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 the brand name for a network of long and medium-distance express bus routes in Wales which are sponsored by the Welsh Government, who have decided the network is to be replaced by TrawsCymru. The TrawsCambria brand had largely disappeared by May 2013, however the successor TrawsCymru 'network' was only a single route at that point. By the end of October 2014, TrawsCymru had increased to three fully branded routes (two of which were formally TrawsCambria) but still had not completely consumed the whole TrawsCambria network.

History

Coach Network

TrawsCambria started in 1979 as the branded experimental coach service route 700 Cardiff-Brecon-Builth 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:

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 Later TrawsCambria 702 was withdrawn.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. Traws, pronounced to rhyme with 'house', is the Welsh equivalent for 'cross' as in cross-country. Therefore TrawsCambria was roughly equivalent to 'cross-Cambria' or 'trans-Cambria' in English.

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.

Welsh Assembly Reshaping

Prior to and during 2005, the Welsh Assembly Government 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.

While TrawsCambria was co-ordinated by the Welsh Assembly Government, the actual bus services are/were provided by a variety of private bus companies. The TrawsCambria livery was based on a common design, including TrawsCambria logos, but with the colours of the base livery selected by the operator running the service. A fleet of modern Optare Tempos were purchased for all but two of the routes, with different specifications for different routes. While not of express coach standard, some of these are significantly more comfortable than normal service buses.

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.

The withdrawal of service 701 and introduction of the new low-floor bus fleet for the replacement Aberystwyth to Cardiff (X40) service sparked concerns and complaints about the suitability of a 'service bus' for the four-hour journey. There was no on-board toilet, which did not make an ideal situation for such a distance. Toilet breaks (even though there are limited facilities along the rural route) would be frowned upon as they would interfere with the timetable. The X40 also did not accept concessionary travel passes for travel over the section south of Carmarthen. However some of the complaints, particularly those related to luggage space, may have been the result of Arriva Buses Wales using buses on Aberystwyth - Cardiff services other than the two specially equipped Optare Tempos ordered with Aberystwyth – Cardiff services in mind.

701 Revival

In 2007 a private company trading as Coach Travel Wales took advantage of the complaints surrounding the X40 and re-introduced service 701 as an Aberystwyth – Aberaeron – Lampeter – Carmarthen – Swansea - Port Talbot – Cardiff – Cardiff Bay service. Initially this ran twice-weekly with one journey from Aberystwyth in the morning, returning from Cardiff in the afternoon. This service runs using coaches with toilets and concessionary passes are accepted along the whole route.

The service proved popular and that popularity has continued to increase. Additional days of operation were added until, on 1 April 2012 the service became daily except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. From 29 September 2013 was further increased to run twice daily Mon-Sat, with further services a possibility for 2014.

From 7 September 2014 a new service was introduced building on the success of the 701. Numbered 750 this new service runs Thurs and Sat from Aberystwyth to Cardiff via New Quay, Llandysul, Carmarthen and Swansea.

Attempted Relaunch As TrawsCymru

Main article: TrawsCymru

Following a Welsh Assembly Government consultation on improvements to the TrawsCambria network, in autumn 2010,[1] a programme of improvements for TrawsCambria services X40 and 704/T4 was announced.[2] New buses were the main improvement identified. These would be equipped with coach style seating, greater luggage space, real time information and WiFi. The Welsh Assembly Government decided these upgraded routes, and eventually the network as a whole, were to be re-launched under the new TrawsCymru brand. As part of the re-branding, service X40 was to be re-numbered TC1 and T4 would have become TC4. The T4 upgrade and re-branding went ahead, but without the planned renumbering to TC4.

CymruExpress

However, before the contract for the TC1 service could be let, Arriva Buses Wales decided to cease operation of the TrawsCambria X40 and their section of the TrawsCambria 550 service from 26 February 2012. Instead they introduced their own services along the routes on a fully commercial basis, under the brand 'CymruExpress', meaning these routes no longer formed part of the TrawsCambria network. The CymruExpress services were:[3]

As part of the CymruExpress launch, Arriva returned the TrawsCambria Optare Tempos and replaced them with Wright Pulsars (on services 40 and 50) and a pair of Van Hool Alizée coaches (for use on services 10 and 20). The Pulsars were initially planned to be an interim measure, until new Wright Gemini double-deckers could be introduced in August 2012.[5] However, these were never introduced. The decision to operate the CymruExpress routes commercially prevented the introduction of the TrawsCymru TC1 service.

