1BWS Ticket - North Wales

[Llandudno]

There are rumours that there is going to be a new 1BWS Day Rover ticket about to be launched in north and parts of mid Wales next week, valid on ALL operators.

Anyone seen any publicity for it…?

 

[markymark2000]

There are rumours that there is going to be a new 1BWS Day Rover ticket about to be launched in north and parts of mid Wales next week, valid on ALL operators.

Anyone seen any publicity for it…?

Yes, most councils have put up a post for it.
Valid on all buses in Wales as well as from Wales into Cheshire West and Chester, to Whitchurch on the 146 and to Machynlleth on the T2. Exceptions to the ticket are National Express, Park and Rides, Open top buses, Stagecoach X10 and Townlynx 28.

Tickets cost £5.70 for an Adult or £3.70 for Children, MyTravelPass holders or England and Scotland concessionary pass holders.

New ticketing system will make bus travel in North Wales much easier

www.deeside.com

A new ticketing system is set to be launched to make bus travel easier in North Wales

From Saturday (July 17) one ticket will be valid on buses all across the region.

Once passengers have bought their “1bws” ticket from the driver on their first journey of the day, the ticket will then be valid for travel on buses throughout the area.

An adult ticket will cost £5.70, a child (or young person with a My Travel Pass) will pay £3.70 and holders of English and Scottish concessionary bus passes will also pay £3.70.


A family ticket is available for just £12.

One of the reasons non-bus users are reluctant to give the bus a try is confusion about what ticket to buy. How much does it cost? When can it be used? Who operates the buses? Will my ticket be valid? All these questions put people off using the bus.

With 1bws it couldn’t be easier. One ticket, for all day, valid on North Wales busses in Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Wrexham—and on buses from North Wales to Chester, Whitchurch and Machynlleth.

There are buses covering most of the region and it is possible to explore the North Wales Coast, Snowdonia, the Clwydian Range, the Dee Valley.

Flintshire’s Cabinet Member for Streetscene, Councillor Glyn Banks, said:

“I am very pleased we are supporting this initiative, which will help to encourage local people and visitors alike to use our extensive bus network.

“The initiative is a great way to get people back on buses and open up the North Wales countryside for the summer in a way that protects the environment.

“It’s an excellent example of the benefits of partnership working between local authorities, bus operators and Transport for Wales. This is the first time that we have been able to provide and promote a single one-day ticket available on all services and it is thanks to operators large and small for their commitment to improving access by bus.”

Timetable information for all buses in North Wales is available online at bustimes.org or traveline.cymru; or by phone on 0800 464 00 00.

1bws is valid on all local bus services operating in North Wales (the counties of Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey and Wrexham) with the exception of service 28 between Mold and Flint.

It is also not valid on tourist services operated by open top buses, on National Express coach services and park and ride services.

I know it doesn't say about the Stagecoach X10 but this is also an exception noted on one of the news sites.

 

[Flying Snail]

That is some stupid name for the product, apart from that it is a positive step toward more useful integration. Would a decent map outlining the main routes available be too much to hope for?
It is interesting that they have been able to set it at the same price as the current Arriva wales day ticket, as well as offering a big improvement it makes the Arriva only product virtually redundant. It may well be an issue getting the right ticket from Arriva drivers, perhaps it would help if the thing was pronounceable; 1bws?

What is so special about the 2 regular routes not included?

 

[eastend43]

That is some stupid name for the product, apart from that it is a positive step toward more useful integration. Would a decent map outlining the main routes available be too much to hope for?
It is interesting that they have been able to set it at the same price as the current Arriva wales day ticket, as well as offering a big improvement it makes the Arriva only product virtually redundant. It may well be an issue getting the right ticket from Arriva drivers, perhaps it would help if the thing was pronounceable; 1bws?

What is so special about the 2 regular routes not included?

I'm not fluent in Welsh, but would have thought the pronunciation would be obvious (although didn't see it at first when capitalised).

 

[Y Ddraig Coch]

That is some stupid name for the product, apart from that it is a positive step toward more useful integration. Would a decent map outlining the main routes available be too much to hope for?
It is interesting that they have been able to set it at the same price as the current Arriva wales day ticket, as well as offering a big improvement it makes the Arriva only product virtually redundant. It may well be an issue getting the right ticket from Arriva drivers, perhaps it would help if the thing was pronounceable; 1bws?

