Transport for Wales (TfW) has announced a new partnership with Passenger which will lead to the introduction of a new app and website for the TrawsCymru long-distance bus network.
Called the TrawsCymru app, the multilingual service will be built on Passenger’s customer experience platform and use its journey planning, timetabling and vehicle tracking capability, as well as mobile ticketing. Ticket eCommerce on the accompanying website will also provide digital access for users.
It comes as a further step after the publication of the One Network, One Timetable, One Ticket whitepaper which pushes for bus franchising as the way forward for Wales’ bus industry.
“It’s encouraging to see considerable efforts being made by the government to reverse this decline, with investment being channelled into public services to help more people get to where they need to go,” says Tom Quay, CEO at Passenger. “TfW is driving this change, and we are delighted to support it with our expertise and technology, designed to make buses a more appealing and accessible mode of travel.
“Together, we believe we can make a significant difference in the way in which people travel throughout Wales.”
Further improvements slated for the Welsh bus network include low carbon vehicles, integration of Traws and rail ticketing and improving roadside infrastructure and information for passengers.
“Our new app and website for TrawsCymru represent a significant milestone in our plans to overhaul public transport in Wales, as we look to create a network which appeals to a much wider demographic,” says James Price, Chief Executive at TfW. “Our purpose is to progress the Welsh government’s vision of a stable, easy-to-use network of bus services that fully connects to other methods of public transport. We want to provide a reliable, affordable, flexible and low-carbon transport network that supports more people to use the bus instead of their cars – and our new TrawsCymru app and website will complement our ongoing efforts.”
TfW says the app will be launched in July, while the website will follow in August.