Second Chance

Arriva later decided to close their Aberystwyth depot and related outstations.[6] As such, all remaining CymruExpress services were withdrawn, with the last services running on 21 December 2013. With the commercial operation cancelled, the local councils and Welsh Government were once again able to subsidise bus services on the corridor, giving them a second chance to introduce a TrawsCymru service.

Initially, the local councils let interim contracts to maintain bus services in the area. One of these, a subsidised version of service 40, was jointly operated by First Cymru and Lewis Coaches. Service 50 was replaced by a new service titled X50 operated by Richards Bros, also funded by the council.[7] Both these interim services commenced operation on 23 December 2013. These interim contracts did not include any Sunday services, meaning that as of Sunday 15 December there were no Sunday bus services operating in Ceredigion (a single round trip between Aberystwyth and Cardiff is provided by the 701 service, but that is a coach not a bus). Neither of these contracts were for TrawsCymru services, but as interim services they were intended to run for approximately six months, until the Summer of 2014, whilst the Wales Government looked at options for the longer term future of nationally strategic transport services.

It later emerged that a TrawsCymru service on the Aberystwyth - Carmarthen route would indeed finally be delivered .[8] The original plan for the X40 to be renumbered as TC1 and receive six new Welsh Government owned Optare Tempo buses however was not to be. Instead, the new TrawsCymru service is known as the T1 and buses will be provided by the operator, First Cymru, rather than the Welsh Government which has diverted the Tempos ordered for the TC1 to other routes. The T1 contract includes a limited Sunday service, and commenced on Sunday 3 August 2014.

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

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

This service ran roughly every two hours on Mondays to Saturdays from Bangor to Aberystwyth Mondays to Saturdays. This service was introduced in November 2004 and was operated by Arriva Buses Wales. After being subsidised for several years, in 2012 Arriva agreed to run the service on a commercial basis, but later found this unviable and decided to cancel the service in September 2012.[9]

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[10] when Arriva took over the whole service. This TrawsCambria service ceased on 26 February 2012 and was replaced by Arriva CymruExpress service 40.

X50: Cardigan to Aberaeron (and Aberystwyth).

This service operated roughly every two hours between Aberaeron and Cardigan Monday - Saturday, with 4 journeys extended to/from Aberystwyth. This service avoided the lengthy diversions to New Quay and Aberporth, which were served by the slower TrawsCambria 550 service. The service was operated by Richards Brothers using WAG-funded Optare Tempos.

The services between Cardigan and Aberaeron only were supposed have connections with the TrawsCambria X40 for travel to/from Aberystwyth. However, 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 were operated commercially between Aberystwyth and Aberaeron the council were unable to provide subsidy for this.[11] When the TrawsCambria X40 ceased, the 'connections' at Aberaeron were supposedly maintained, with CymruExpress route 40 replacing the X40.

X50: Cardigan to Aberystwyth via New Quay.

This service was introduced on 23 December 2013 and operated on a roughly hourly timetable, Monday - Saturday. Some services (generally alternate trips) also ran via Aberporth. As such, this route had much more in common with the former TrawsCambria 550 service than the X50 prior to 23 December 2013, which avoided the lengthy diversions to New Quay and Aberporth (from 23 December 2013 onwards, only one service each way continued to avoid New Quay). The service was operated by Richards Brothers using a mixture of vehicles, including some of the TrawsCambria Optare Tempos, the last remaining TrawsCambria-branded vehicles. The TrawsCambria branding was however not re-applied to some of the Tempos (which were repainted having previously carried Arriva's version of the TrawsCambria livery), given the eventual intention to retire the TrawsCambria brand entirely.

