TrawsCambria

Arriva North West and Wales' 2511 (CX05 AAJ), a VDL SB200/Wright Commander on TrawsCambria route X94 in Llangollen. This was one of the first routes to be renewed.

TrawsCambria is a brand name applied to a network of long and medium-distance express bus routes in Wales which are sponsored by the Welsh Assembly Government.

History

TrawsCambria started in 1979 as the branded experimental coach service route 700 Cardiff-Brecon-Buith Wells-Llandrindod Wells-Newtown-Machynlleth-Dolgellau-Porthmadog-Caernarfon-Bangor. The initial trial summer service operated Fridays to Mondays only with one coach in each direction on the 230-mile route, with walk-on fares. By August duplicate and triplicate operations occurred which resulted in the Welsh Office approving the continuation of the service through the winter.

The following spring saw the 700 service run daily, joined by:

• 701 Cardiff-Swansea-Carmarthen-Lampeter-Aberystwyth-Machynlleth-Dolgellau-Betws y Coed-Blaenau Ffestiniog-Llandudno-Rhyl and
• 702 Cardiff-Cwmbran-Builth Wells-Rhayader-Newtown-Wrexham-Chester-Liverpool.

After 3 years the network continued to run without any subsidy although daily operation on the 700 and 702 routes was cut to Friday-Monday in Winter. Later TrawsCambria 702 was withdrawn.

The TrawsCambria name and the original red and green logo was a registered service mark jointly owned by National Welsh Omnibus Services of Cardiff and Crosville Motor Services of Chester.

In the late 1980s TrawsCambria also crossed bridges and ran daily to the Isle of Anglesey in the north and Bristol in the south. Following privatisation of the National Bus Company subsidiaries, modifications and cut backs resulted. While profits could be made most of the year, November and February low patronage always resulted in knife edge annual performance.

In the 1990s Crosville continued to run the service jointly with Rhondda Transport, with the main route being the 701 uniquely linking all the Welsh universities: Glamorgan (in Pontypridd), Cardiff, Swansea, Lampeter, Aberystwyth and Bangor.

By 2000, Crosville has passed to Arriva Group and Rhondda Transport passed to Stagecoach Group. As the network became one route TrawsCambria was then applied to the 701 coach route linking Holyhead and Bristol via Dolgellau, Aberystwyth, Carmarthen and Cardiff. This route was modified in the early 2000s, with the northern terminus changed to Llandudno and withdrawal of the Cardiff to Bristol extension.

More recently, the Welsh Assembly Government has started to influence and recreate a renewed network, repositioning TrawsCambria in a new guise with shorter links with good frequencies, running with modern, high specification, low-floor buses. The first stage of this was the late 2004 withdrawal of the 701 north of Aberystwyth and creation of a new express X32 route in its place between Aberystwyth and Bangor.

With long-distance limited stop coaches being largely impractical for serving the dispersed population of Wales, the TrawsCambria network has evolved into a compromise solution between express coaches and regular service buses: it provides long-distance journey opportunities between Welsh towns while also catering for shorter-distance passenger flows along its route. Following on from the introduction of the X32 in 2004, several additional routes were added and TrawsCambria evolved into a network of services.

Since the introduction of the new low-floor fleet, concerns and complaints have grown about the comfort of having a 'service bus' for a four hour journey from Aberystwyth to Cardiff. There is no on-board toilet which does not make an ideal situation for such a distance, with toilet breaks (even though there are limited facilities along the rural route) frowned upon as they would interfere with the timetable. However some of the complaints, particularly those related to luggage space, may have been the result of Arriva using the Tempos intended for 550 and Aberystwyth - Carmarthen services on the Aberystwyth - Cardiff runs instead of one of the two specially equiped Tempos intended for the Cardiff services.

'Traws', pronounced to rhyme with 'house', is the Welsh equivalent for 'cross' as in cross-country. Therefore TrawsCambria is roughly equivalent to Cross-Cambria or perhaps Trans-Cambrian in English.

