A £4m investment in 24 new ADL Enviro200 single-deckers has brought Stagecoach Gold to routes 120/130 Blaencwm/Blaenrhondda to Caerphilly, via Porth, Pontypridd and Rhondda Fawr. They run up to every 10 minutes and hourly on Sundays and in the evenings.
With free wi-fi, USB ports, high back e-leather seats, softer more luxurious interior finish, stop/start engine they are finished in a striking Gold livery.
Bilingual audio and visual next stop announcements have also been introduced.
It is the third Gold launch in South Wales, joining routes 132 (Maerdy-Cardiff) and X24 (Blaenavon-Pontypool-Cwmbran-Newport).
Nigel Winter, Managing Director of Stagecoach in South Wales says: “We continue to significantly invest in our fleet to improve the passenger experience. Investment in new buses since 2007 (10 years) has reached over £30m with 263 new buses, with over £4m of investment this year adding to a consistent pattern of investment in passenger transport in South Wales.
“Our Gold buses have been designed with our customers’ needs in mind. We appreciate that on journeys, such as the Blaencwm to Caerphilly service, our customers value the use of free wi-fi and USB charging so they may spend their time commuting productively, and welcome greater comfort and more environmentally friendly engine in the latest Euro 6 stop/start technology.
“As part of our Gold service we ensure that each one of our drivers is trained to provide a five star customer service experience. Our team of regular, enthusiastic drivers will help customers, whether it’s their first time travelling by bus or they are a frequent traveller, and the touches of comfort will make a real difference to a more enjoyable as well as productive journey with free wi-fi and USB charging points”.
Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport said: "These vehicles represent a significant investment by Stagecoach, the latest of several in the South Wales Valleys in recent years. I am sure passengers will be just as impressed with these new buses as we are.
“At Wales’s first annual Bus Industry Summit earlier this year we discussed not only the challenges the bus industry faces now, but also to begin to map out the longer term, sustainable future of what is a vital public service.
“We all want a world class, sustainable transport system in Wales. Local bus services make a tremendously important contribution to the fulfilment of our ambitions for local transport and the improvement of air quality."