Optare Tempo YJ55BJK, the last bus to carry a TrawsCambria livery, seen leaving Morrisons in Aberystwyth.

The last service ran on Saturday 3 Jan 2015. It was replaced by the TrawsCymru T5 service with effect from Monday 5 Jan 2015 (neither the X50 nor T5 timetables include a Sunday service). All but one of the remaining TrawsCambria-liveried buses where repainted into TrawsCymru livery by this point.

550: Cardigan to Aberystwyth via Aberporth and New Quay.

This service has been through many phases, before effectively being renumbered as service X50 on 23 December 2013. WAG-funded Optare Tempos were the main vehicles used.

Service Launch - 2010

The initial service ran the full length of the coast from Aberystwyth to Cardigan, including the diversions into New Quay and into Aberporth. The service was roughly 2-hourly between Cardigan and Synod Inn, with the frequency from Synod Inn to Aberystwyth being double that. Most services were operated by Arriva Cymru, with a few trips run by Richards Bros.

2010 - 26 February 2012

During 2010, Arriva Buses Wales ceased operating services to Cardigan. However, they retained the hourly section of the service (between Synod Inn and Aberystwyth, via New Quay). The southern section of route, still roughly every two hours, was then solely operated by Richards Bros, with a change of bus being required at Synod Inn except for a few services operated by Richards Bros from Cardigan to Aberaeron, New Quay and Aberystwyth (the latter only on two evening journeys). This arrangement continued until the Arriva operation ceased to be a TrawsCambria service and was replaced by Arriva service 50

27 February 2012 – 23 December 2013

During this period, the service was operated solely by Richards Bros. Initially, it consisted primarily of a Cardigan to Synod Inn shuttle (via Aberporth) roughly every two hours. A few services extended further, including trips to New Quay or Aberaeron and two evening trips to Aberystwyth. The services that terminated at Synod Inn 'connected' with Arriva Buses Wales CymruExpress 50 to Aberystwyth via New Quay.

Later in 2012, Richards Bros extended the services that terminated at Synod Inn to Aberaeron via the direct route, avoiding New Quay. Passengers for Aberystwth were then expected to change at Aberaeron for Arriva's CymruExpress 40 service, much easier than changing bus at remote Synod Inn. The downside however was that connections to New Quay were lost. This made Cardigan – New Quay journeys almost impossible save for the handful of existing through services between Cardigan and New Quay (including the evening runs to/from Aberystywth) which were retained.

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

This service followed a route which closely approximated that of the Ruabon to Barmouth railway line which was closed to passengers in 1965. It was operated by Arriva Buses Wales Monday-Saturday and GHA Coaches on Sundays until 23 December 2013. Following this, GHA Coaches took over 7 days a week, and at some point the Sunday/Public Holiday service was renumbered as T3. The frequency along most of the route was roughly 2-hourly (every 2 hours). On Monday 3 November 2014 the X94 was finally withdrawn and replaced by TrawsCymru T3.

704: Newtown to Brecon via Llandrindod Wells.[12]

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. The route was later renumbered T4 and extended south from Brecon to Merthyr Tydfil. Although Merthyr Tydfil may not be an especially popular destination for Newtown residents, onward connections to Cardiff were available by train and bus (service X4). As of Jan2013, the service has been fully rebranded as a TrawsCymru route and has been extended to Cardiff.

Current Service

Network Map Spring/Summer 2012 - Showing past routes X40 and 550 and TrawsCymru service T4, along with selected rail routes. Since then, there have been many changes

The last remaining TrawsCambria route is:

T2: Bangor to Aberystwyth via Porthmadog, Dolgellau and Machynlleth.