Current service

TrawsCambria is co-ordinated by the Welsh Assembly Government with the actual bus services being provided by a variety of private bus companies. Each company has painted their vehicles in their own corporate colours, but a common design (actually derived from Arriva's identity) is used and TrawsCambria logos are also applied.

Today's services are mostly operated using low-floor single-deck buses purchased for the route. Modern Optare Tempos where the vehicles purchased for some of the services and several of these, while not being of express coach standard, are significantly more comfortable than normal service buses. The current routes are:

X32: Bangor to Aberystwyth via Porthmadog, Dolgellau and Machynlleth.

Runs roughly every two hours from Caernarfon to Aberystwyth Mondays to Saturdays, with two return services on Sunday. This service was introduced in November 2004 and is operated by Arriva Buses Wales on Monday to Saturday with a Sunday service operated by Express Motors and Lloyds Coaches.

X94: Wrexham to Barmouth via Llangollen, Bala and Dolgellau.

This service, operated by Arriva Buses Wales on Monday to Saturday and GHA Coaches on Sunday and Public Holidays, is two-hourly along most of its length. The route closely approximates that of the Ruabon to Barmouth railway line which was closed to passengers in 1965.

550: Cardigan to Synod Inn and Aberystwyth via Aberporth and New Quay.

From 27th February 2012 this service consists primarily of a Cardigan to Synod Inn shuttle (via Aberporth) operated roughly every two hours by Richards Bros, a Cardigan-based independent operator. WAG-funded Optare Tempos are the main vehicles used. A few services extend further, including trips to New Quay or Aberaeron and two evening trips to Aberystwyth. The services that terminate at Synod Inn connect with Arriva Buses Wales service 50 to Aberystwyth via New Quay.

X50: Aberystwyth to Cardigan via Aberaeron.

There is currently roughly one X50 service every two hours between Aberaeron and Cardigan Monday - Saturday, with 4 journeys extended to/from Aberystwyth. This route complements the slower 550 which runs parallel, but the X50 avoids the lengthy diversions to New Quay and (in most cases) Aberporth.

The services which run only between Cardigan and Aberaeron are supposed have connections with the X40 for travel to/from Aberystwyth, but Arriva’s X40 timetable change in late 2011 removed the northbound connections. This led to a call for all X50 services to be extended to Aberystwyth, however since X40 and 550 are operated commercially between Aberystwyth and Aberaeron the council are unable to provide subsidy for this. The service is operated by Richards Brothers using WAG-funded Optare Tempos.

T4: Newtown to Merthyr Tydfil via Brecon and Llandrindod Wells.

This is a two-hourly service. Although Merthyr Tydfil may not be an especially popular destination for Newtown residents, onward connections to Cardiff are available by train and bus (service X4). This service is operated by Stagecoach Wales and started on 31st May 2011, when it replaced the two-hourly TrawsCambria 704 (which operated between Newtown and Brecon only). The original Brecon - Newtown 704 service was supplied with Optare Tempos, which remain in service on the extended route. Additional Optare Tempos, branded TrawsCymru, have recently made their appearance on the service in preparation for the T4 to be removed from the TrawsCambria network and re-branded as a TrawsCymru service.

Past Services

Map of the TrawsCambria network (except 550, but including connecting X43 service) before 704 extension to Merthyr and withdrawal of Arriva TrawsCambria X40 & 550

X40: Aberystwyth to Carmarthen via Aberaeron and Lampeter.

This was a WAG-funded service using Optare Tempos. The core Aberystwyth to Carmarthen X40 service was generally hourly Mondays to Saturdays, with two services a day extended to/from Cardiff via Swansea and one to Swansea only. There was one return Aberystwyth - Cardiff service on Sundays. The service was introduced in February 2005 and was operated jointly by Arriva Buses Wales and First Cymru until December 2009 when Arriva took over the whole service. This TrawsCambria service ceased on 26th February 2012 and was replaced by Arriva service 40.

550: Aberystwyth to Synod Inn (and Cardigan) via New Quay (and Aberporth).

