deputy Minister for Transport Mark Hooper on 30 June.
Proposals for the coach route first came forth in early 2025 under the previous administration. Moving forward with it is part of the current minority Plaid Cymru government’s commitments for its first 100 days in power.
TfW has already awarded a contract to Volvo for eight B8R coaches with MCV Evotor bodywork to deliver the service, a prior information notice for the operator procurement states. Market engagement has been undertaken and firm procurement of the operator “will begin later this week,” Mr Hooper informed the Senedd.
Advance booking for passengers was also mentioned in his statement, but further information on that is awaited. He notes how the project has been subject to a full business case developed “as part of the cooperation agreement in the last Senedd,” and following extensive technical work and public consultation.
Over 1,000 contributions to the latter were received, with a show of strong public support for improving north to south Wales connectivity, the deputy minister continues. Reducing public transport journey times along the corridor to be competitive with car travel is among other keys to the exercise.
“There are no barriers to beginning this service in the autumn, but TfW and my officials will work in partnership with local authorities to identify where we can enhance bus stops to ensure the service is effective as possible,” adds Mr Hooper.
At present, the fastest public transport link between Bangor and Carmarthen is said to be via rail travelling into and back out of England. Around £2 million is being invested in the express coach route during the current financial year; to restore a closed railway line between the two locations would cost in the region of £2 billion.
From the start, the new coach route will run every two hours from morning to evening, although more precise details will be confirmed when the operator procurement process is complete. Limited stops will be observed to assist reliability and journey times, Mr Hooper continues, claiming that TfW has “already got eight coaches in the yard, ready to go.”
Options exist to extend the coach service to ports in both the north and the south of Wales in the future, Mr Hooper adds. “The way that this project will be extended will be based on how it gets used,” he continues.
“We are confident that we can deliver the service as it is now, but that does not mean we do not add stops in the future. That would be something that we would look at on a demand-led basis.”
TfW Executive Director for Regional Transport and Integration Lee Robinson describes the north/south coach link as being “a key step in building the T Network, Welsh Government’s vision for a fully integrated public transport system for Wales.” Ministers will also strengthen existing TrawsCymru longer-distance bus provision as part of that, he says.