Runs twice a day from Bangor to Aberystwyth, with additional workings over part of the route on Mondays to Saturdays. This service was introduced towards the end of September 2012, when Arriva Buses Wales cancelled TrawsCambria service X32. The service is operated by Express Motors and Lloyds Coaches, using the operators' normal buses.[13]

Key Connecting/Complementary Routes

Vehicles

This section lists dedicated vehicles which were formerly used on TrawsCambria services

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 X1260 Richards Bros X50 (Aberystwyth - Aberaeron - Cardigan) 2 YJ55BKE, YJ55BKF[14] 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. These two were among the last three vehicles to carry TrawsCambria livery.
Optare Tempo X1200 Stagecoach Route 704 3 YJ55YFY, YJ55YFZ, YJ55YGC[14] These buses have been relivered as part of the rebranding to TrawsCymru for route T4/TC4. They have a slightly less messy version of the livery without the silver areas (which are white on these vehicles)[15]
Optare Tempo X1200 Arriva Buses Wales X40 (Aberystwyth - Aberaeron - Lampeter - Pencader - Carmarthen) 3 YJ55BKO, YJ55BKU, YJ55BKV[14] Withdrawn from service alongside withdrawal of TrawsCambria X40 and Arriva's half of service 550
Optare Tempo X1200 Image Not Available First Cymru X40 (Aberystwyth - Aberaeron - Lampeter - Pencader - Carmarthen) 3 YJ55BJE, YJ55BJF, YJ55BJK[14] Two vehicles (YJ55BJE & BY55BJF) transferred to Arriva and the third (YJ55BJK) to Richards Bros (possibly via Arriva) when Arriva took over operating First's share of the X40 and Richards Bros took over the 550 south of Synod Inn. All three lost the route branding when repainted (YJ55BJK into Richards' version of TrawsCambria livery and the other two into Arriva livery). YJ55BJF was then scrapped due to fire damage.[16] YJ55BJE was withdrawn when Arriva replaced TrawsCambria X40 and 550 services with CymruExpress
Optare Tempo X1200 Arriva Buses Wales 550 (Aberystwyth - Aberaeron - New Quay - Aberporth - Cardigan) 5 YJ55BKG, YJ55BKK, YJ55BKL, YJ55BKN, YJ06YRY[14] These vehicles were withdrawn from service alongside withdrawal of TrawsCambria X40 and Arriva's half of service 550. Two (YJ55BKN and YJ06YRY) then joined Richards Bros' fleet (one in Richards Bros livery, the other in an unbranded form of TrawsCymru livery) with their 550 route branding removed.
Optare Tempo X1260 Arriva Buses Wales X40 (Aberystwyth - Aberaeron - Lampeter - Pencader - Carmarthen - Swansea - Cardiff)[17] 2 YJ06YRO, YJ06YRZ[18] 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. These buses were withdrawn from service when the X40 ceased operating, but by the end of 2012 had reappeared in a new livery (an unbranded version of TrawsCymru) now working for Richards Bros[19]

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.trawscymru.info/news/2011/03/
  2. ↑ http://www.trawscymru.info/about-us/
  3. ↑ http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/uploadedfiles/Services/Wales/WAAB10,20,40,50_260212_220112.pdf
  4. ↑ Cambrian News http://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/i/33054/. Retrieved 22 September 2013. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ↑ http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/content.aspx?id=17025
  6. ↑ "Arriva Buses Wales could lose 46 jobs by Christmas". BBC News. BBC News. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
  7. ↑ "Good news for 40 and 40c passengers". Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  8. ↑ "New TrawsCymru service backed". Bus and coach.com. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  9. ↑ "Arriva Bus blames falling passenger numbers for decision to drop X32 Traws Cambria route". Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  10. ↑ "Correspondence from Peter Hoskins re. National Assembly For Wales petition". Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  11. ↑ http://www.fixmytransport.com/campaigns/extend-all-trawscambria-x50-services
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 http://www.powys.gov.uk/index.php?id=10944&L=0
  13. ↑ "Lloyds coaches - Seen in Bangor (Flickr image)". Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 "Bus Lists On The Web - 55 plate vehicles, page 3". Retrieved 13 September 2011.
  15. ↑ "Flickr Image". Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  16. ↑ "YJ55BJF - Flickr Photo". |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  17. ↑ "Arriva YJ06YRZ - Flickr photo". |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  18. ↑ "Bus Lists On The Web - 06 plates, page 4". Retrieved 13 September 2011.
  19. ↑ "Flickr Image - YJ06YRZ". Retrieved 26 January 2013.

External links

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