TrawsCymru Strategic Review 2025: government response

Recommendation accepted

Transport for Wales (TfW) recommends that the Welsh Government accepts the following key service criteria as thresholds in which to measure the performance of TrawsCymru services:

1. TrawsCymru services should connect with a series of public transport hubs
2. links key centres which are not served by the rail network
3. provides direct links between key public transport interchanges which are not directly served by the rail network
4. should operate at least once every 2 hours weekdays and Saturday daytimes
5. should operate through areas of higher-than-average deprivation in terms of access to public services
6. should provide good value for money in terms of subsidy per passenger carried
7. should complement rail routes where possible and be carefully designed to ensure good levels of service integration
8. should be carefully planned as part of an integrated network and should avoid any unnecessary parallel running with other local bus and rail services where possible
9. should be over 30km in length ‘end to end’
10. should operate at least 80% of service mileage in Wales

The revised service criteria represent a logical refinement of the existing service criteria which were originally adopted in 2016/17.

Recommendation accepted

In the review, TfW demonstrates that - given the nature of the network - the average distance travelled per passenger on TrawsCymru services is 30km compared to 8km on other local bus services in Wales.

Therefore, TfW is recommending that we focus further investment on improving timetables, fares and on-vehicle facilities to encourage more longer distance passenger movements.

Recommendation accepted

In recent years, we have asked TfW to take the lead on re-procuring TrawsCymru service contracts, moving away from previous arrangements whereby we provided grant funding to local authorities to tender services on our behalf.

In the review, TfW provided evidence of how this direct approach has enabled it to drive up service quality standards on a range of metric and provide more consistent service standards across the network.

Direct service tendering by TfW will become even more important as we move towards planning a more integrated franchised network of local bus services.

Recommendation accepted

Transport for Wales has demonstrated in the review that it has made a good start with regards to the conversion of TrawsCymru services from diesel to zero emission operation. 

15 new fully electric buses have been deployed on the TrawsCymru network and are now used to operate approximately 20% of the TrawsCymru network milage.

Our original Net Zero Strategy published in 2019 set a target that all TrawsCymru service buses should be zero emission by the end of 2026.

Transport for Wales demonstrates in the review why this original target will not be possible to meet, as a further 40 zero emission vehicles with associated new vehicle charging and maintenance / depot facilities will be needed for the network.

Given the more complex depot and charging requirements for these vehicles and the longer procurement timeline, Transport for Wales has recommended we adopt a practical and pragmatic phased approach to service conversion.

It recommends that in the short term, all new service tenders are issued on the basis that the services shall be operated by the latest and cleanest Euro 6 diesel vehicles provided for use on the contract by Transport for Wales. All service contracts which typically operate for between 5 and 7 years shall contain clauses which allow zero emission vehicles to be phased in later during the life of the contract.

The move to a zero-emission fleet needs to be developed with the capital programme for bus franchising for infrastructure and buses and we recommend that TfW works closely with the Welsh Government to deliver a zero-emission fleet for the TrawsCymru network by the end of 2031.

The total projected capital cost of converting all services on the TrawsCymru network to zero emission operation is in the region of £24 million.

Recommendation accepted

Transport for Wales recommends that we use the opportunity that service retender offers to introduce a standardised and simplified ticketing offer across the TrawsCymru network, including distance-based fares.

This work has already started and simplified ticketing arrangements have already been introduced on services which have recently been re-tendered by Transport for Wales.

This should align with wider bus network franchising proposals. 

Recommendation accepted

Transport for Wales has identified that some existing TrawsCymru services, do not now meet the minimum strategic requirements for continued inclusion with the branded TrawsCymru network.

TfW has recommended that once existing contracts come to an end then replacement services should be provided, outside of the TrawsCymru brand.

Discussions with relevant local authorities are underway as to how new contracts could be administered for these services.

Based on evidence provided in the review, we think this is reasonable, however we recommend no changes be made to these services until TfW agrees suitable replacements with the relevant local authorities as part of the regional bus planning work which is ongoing.

The services in question are:

TrawsCymru T1A and T1X Aberystwyth to Carmarthen

These are infrequent services operated on the margins of the main T1 Aberystwyth to Carmarthen service contract. TfW is examining how best to serve these communities with alternative local bus services.

T11 Haverfordwest to Fishguard

This is a well used service used by people making mostly local journeys, and links St Davids to Fishguard and Haverfordwest. On this basis we are going to maintain our funding support for the service.

T12 Machynlleth to Wrexham

Powys County Council has recently made changes to this route, which it funds. The T12 service has been replaced in part by a new X76 service linking Oswestry to Newtown and the X85 service linking Newtown to Machynlleth. Local bus service links between Oswestry and Wrexham are provided by the Arriva Buses Wales services 2 / 2A.

T14 Brecon to Hereford

Powys County Council has assumed responsibility for funding this service, and the Council has recently re tendered the service and will be renumbered to X44 in September 2025.

T22 Blaenau Ffestiniog to Caernarfon

This service is fully funded by Gwynedd Council and will continue unchanged until the new regional franchising network is introduced for north Wales.

X43 / 43 Brecon to Abergavenny

This service is currently fully funded by Powys County Council, and will continue to be contracted by them.

460 Carmarthen to Cardigan

This service is currently funded by Carmarthenshire County Council and will be continued to be contracted by them as part of the revised franchised network for south west Wales.

Recommendation rejected

We have not accepted a recommendation by Transport for Wales to withdraw the T1C daily coach service which links Aberystwyth to Carmarthen.

This service continues to provide an important strategic link between west Wales and Cardiff.

Instead of withdrawing the T1C service, we have asked Transport for Wales to:

• look at ways of improving ‘through ticketing’ arrangements between the TrawsCymru bus services and rail services at Carmarthen
• identify further opportunities to improve local bus links between Llandysul and Carmarthen as part of the bus franchising proposals
• carry out a detailed feasibility study of additional ‘fast’ TrawsCymru bus services linking Carmarthen to Aberystwyth via Llandysul
• consult with local communities and elected representatives in the areas impacted by any future service improvements or changes.