A number of new Euro VI buses are to be purchased for the TrawsCymru network in Wales despite earlier plans that called for the network to be converted to zero-emission operation in its entirety by 2026, Transport for Wales (TfW) has confirmed.
The news was contained in an announcement of the award of several contracts for continuing operation of the long-distance network, although TfW CEO James Price at the same time underlines that new zero-emission buses “are being procured for the whole TrawsCymru network.”
However, Mr Price adds that the latter vehicles and associated infrastructure have “a long lead time,” hence the decision to replace existing older buses with “new Euro VI diesel buses for the short term as we look to decarbonise the network and confirm charging depot locations.” TrawsCymru route T1 in West Wales was converted to Yutong battery-electric buses operated by First Cymru earlier in 2023.
Of the route contract awards, route T1C between Aberystwyth and Cardiff will remain with Mid Wales Travel and the T2 between Aberystwyth and Bangor will stay with Lloyds Coaches, albeit with integration with another service and connections to routes T1 and T1C.
Lloyds Coaches also retains the T3 between Wrexham and Barmouth. That will see the introduction of a T3C service to connect a number of villages into the trunk T3. The contract for route T10 between Bangor and Corwen has been awarded to K&P Coaches. Improvements to the T10 timetable at weekends and in school holidays will be made in March 2024.
In an unusual move, the T6 service between Swansea and Brecon will operate free of charge for the first two weeks in September of its new contract, which has been awarded to Adventure Travel. That operator currently runs the T6, but had deregistered it after 2 September. The fare-free operation will take account of the new registration process being underway.
Mr Price adds that ultimately, all TrawsCymru services will be operated to the same standards as the T1 route, where the body says patronage has risen significantly since introduction of the battery-electric buses. First Cymru was awarded a five-year contract worth £9.9 million for that service.