What is so special about the 2 regular routes not included?

The fact it says 1 bus in Welsh makes it a very apt name I would suggest, so maybe in only your opinion it is stupid. Its a three letter word, hardly unpronounceable you are being a bit dramatic I feel.

 

[markymark2000]

That is some stupid name for the product, apart from that it is a positive step toward more useful integration. Would a decent map outlining the main routes available be too much to hope for?
It is interesting that they have been able to set it at the same price as the current Arriva wales day ticket, as well as offering a big improvement it makes the Arriva only product virtually redundant. It may well be an issue getting the right ticket from Arriva drivers, perhaps it would help if the thing was pronounceable; 1bws?

What is so special about the 2 regular routes not included?

Stagecoach X10 is classed as a tourist route and is taken out of the concessionary bus pass scheme as well

Townlynx 28 is anyones guess. It is their only commercial route so it would be reasonable to assume that they don't want to be a part of the scheme but where there is funding from local authorities, they are forced into it because of the funding contracts.


A map is too much to ask for however based on the coverage area, I would say it is pretty self explanatory. It's not an overly confusing ticket.

AS for pricing, I think it's because it's a midpoint between the Red Rover and Bwsabout which this ticket replaces. It is much better value than the Arriva ticket though. I wonder if they will stop selling it or default to the 1bws ticket like they have done in Merseyside with the MyTicket.

 

[Simon75]

It's great that if you have an English/Scottish pass you get a discount

 

[splashoutradio]

This is excellent news, and a 90p price reduction for adults in Gwynedd and Anglesey who currently use the Tocyn Crwydro Coch/Red Rover Ticket. Oddly though, if the aforementioned ticket is removed, it'll present a 30p increase on the child fare.

 

[sefyllian]

Bought my usual Tocyn Coch/Red Rover on my first (Arriva) bus this morning, only to be told on my second (non-Arriva) bus that they’re not valid anymore and Arriva should have sold me the new cheaper 1Bws (which I hadn’t heard of). The driver did let me on though.

So it seems Arriva don’t know or aren’t telling people about 1Bws yet (or some drivers anyway).

The Red Rover refused to scan at all, which suggests they’ve been completely abolished. A shame as I used them to get to Aberystwyth, not included in 1Bws.

Otherwise, 1Bws seems excellent value and very welcome.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jul 2021 ==

That is some stupid name for the product

Since bus users in north Wales are perfectly capable of saying things like “a single to Rhosllanerchrugog please”, I somehow don’t think “a 1Bws please” is going to be beyond anyone’s capabilities.

 

[Llandudno]

Stagecoach X10 is classed as a tourist route and is taken out of the concessionary bus pass scheme as well

Townlynx 28 is anyones guess. It is their only commercial route so it would be reasonable to assume that they don't want to be a part of the scheme but where there is funding from local authorities, they are forced into it because of the funding contracts.


A map is too much to ask for however based on the coverage area, I would say it is pretty self explanatory. It's not an overly confusing ticket.

AS for pricing, I think it's because it's a midpoint between the Red Rover and Bwsabout which this ticket replaces. It is much better value than the Arriva ticket though. I wonder if they will stop selling it or default to the 1bws ticket like they have done in Merseyside with the MyTicket.

I wonder if the operator that issues the ticket keeps all the revenue rather than trying to apportion revenue across different operators.

I guess it makes Arriva’s Day Saver redundant unless you are travelling east of Chester?

 

[splashoutradio]

Bought my usual Tocyn Coch/Red Rover on my first (Arriva) bus this morning, only to be told on my second (non-Arriva) bus that they’re not valid anymore and Arriva should have sold me the new cheaper 1Bws (which I hadn’t heard of). The driver did let me on though.

So it seems Arriva don’t know or aren’t telling people about 1Bws yet (or some drivers anyway).

There does unfortunately seem to be a distinct lack of publicity regarding this ticket. The transport pages of the Gwynedd Council website are still promoting the Red Rover Ticket, and of Dybych council are still advertising the BwsAbout ticket.

Hopefully this will be rectified shortly, as the 1bws ticket represents excellent value for money.

 

[markymark2000]

The main issue with this new ticket is the price difference. Even this morning, many drivers didn't know about it and passengers certainly didn't and with the price increase (£1.20 for children, 20p for adults), it can be quite a price hike so what has happened today I am informed by drivers is a lot of free trips have happened because it's unfair to refuse travel to people who didn't know the price increased and didn't have the extra cash on them since there has been no posters out on buses and as I say, many drivers didn't even know about it.

