Improved bus speeds and better facilities for coach drop-off and pick-up are among a manifesto for change to the industry’s political landscape in Wales that will be delivered by the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) Cymru to the Senedd on 4 November.
The manifesto, Driving Wales Forward, will be launched at a bus depot in Cwmbran before being taken to the Welsh Parliament by bus for presentation to elected members. Its release comes ahead of Senedd elections in May 2026, and the publication will set out priorities to enhance coach and bus services in the principality.
Within the document will be a cross-party call for investment to create conditions for coach and bus to thrive in Wales. For bus, the position is anchored by urgent action to accelerate services.
CPT Cymru says that reversing a 50-year trend of worsening journey times would be “transformational” for Wales. A 10% reduction in trip duration to an average of slightly more than 13.6mph could save nearly £18 million in annual operating costs and make bus services significantly more attractive, the trade body says.
Such a benefit would be most obvious on busy urban services, where the 10% increase in average speeds could attract 2.8 million additional passengers per year, and more than three million across Wales. That would generate more than £7 million in revenue while reducing the burden on local authorities.
Speeding of bus services could be achieved by “simple changes to road design to take public transport out of congestion,” CPT continues. “Bus lanes, traffic light priority and town planning with buses in mind can all contribute to getting passengers to their destinations faster.”
The Confederation also wants the Welsh Government to provide funding clarity to bus operators and local authorities to plan future services; use targeted measures to keep fares low; and ensure value for money is a key factor in deciding regulatory models across Wales.
For coach, the manifesto also calls for ministers to support the important role in the public transport mix played by the mode through data collection and analysis.
CPT Cymru Director Aaron Hill describes buses in Wales as “a cross-party issue” and that improvements to services will quickly translate to people’s everyday lives.
Stagecoach South Wales Managing Director and CPT Cymru Chair Martin Gibbon adds that operators across the country “are ready to play their part in delivering faster, more reliable and greener transport.” But he adds how for that to happen, local and national leaders must prioritise coaches and buses “in every decision about our roads and communities.”
Continues Mr Gibbon: “Simple, low-cost measures – from bus lanes to better traffic light management – can make an enormous difference to passengers and the environment. If we work together to speed up journeys and make public transport the easiest choice, we can unlock real benefits for households, local economies, and the climate.”
