Are NAT in trouble??

[Bwsbro]

Cardiff based New Adventure Travel over the past decade has grown to one of the largest independents Bus companies in the U.K. With their operating network operating across South Wales having launched commercial services in Cardiff, Swansea and Newport alongside a vast tendered Bus network comprising of services across the South Wales valleys and south Powys.

Although having had successes such as the Cardiff CrossCity X1 Service, some ventures have been a failure, including the commercial network between Swansea and Neath on former Select Bus Services.

However it seems that NAT are curtailing their services from this Summer

Pontypridd
202 Pontypridd Town Circular - Withdrawn on the 22nd July 2017

Caerphilly
R2 Newport - Risca - Withdrawn from 19th August. Partial Stagecoach replacement within Caerphilly County Only

Newport
N1: Dyffryn - City Centre - Spytty Park - Withdrawn from 4th September
N4: Bettws - City Centre - Spytty Park - Withdrawn on 22nd July 2017
N5/N6: Newport - St Julian's - Withdrawn from 7th August

Newport School Routes (From September 2017)
601, 602, 603, 611, 617, 620, 622, 624, 625, 626, 641, 642, 643, 644, 645, 646, 647, 649, 650, 651

These were awarded on a four year contract in 2015

NAT however have registered a new X5 Service between Cardiff and Ringland, Newport from the 4th of September 2017 and have made changes to their N2, N3 services in Newport

 

[ValleyLines142]

The Cardiff services are very well patronised, with the X1 now running an hour earlier and an hour later Monday to Saturday. Also they've introduced the X8 earlier this year (Cardiff Bay to Thornhill) and of course extended the X11 (Pentwyn to Cardiff) to Cardiff Bay. Cardiff Bus are definitely worried as they've introduced their X45 (St Mellons to Cardiff Bay) in competition.

However the Newport services do not surprise me. The 42/43 to Spytty are always nicely loaded and the N1 takes the most circuitous route through Lliswerry upon departure from the Retail Park.

 

[Great_Western]

The Newport ops were only ever there because of the large number of school contracts that were won. It never seemed to be as proffesional as Cardiff and Pontypridd, and their poor location in Market Square bus station did not help matters. That said, they have missed an open goal because Newport Bus are there for the beating and their services have been cut back whilst becoming increasingly unreliable.

 

[Envoy]

NAT are an excellent company and have created cross city routes in Cardiff that Cardiff Bus refused to provide. (They have changed their tune now). I also note that NAT have an extensive network on the Gower peninsula. The only thing I have against them is the St.Fagans service 32A - where long gaps in the afternoons when the schools are open. How on earth are the many foreign tourists supposed to know when the Brits have school holidays? NAT also provided a service between Penarth and Cardiff Bay.

Perhaps they could provide shuttle buses between Heath Halt and the hospital and between Cogan station & Llandough Hospital?

Presumably the changes proposed just reflect where routes cannot make a profit.

I also note that NAT give change whilst Cardiff Bus do not.

 

[padbus]

NAT are an excellent company and have created cross city routes in Cardiff that Cardiff Bus refused to provide. (They have changed their tune now). I also note that NAT have an extensive network on the Gower peninsula. The only thing I have against them is the St.Fagans service 32A - where long gaps in the afternoons when the schools are open. How on earth are the many foreign tourists supposed to know when the Brits have school holidays? NAT also provided a service between Penarth and Cardiff Bay.

Perhaps they could provide shuttle buses between Heath Halt and the hospital and between Cogan station & Llandough Hospital?

Presumably the changes proposed just reflect where routes cannot make a profit.

I also note that NAT give change whilst Cardiff Bus do not.

NAT are also a little cheaper than Cardiff Bus. Service 32A to St Fagans is run by Easyway.

 

[Bwsbro]

New X5 Timetable now online from September 2015

Its basically the N1 route and then expanded to Cardiff via the 30 route. With buses operating every 15 minutes


https://www.natgroup.co.uk/sites/www.natgroup.co.uk/files/X5 Timetables Sep 17 - Copy_0.pdf

 

[padbus]

New X5 Timetable now online from September 2015

Its basically the N1 route and then expanded to Cardiff via the 30 route. With buses operating every 15 minutes


https://www.natgroup.co.uk/sites/www.natgroup.co.uk/files/X5 Timetables Sep 17 - Copy_0.pdf

When NAT decide to compete, they certainly do a proper job.