Not the best launch to a ticket that I have ever seen. Very good though, I've used it today without issue.

 

[M60lad]

I know this new ticket can also be used to/from Chester but can it be used to/from Ellesmere Port on the services from their to Mold?

 

[markymark2000]

I know this new ticket can also be used to/from Chester but can it be used to/from Ellesmere Port on the services from their to Mold?

Yes, it's valid on the 5 to Ellesmere Port

 

[PR1Berske]

That sounds like a very good idea, I had some plans for travel in North Wales and a one price fits all ticket helps with that. The name is "bus" with a "w" so I'm fairly certain it's pronouncable.

 

[krus_aragon]

The main issue with this new ticket is the price difference. Even this morning, many drivers didn't know about it and passengers certainly didn't and with the price increase (£1.20 for children, 20p for adults), it can be quite a price hike so what has happened today I am informed by drivers is a lot of free trips have happened because it's unfair to refuse travel to people who didn't know the price increased and didn't have the extra cash on them since there has been no posters out on buses and as I say, many drivers didn't even know about it.

I hadn't seen any publicity about it either until stumbling across this thread, but I've not been on a bus since last March anyway.

What product has been withdrawn to give the price hike you mention? In my neck of the woods (where Arriva are the dominant operator, and your choice is single tickets or Arriva Wales Daysaver), the new price of ₤5.70 matches the closest thing to a return ticket that we can buy.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Jul 2021 ==

That sounds like a very good idea, I had some plans for travel in North Wales and a one price fits all ticket helps with that. The name is "bus" with a "w" so I'm fairly certain it's pronouncable.

Especially for visitors from the north of England, some of whom pronounce "bus" that way anyway.

 

[markymark2000]

I hadn't seen any publicity about it either until stumbling across this thread, but I've not been on a bus since last March anyway.

What product has been withdrawn to give the price hike you mention? In my neck of the woods (where Arriva are the dominant operator, and your choice is single tickets or Arriva Wales Daysaver), the new price of ₤5.70 matches the closest thing to a return ticket that we can buy.

It was not a very good launch. Only launching it a few days before and giving minimal notice of price differences.

This ticket replaces the BwsAbout (£5.50 adult, £2.50 child) and the Red Rover (£6.80 Adult, £3.40 child)

Child BwsAbout was a big fare hike.

The only one where the price decreases is the Adult Red Rover with a nice £1.10 saving. All others increase.

 

[bspahh]

Would a decent map outlining the main routes available be too much to hope for?

This is from the top hit for a Google Search for "1bws" "map"

Not much use for plotting a day trip though.

 

[krus_aragon]

It was not a very good launch. Only launching it a few days before and giving minimal notice of price differences.

This ticket replaces the BwsAbout (£5.50 adult, £2.50 child) and the Red Rover (£6.80 Adult, £3.40 child)

Child BwsAbout was a big fare hike.

The only one where the price decreases is the Adult Red Rover with a nice £1.10 saving. All others increase.

Ah, I notice now that I misread your post and got the price hikes the wrong way around (adult/kids).

I didn't know of Bws About, as I live west of it's coverage area. I did, of course know about the venerable Red Rover, but with so many Arriva services dominating the Llandudno area the extra price rarely seemed worth it.

 

[mmh]

Especially for visitors from the north of England, some of whom pronounce "bus" that way anyway.

My dilemma will be whether to ask for an Un Bws or a One Bws. I suspect, at risk of perhaps showing unconscious prejudice here, if bus drivers were the first person to speak in the conversation I might even vary it depending on their accent. The passenger speaks first though, so I've no idea what I'll do. Could well just end up being different depending on where I am at the time!

 

[Andyh82]

£5.70 is quite reasonably priced.

Buses in North Wales and in rural areas generally tend to be on the dear side, but this fare is pretty comparable to day tickets in various urban areas, and of course the geographical area it covers is much larger.

Regarding the name, it’s fairly standard for ticket names in North Wales to only have welsh names, like has been mentioned there was Bwsabout and various others

 

[mmh]

£5.70 is quite reasonably priced.

Buses in North Wales and in rural areas generally tend to be on the dear side, but this fare is pretty comparable to day tickets in various urban areas, and of course the geographical area it covers is much larger.

