Transport for Wales (TfW) and Pembrokeshire County Council are set to launch a new Fflecsi bus zone, which will provide greater connectivity to the coastal areas of Tenby and Saundersfoot and extend inland to Pembroke and Pembroke Dock, following receipt of £180,000 from the Welsh Government Public Transport Improvement Fund.
The development is aimed at enhancing the transport ecosystem of Pembrokeshire, linking remote communities with popular tourist destinations and railway stations.
The new zone will supersede the existing 360 and 361 fixed-line services operating between Tenby and Pembroke Dock, promising a more sustainable solution for those communities lacking a frequent bus service.
“Pembrokeshire County Council’s receipt of a £180,000 grant from the Welsh Government Public Transport Improvement Fund will further fuel the expansion,” says Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services. “The augmentation of Fflecsi Pembrokeshire services is an incredible win for both residents and tourists. It notably extends the service to more areas, offering broader travel options. Moreover, Fflecsi’s initiative will revive public transportation on Saturdays, which has been unavailable in many regions for quite some time.”
The Dale Peninsula zone will also undergo an extension eastwards beyond Milford Haven, replacing the 308 fixed-line service that connects Burton, Llangwm, Hook, Freystrop, Rosemarket and Merlin’s Bridge. The modifications allow for the first and last 308 journeys to persist, enabling college students and daily commuters to continue their travel routines without the need for advance booking.
Lee Robinson, Development Director for Mid, North and Rural Wales at TfW, praised the progress, saying, “Fflecsi Pembrokeshire epitomises the transformational power of demand-responsive transport for rural communities in Wales. I am thrilled to witness the service broadening its horizons across the county.”
Mr Robinson further emphasises TfW’s commitment to promoting sustainable tourism throughout Wales, noting that the newly introduced zone between Saundersfoot and Pembroke Dock will provide railway visitors seamless onward journeys via the Fflecsi service. He also highlights the Dale Peninsula zone’s continued growth, asserting that its expansion would enable additional communities to enjoy improved connectivity to the broader bus and rail network.
With a refreshed Fflecsi Bwcabus zone set to cover Crymych, Llandissilio and Clynderwen, passengers can expect improved connections with the 430 fixed-line route between Cardigan and Narberth. Furthermore, the Northwest Pembrokeshire zone will now serve areas like Hayscastle Cross, Castlemorris and Llangloffan, previously catered to by the Bwcabus region.
These new Fflecsi zones, starting Monday 24 July, will be operational between 0730hrs and 1830hrs, Monday to Saturday. Bookings will commence from Wednesday 19 July.
