Trawscymru Service News

[markymark2000]

So the fragile, but often works outside summer, 5 minute-ish southbound connection from T2 into Cambrian Coast trains at Porthmadog is broken.

The run up the road at Criccieth is still possible but needs the T2 absolutely on time.

Bus/Train connections are not welcome in Wales if the current set of TrawsCymru changes are anything to go by.

One T3C continuing to Dolgellau in the morning solves the overlooked Coleg flow. But no corresponding through or connecting service in the afternoon ... or is the school days T3C 1525 from Bala intended, after going up to the school, to wait at the high street and connect out of the T3 at 1539?

The morning trip already happens on the current timetable. Afternoons, I don't believe this to be the case.

 

[RELL6L]

So the fragile, but often works outside summer, 5 minute-ish southbound connection from T2 into Cambrian Coast trains at Porthmadog is broken.

How many people would want to do this? You can connect comfortably to the G23 for locations south to Barmouth, at Dolegellaus for the Tywyn area, and by staying on the T2 you will get to Machynlleth half an hour earlier than by taking the train.

One T3C continuing to Dolgellau in the morning solves the overlooked Coleg flow. But no corresponding through or connecting service in the afternoon ... or is the school days T3C 1525 from Bala intended, after going up to the school, to wait at the high street and connect out of the T3 at 1539?

I suspect not, but you could go to Corwen and come straight back on the T3C. Do many take this route? All of the T3 and T3C is a compromise and I suspect this decision is taken deliberately.

 

[nwales58]

... but you could go to Corwen and come straight back on the T3C. Do many take this route?

Dolgellau-Corwen-back to villages is the Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor students' complaint which has an MS filling pages of the local papers.

 

[GusB]

Dolgellau-Corwen-back to villages is the Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor students' complaint which has an MS filling pages of the local papers.

MS?

 

[Dai Corner]

MS?

I presume nwales58 means Member of the Senedd (Welsh Parliament).

 

[nwales58]

T3 not changing. Yet.

Due to an objection by Wrexham Borough Council to the withdrawal of buses by Transport for Wales from Ruabon Railway Station and Wrexham Maelor Hospital these locations have been reinstated. The current timetable will remain in effect for the foreseeable future.

Service Changes from Monday 12th February 2024 -

From Monday 12th February 2024 there will be changes to services 28, 29, 30, 33, 33A, 34, 34A, 35, 541, G23, T2, T28 and X29. Lloyds Coaches have no control over timetables, these are dictated by the Tendering Authority, for example Transport for Wales or your local council. For details of the...

lloydscoaches.com

 

[WelshBuses93]

It appears that First Cymru have registered service T11 between Haverfordwest and Fishguard from 1st April.

Pardon Our Interruption

• Registration numberPG0000421/574
• Licence NumberPG0000421

• Variation number0
• StatusNew
• Service number.T11
• Service typeNormal Stopping
• Start pointHaverfordwest Rail Station, Haverfordwest
• Finish pointFfordd Yr Efail, Fishguard
• ViaKeeston, Solva, St Davids & Mathry
• Date received02 Feb 2024
• Effective date01 Apr 2024
• End date

 

[Rhydgaled]

It appears that First Cymru have registered service T11 between Haverfordwest and Fishguard from 1st April.

Pardon Our Interruption

The status of this registration now seems to have changed to 'Withdrawn'.

The 'effective date' of 1st April doesn't seem to tie up with the expected contract renewal dates either (which, for the T11, is not until November) although according to that the T5 contract was up at the end of Jan. and there doesn't appear to have been any news on this.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

It appears that First Cymru have registered service T11 between Haverfordwest and Fishguard from 1st April.

Pardon Our Interruption

The status of this registration now seems to have changed to 'Withdrawn'.

The 'effective date' of 1st April doesn't seem to tie up with the expected contract renewal dates either (which, for the T11, is not until November) although according to that the T5 contract was up at the end of Jan. and there doesn't appear to have been any news on this.

He's not posted on here for a while but a knowledgeable Welsh enthusiast and flickrite has intimated that the T11 was being tendered from April. However, Richard Bros (possibly because they'd lost it to First Cymru) are now to run it commercially, or at least, in part.

 

[rich.davies]

I've spotted the below on RTT (real time trains), not seen it before so I'm curious as to why a bus service from Barmouth to Wrexham, has now appeared in the planner from June.

It's showing return workings from the 10th of June, is TFW integrating the TrawsCymru bus service into the planners now for combined ticketing?

Realtime Trains | Just a moment

Realtime Trains is an independent source of live realtime running information for the Great British railway network.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[krus_aragon]

I've spotted the below on RTT (real time trains), not seen it before so I'm curious as to why a bus service from Barmouth to Wrexham, has now appeared in the planner from June.

It's showing return workings from the 10th of June, is TFW integrating the TrawsCymru bus service into the planners now for combined ticketing?

Realtime Trains | Just a moment

Realtime Trains is an independent source of live realtime running information for the Great British railway network.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

RTT is also listing TrawsCymru buses at Bangor from next week. As well as the ones to Aberystwyth, there's some to Capel Curig (T10).

(The less said about the spelling of the "Pen-y-gros" stop, the better!)

 

[WAB]

The choice of intermediate timing points is interesting - Penygroes is apparently worthy but not Criccieth or Porthmadog.

 

[RELL6L]

The choice of intermediate timing points is interesting - Penygroes is apparently worthy but not Criccieth or Porthmadog.