Regarding the name, it’s fairly standard for ticket names in North Wales to only have welsh names, like has been mentioned there was Bwsabout and various others

And 5.70 is, and I'm sure this isn't coincidental, the price the majority of bus users in North Wales were paying for a single operator (Arriva) day ticket. It's a very welcome thing.

And you're spot on about the language "issue," I suspect posters imagining "bws" is unintelligible have never been here so don't realise that everybody knows what it means (not that it's difficult). It's painted in huge letters on the road at most bus stops. Welsh is not an esoteric mystical language here, we're not Glasgow or Dublin. Even English-only speakers invariably know some Welsh, and use bits of it every day. It's impossible not to.

In other North Wales bus news, there's now a flat rate 1.00 single fare on all Arriva buses after 7pm.

 

[Typhoon]

Welsh is not an esoteric mystical language here, we're not Glasgow or Dublin. Even English-only speakers invariably know some Welsh, and use bits of it every day. It's impossible not to.

Quite! Bus drivers are not stupid, some years ago when travelling in North Wales, I tried to be clever and pronounce what I thought the the place name would be, the driver asked whether I meant a similar sounding name (closer to what I thought the English pronounciation was) and asked whether I wanted to be told when we got there. No problem.
I am sure asking for a day ticket available on all companies' buses would get the right one, or if people are so concerned write it on a piece of paper, its only four characters!

As an old (English)man it sounds brilliant.

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

I thought 1BWS looked like a train reporting number, but I think it is a good name.

Doubtless people can pronounce Rhosllanerchrugog, but usually 'Rhos' would be enough.

 

[mmh]

I thought 1BWS looked like a train reporting number, but I think it is a good name.

Doubtless people can pronounce Rhosllanerchrugog, but usually 'Rhos' would be enough.

Dwygyfylchi is a good one to hear wacky pronunciations of. But on a bus it's almost always obvious where someone means.

Bought my first 1bws today. Didn't ask for it, just my usual "day ticket please" on an Arriva bus, got given a ticket that looks exactly the same as it ever has but with a 1bws logo instead of an Arriva one.

Those hoping for some outrageous discrimination against those who don't want to try to say the most simple of a Welsh words will have to wait for another day!

 

[berneyarms]

And 5.70 is, and I'm sure this isn't coincidental, the price the majority of bus users in North Wales were paying for a single operator (Arriva) day ticket. It's a very welcome thing.

And you're spot on about the language "issue," I suspect posters imagining "bws" is unintelligible have never been here so don't realise that everybody knows what it means (not that it's difficult). It's painted in huge letters on the road at most bus stops. Welsh is not an esoteric mystical language here, we're not Glasgow or Dublin. Even English-only speakers invariably know some Welsh, and use bits of it every day. It's impossible not to.

In other North Wales bus news, there's now a flat rate 1.00 single fare on all Arriva buses after 7pm.

A small point here - most Irish people can speak some Irish - it is hardly an esoteric mystical language.

 

[splashoutradio]

The Red Rover refused to scan at all, which suggests they’ve been completely abolished. A shame as I used them to get to Aberystwyth, not included in 1Bws.

Just come across another well hidden source of information for the 1bws ticket - this time on the Traveline Cymru website. It suggests 1bws is valid to Aberystwyth on the T2, after all.
Source: https://www.traveline.cymru/news/20...duced-by-local-authorities-and-bus-operators/

The 1Bws ticket is valid on the T2 Bangor to Aberystwyth, T3 Wrexham to Barmouth, T12 Wrexham to Chirk and T19 Blaenau Ffestiniog to Llandudno.

 

[sefyllian]

Just come across another well hidden source of information for the 1bws ticket - this time on the Traveline Cymru website. It suggests 1bws is valid to Aberystwyth on the T2, after all.

Excellent news, thanks. It really is good value then, fair play.

I found an old Crosville Cymru ticket from 1997 the other day, and the journey from Caernarfon to Aberystwyth was £8.70 at the time!

 

[James H]

As an English visitor to Wales how should one pronounce 1Bws? What's '1' in Welsh?

 

[mmh]

As an English visitor to Wales how should one pronounce 1Bws? What's '1' in Welsh?

"A day ticket please"
I doubt anybody has ever asked for an "1 Bws", but it you do need to the English / transliteration version of it is something like "een boos."