First Cymru
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Enviro200 Dart in Maesteg in April 2014 | |
| Parent | FirstGroup |
| Headquarters | Penlan |
| Service area | South Wales |
| Service type | Bus & coach services |
| Depots | 6 |
| Fleet | 387 (March 2014) |
| Website | www.firstgroup.com/south_west_wales/ |
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First Cymru[1] is an operator of bus services in South Wales. It is a subsidiary of FirstGroup with Its headquarters in Penlan, Swansea.
History
In 1987, South Wales Transport was sold during the privatisation of the National Bus Company in a management buy out.[2]
In February 1990, along with Brewers Motor Services and United Welsh Coaches, South West Transport was sold to Badgerline.[3] All initially retained their trading names but following Badgerline merging with GRT Group in April 1995 to form FirstBus, all Welsh operations were rebranded as First Cymru.
In January 2015 two successive First Cymru bus drivers refused to accept a Scottish banknote as payment from a schoolboy, despite the note being legal tender across the UK. The schoolboy had to walk for an hour in pouring rain and freezing temperatures to get home.[4] A First Cymru Bus spokesman said: "Scottish currency is legal tender in the UK and it should have been accepted on our buses as payment for the journey he was making. We will investigate what has happened here."
Operations
The company operates around 200 bus services in the south Wales area, in and between Haverfordwest, Pembroke, Tenby, Carmarthen, Llanelli, Swansea, Pontardawe, Neath, Port Talbot, Maesteg, Bridgend and Cardiff.
The company operates an FTR bus rapid transit route in Swansea, branded Swansea Metro, and a frequent shuttle service from Swansea to Cardiff. For students of Swansea University, service 82A, branded the Bright Orange Bus, links the university to the Hendrefoelan Student Village. First Cymru operates park and ride sites, which are located at Fabian Way, Fforestfach and Landore in Swansea.
Greyhound
First Cymru operate the Greyhound service from Swansea to Cardiff.
Cymru Clipper
In 2014, First Cymru started the Cymru Clipper express network which spans from Carmarthen to Cardiff.
Services X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X11, X12, X13, X58, 120 & 125 are encompassed into this network. Dedicated vehicles operate these services with WiFi, leather seats and special tickets as standard
FTR Metro
First Cymru operate a bus route between Singleton Hospital, Swansea University, Swansea City Centre and Morriston Hospital.
National Express
Until July 2012 First Cymru were a National Express contractor and operated services on routes:
- 201 Swansea - Gatwick Airport
- 202 Swansea - Heathrow Airport
- 508 Haverfordwest - London
- 528 Haverfordwest - Rochdale
Fleet
As at March 2014 the fleet consisted of 387 buses and coaches.[5]
Depots
First Cymru operate seven depots in Bridgend, Cardiff, Haverfordwest, Llanelli, Port Talbot, Tycroes and Ravenhill.[5]
See also
References
- ↑ Companies House extract company no 133884 First Cymru Buses Limited formerly The South Wales Transport Company Limited
- ↑ NBC sale at halfway stage Commercial Motor 16 May 1987 page 21
- ↑ Names remain the same Commercial Motor 1 March 1990 page 20
- ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-30816290
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 FirstGroup Fleetlist Steve White
External links
Media related to First Cymru at Wikimedia Commons
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