The absence of times at Porthmadog and Criccieth is ludicrous as there are real railway stations there!

 

[markymark2000]

It's showing return workings from the 10th of June, is TFW integrating the TrawsCymru bus service into the planners now for combined ticketing?

Journeys to the train stations on the T2 and T3 are showing, the new bus only destinations aren't currently. Also fares don't seem to be in the system properly either. The only tickets being sold are the anytime tickets costing £62.80 single rather than the significantly cheaper bus fare.
(photo below shows the price differences on Transport for Wales website. I can't link to the results but if you go to tfw.wales and input Bangor to Machnellyth, you can see the different journeys)

The absence of times at Porthmadog and Criccieth is ludicrous as there are real railway stations there!

T2 doesn't stop near the stations though in Porthmadog (10 min walk) or Criccieth (5 minutes walk). Bangor, Mach and Aber the bus stops outside the stations. They could do it as a bus only destination like they have done at Caernarfon but does that cause any issues with journey planners having Porthmadog Train Station and Porthmadog Australia listed separately? If we went back to the old route, it was perfect for Porthmadog Rail Station with train connections available. Sadly that kind of bus/train integration was put to a stop by TFW.

 

[peterblue]

Journeys to the train stations on the T2 and T3 are showing, the new bus only destinations aren't currently. Also fares don't seem to be in the system properly either. The only tickets being sold are the anytime tickets costing £62.80 single rather than the significantly cheaper bus fare.
(photo below shows the price differences on Transport for Wales website. I can't link to the results but if you go to tfw.wales and input Bangor to Machnellyth, you can see the different journeys)
View attachment 158898


T2 doesn't stop near the stations though in Porthmadog (10 min walk) or Criccieth (5 minutes walk). Bangor, Mach and Aber the bus stops outside the stations. They could do it as a bus only destination like they have done at Caernarfon but does that cause any issues with journey planners having Porthmadog Train Station and Porthmadog Australia listed separately? If we went back to the old route, it was perfect for Porthmadog Rail Station with train connections available. Sadly that kind of bus/train integration was put to a stop by TFW.

Even cheaper that that, I believe the 1 bws ticket is valid too.

 

[rich.davies]

Im wondering if T3 buses are going to terminate/depart Wrexham General then in the future? There's not much swing room for a bus though until they redevelop the NWF site.

 

[markymark2000]

Im wondering if T3 buses are going to terminate/depart Wrexham General then in the future? There's not much swing room for a bus though until they redevelop the NWF site.

Short term, any T3s serving General Station would be serving doing so using the stops on Mold Road, not going down into the station. To go down to the station is a huge time penalty and turning there is a backside. If TFW build the interchange that they are planning, then I think it is dead cert that the T3 will go in.

 

[Markdvdman]

Well as I am working from home on Fridays for the time being, I need to catch the T1C to Cross Hands from Port Talbot, or Cardiff (depending if I book earlier on the train). It is now £8 Port Talbot to Cross Hands used to be £5.50. However, try finding the prices online - their website points to TFW and only shows the day ticket prices. So I stumped up the idea to call Mid Wales Travel. He had issues so called me back. It is the same price from Cardiff as Port Talbot. Strange that but I have seen this before! I would not dare use this service on a Friday mind as it is horrendous traffic fine on a Thursday! I was pleasantly surprised he called me back though!

 

[Jellyfish261]

A speculative notice has been published on Sell2Wales, signifying a possible return of the T9 (or equivalent) - or at least some interest in reinstating

 

[daodao]

A speculative notice has been published on Sell2Wales, signifying a possible return of the T9 (or equivalent) - or at least some interest in reinstating

I presume that the T9 service that you are referring to is the former service from Cardiff city centre to Rhoose Airport.

There are currently no more than 4-5 scheduled flights each day from this airport to non-holiday destinations - Amsterdam twice daily and Belfast/Dublin/Edinburgh each up to once daily. The potential custom for a dedicated direct service from the city centre to the airport is therefore likely to be fairly low. There is already a bus connection (route 905) to Rhoose station on the Vale of Glamorgan line for the small number of air passengers who might wish to use public transport to reach the airport.

 

[markymark2000]

I presume that the T9 service that you are referring to is the former service from Cardiff city centre to Rhoose Airport.

There are currently no more than 4-5 scheduled flights each day from this airport to non-holiday destinations - Amsterdam twice daily and Belfast/Dublin/Edinburgh each up to once daily. The potential custom for a dedicated direct service from the city centre to the airport is therefore likely to be fairly low.

You forget, the Welsh Goverment don't care about whether it's worth it. It's just political. Look at all of the money that keeps being pumped into the airport despite the fact, as you say, there's so few flights. The Welsh Govt has a lot of money to throw at aviation as evidenced with the £215 subsidy per person plane that they were running between Cardiff and Anglesey until a few years ago (figures taken from ITV news https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2022...-flights-permanently-axed-by-welsh-government take the £3m cost per year, divide over 13.930 passengers per year, you get £215 cost per passenger).

There is already a bus connection (route 905) to Rhoose station on the Vale of Glamorgan line for the small number of air passengers who might wish to use public transport to reach the airport.

Oh yes, we can't forget the 905. What a wonderful use of taxpayers money that is! It only moves for 14 minutes per hour. All paid for by the taxpayer, it's a complete waste. The 905 could run to Barry and meet up with significantly more trains and provide a service from a decent sized town, but no, that would make sense. Instead the rail link goes from 1 station up the track with only an hourly service, and serves a village that only has about 6k population.