Before 2010, this service ran the full length of the coast from Aberystwyth to Cardigan, making two diversions from the main road, into New Quay and into Aberporth. However, the main operator, Arriva Cymru, decided to terminate their service in Synod Inn, after the diversion to New Quay. The southern section of route was then operated by Richards Bros, a Cardigan-based independent operator. This is another route that received WAG-funded Optare Tempos. The Arriva operation ceased to be a TrawsCambria service when it was replaced by Arriva service 50 (Aberystwyth – New Quay – Synod Inn) on 26th February 2012.

704: Newtown to Brecon via Llandrindod Wells.

This service started in January 2006, was operated by Stagecoach Wales and ran until 31 May 2011, using Optare Tempos. It was unusual in not connecting with any other TrawsCambria services at any point, and because parts of the route had not seen a regular bus service since 1970.

Key Connecting Routes

• Stagecoach in South Wales operate services 43 and X43, which are designated 'TrawsCymru Connect' and run between Brecon, Crickhowell and Abergavenny on a two-hourly basis, connecting with the T4 service.
• Service 412 Cardigan – Newport - Fishguard - Haverfordwest, which is advertised in some timetables as connecting at Cardigan with X50 and 550 services.
• 64 Brecon - Llandovery
• X75 Shrewsbury - Llanidloes/Rhayader
• X4 Hereford/Abergavenny/Brynmawr/Merthyr Tydfil - Cardiff.
• Service 40 (Aberystwyth – Aberaeron – Lampeter – Carmarthen), Arriva’s commercial replacement for the now extinct TrawsCambria X40.
• Service 50 (Aberystwyth – Aberaeron – New Quay – Synod Inn), Arriva’s commercial replacement for what was their share of 550.

2012 Service Changes And Relaunch

In autumn 2010 the Welsh Assembly Government ran a consultation on improvements to the TrawsCambria network. In 2011, a programme of improvements for services X40 and 704/T4 was announced.

Under these plans services X40 and T4, and the network as a whole, were to be re-launched under the new TrawsCymru brand. Service X40 was to be re-numbered TC1 and T4 would have become TC4. During 2012, these two routes were to receive six new buses each, equipped with coach style seating, greater luggage space, real time information and WiFi. A few of the new vehicles (which have turned out to be further Optare Tempos) have now been introduced on service T4.

The plans for re-numbering T4 appear to have been dropped, and the route will once again be extended further south, this time to Cardiff. This will happen on 1st March 2012, when two-hourly through services between Newtown and Cardiff, dovetailing with the existing X4 service between Merthyr and Cardiff, are introduced. The six additional WAG-funded Optare Tempos with leather seats, free WiFi and tables will operate alongside the existing vehicles. This will probably be the point when the route officially moves from the TrawsCambria network into the new TrawsCymru one.

From 26th February 2012, Arriva Cymru ceased operation of their section of the TrawsCambria 550 service. Instead they operate their own service along the route on a commercial basis, under the brand 'CymruExpress' with the service number 50. From August 2012, new Wright Gemini double-deckers will operate the service.

X40 to TC1 – Or Not?

The X40 was originally planned to cease operation at the end of March, to be replaced by TrawsCymru service T1 from 1st April 2012 with a contract until 31/3/2020 on offer. However it later emerged that Arriva intended to stop operating the X40 service, along with their share of 550, from 26th February. This has now happened operate and Arriva now operate the following services, branded Cymru Express, on a fully commercial basis instead:

• Service 10 – Aberystwyth to Swansea service, replacing the X40 services which ran to Swansea. Unlike the X40 services however, these are additional trips rather than extensions of the hourly Carmarthen – Aberystwyth service. Also, rather than operating every day as the X40 did, this service will only run on Fridays and Sundays and not at all outside university term-time.

• Service 20 – Aberystwyth to Cardiff service. Like the 10 it is additional to the hourly Carmarthen – Aberystwyth service, but operates all week. Unlike the X40 however it does not travel via Swansea.

• Service 40 – Aberystwyth – Carmarthen service, the replacement for X40. Early morning northbound journeys will be cut drastically on Saturdays, with the first bus from Carmarthen not reaching Aberystwyth until 11:15. According to the timetable the journey time has been cut drastically, including a reduction to just 2 minutes allowed between the bus and rail stations in Carmarthen. With no suggestion from Arriva on how these extraordinary time savings will be achieved, the service is not expected to be able to reliably keep to the timetable.

• Service 50 – Basically Arriva's half of service 550 re-numbered, but with some early morning journeys from New Quay removed on Saturdays and a reduction in journey times between Aberaeron and Aberystwyth (northbound) to 33 minutes, which could cause reliability problems.

The twice-daily services (number 20) to Cardiff will be operated using existing VanHool T9 Alizee coaches, with the 40 utilising Wright Pulsars, until new Wright Geminis arrive for services 50 and 40 in August 2012.

Because of Arriva’s new Cymru Express brand name it appears that these routes will no longer form part of the TrawsCambria / TrawsCymru network. As yet it is unclear what will happen to the tendered TrawsCymru service T1, or the new and existing Welsh Assembly funded vehicles for the corridors in question.

Vehicles

Vehicle Type	Image	Initial Operator	Route Branding	Number	Registration Number(s)	Notes
Wright Commander		Arriva Buses Wales	X32	Unknown	Including CX54EPL and CX54EPJ
Wright Commander		Arriva Buses Wales	X94	Unknown	Unknown
Optare Tempo		Arriva Buses Wales	550 (Aberystwyth - Aberaeron - New Quay - Aberporth - Cardigan)	5	YJ55BKG, YJ55BKK, YJ55BKL, YJ55BKN, YJ06YRY
Optare Tempo	Image Not Available	Arriva Buses Wales	X40 (Aberystwyth - Aberaeron - Lampeter - Pencader - Carmarthen)	3	YJ55BKO, YJ55BKU, YJ55BKV
Optare Tempo	Image Not Available	First Cymru	X40 (Aberystwyth - Aberaeron - Lampeter - Pencader - Carmarthen)	3	YJ55BJE, YJ55BJF, YJ55BJK	Transfered to Arriva (YJ55BJE & BY55BJF) and Richards Bros (YJ55BJK, possibly via Arriva). The transfer of YJ55BJK to Richards Bros may have been because of them taking over 550 south of Synod Inn. None of these three vehicles now carry route branding, and YJ55BJF has possibly been scrapped due to fire damage.
Optare Tempo		Arriva Buses Wales	X40 (Aberystwyth - Aberaeron - Lampeter - Pencader - Carmarthen - Swansea - Cardiff)	2	YJ06YRO, YJ06YRZ	Longer than the vehicles for 550 and the other X40 vehicles. Fitted with tables, power sockets, extra luggage racks and leather (or fake leather) seat covers.
Optare Tempo		Richards Bros	X50 (Aberystwyth - Aberaeron - Cardigan)	2	YJ55BKE, YJ55BKF	Like the X40 Cardiff vehicles, these are longer than the vehicles for 550 and the other X40 vehicles. However, unlike the X40 vehicles for the Cardiff trips, the X50 pair of Tempos have the same interior and number of seats as the buses for 550 and Carmarthen X40s. This has resulted in greater legroom, making them more comfortable.
Optare Tempo		Stagecoach	Route 704	3	YJ55YFY, YJ55YFZ, YJ55YGC
Optare Tempo	Image Not Available	Stagecoach	TrawsCymru - Route T4	6	YJ61MMO, YJ61 MME, YJ61 MMF, YJ61 MMA + 2 others	Fleet not fully introduced as of 13th Feb 2012
Optare Tempo	Image Not Available	Unknown	TrawsCymru	6	Unknown	New fleet of 6 vehicles, expected to be Optare Tempos, ordered for TC1 Aberystwyth - Carmarthen.

See also

• Transport in Wales
• List of bus operators of the United Kingdom

External links

• Traveline Cymru - TrawsCambria
• Map showing TrawsCambria routes
• TrawsCambria website