Explore Cardiff and Valleys Day Ranger

[Ben Rhydding]

Per TfW website, this ticket is also valid on buses. I have asked Stagecoach South Wales for confirmation that it is valid on their 35 Merthyr Tydfil to Pant and 51/53 to Rhymney. Other than an automated acknowledgement, I have received no reply. Has anyone any advice or experience? Is there a definitive answer on the internet which I could screenshot? Do bus drivers recognise what will look like a train ticket?

 

[J663738]

I have used this type of ticket to go between Aberdare and Merthyr on a Stagecoach bus, without any issues.

 

[Envoy]

Per TfW website, this ticket is also valid on buses. I have asked Stagecoach South Wales for confirmation that it is valid on their 35 Merthyr Tydfil to Pant and 51/53 to Rhymney. Other than an automated acknowledgement, I have received no reply. Has anyone any advice or experience? Is there a definitive answer on the internet which I could screenshot? Do bus drivers recognise what will look like a train ticket?

They are missing a marketing trick here! The Stagecoach 35 goes from near Merthyr train station to Pant but what tourists know that Pant is in fact just a short walk from the Brecon Mountain Railway station? It would be far better of that 35 actually went right up to the Brecon Mountain Railway station at Pant and that the sign on the bus said ‘Brecon Mountain Railway - Pant’. That way, they could get tourists using the Metro trains up to Merthyr for a transfer to the 35 for the Mountain Railway.

 

[Djgr]

Per TfW website, this ticket is also valid on buses. I have asked Stagecoach South Wales for confirmation that it is valid on their 35 Merthyr Tydfil to Pant and 51/53 to Rhymney. Other than an automated acknowledgement, I have received no reply. Has anyone any advice or experience? Is there a definitive answer on the internet which I could screenshot? Do bus drivers recognise what will look like a train ticket?

If you haven't done already I would also contact TfW.

My guess is that nobody knows!

 

[Dirty_Mac]

I've used it from Rhymney to Merthyr Tydfil before, but it took some convincing of the bus driver!

 

[Merthyr Imp]

They are missing a marketing trick here! The Stagecoach 35 goes from near Merthyr train station to Pant but what tourists know that Pant is in fact just a short walk from the Brecon Mountain Railway station? It would be far better of that 35 actually went right up to the Brecon Mountain Railway station at Pant and that the sign on the bus said ‘Brecon Mountain Railway - Pant’.

But the Brecon Mountain Railway only operates between April and October and even then not on Mondays or Fridays. When it does operate I believe the first train from Pant is not until 1030am.

I think extending the 35 to Pant station would introduce far too many complications to the timetable - or else annoy the residents of the village by subjecting them to a pointless journey up to the station and back when they want to get into town.

 

[Envoy]

But the Brecon Mountain Railway only operates between April and October and even then not on Mondays or Fridays. When it does operate I believe the first train from Pant is not until 1030am.

I think extending the 35 to Pant station would introduce far too many complications to the timetable - or else annoy the residents of the village by subjecting them to a pointless journey up to the station and back when they want to get into town.

Point taken but I still they need some way of promoting the service as a link to the Brecon Mountain Railway and indicating to tourists were to alight at Pant.

 

[Ben Rhydding]

I was hoping for some advice on the validity of the Explore Cardiff & Valleys day ranger.

 

[J663738]

This is from TfW website, regarding the the validity, so if the bus is a Stagecoach or Thomas's and its in the Valleys*, I can't see what the issue is? *use the map provided, i.e. the lines in red.​

Terms and conditions​

• Enjoy unlimited travel in the designated geographical area for a day on Transport for Wales services.
• For travel between Maesteg - Cardiff Central via Pontyclun or Llantwit Major, plus Barry Island - Barry, Penarth - Grangetown and Cardiff Central - Treherbert / Merthyr Tydfil / Aberdare / Rhymney / Ebbw Vale.
• Valid for travel after 09:30 Monday to Friday, and all day Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays.
• No restriction on buses.
  

  Our bus partners​

  Here is a list of the bus operators in Wales that will accept the 'Explore Cardiff and Valleys':
  
  
  • Stagecoach South Wales Bus
  • Thomas of Rhondda

 

[Djgr]

This is from TfW website, regarding the the validity, so if the bus is a Stagecoach or Thomas's and its in the Valleys*, I can't see what the issue is? *use the map provided, i.e. the lines in red.​

Terms and conditions​

• Enjoy unlimited travel in the designated geographical area for a day on Transport for Wales services.
• For travel between Maesteg - Cardiff Central via Pontyclun or Llantwit Major, plus Barry Island - Barry, Penarth - Grangetown and Cardiff Central - Treherbert / Merthyr Tydfil / Aberdare / Rhymney / Ebbw Vale.
• Valid for travel after 09:30 Monday to Friday, and all day Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays.
• No restriction on buses.
  

  Our bus partners​

  Here is a list of the bus operators in Wales that will accept the 'Explore Cardiff and Valleys':
  
  
  • Stagecoach South Wales Bus
  • Thomas of Rhondda

From the specific bus journeys mentioned I think that the problem is where the "Valleys" actually end.

If you take the Head of Valleys road to be the boundary then Pant would be out of area.

The map provided is hardly to Ordnance Survey standard and doesn't address this.

 

[J663738]

From the specific bus journeys mentioned I think that the problem is where the "Valleys" actually end.

If you take the Head of Valleys road to be the boundary then Pant would be out of area.

The map provided is hardly to Ordnance Survey standard and doesn't address this.

The bus in question No.35 goes from Merthyr bus station to Pant a few miles away and back to Merthyr bus station, why on earth would it not be covered? Are you saying you could use this bus on 90% of its route, but the few hundred yards past the A465 would be out of bounds.??

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Sep 2025 ==

I doubt the driver of the No.35 would not care either way, Pant would be, to any sensible person a place within the South Wales Valleys, so would have to be covered by the terms and conditions of the ticket. The idea of including buses in the ticket is to explore areas in the Valleys not served by trains, Pant being one such place. (if it isn't I will gladly pay the £2 fare!)

Pant is a village and community on the outskirts of Merthyr Tydfil, a large former mining town in the South Wales Valleys.

 

[eta]

I actually tested this out last Sunday afternoon on a Stagecoach 122; the driver looked at the ticket and went "I've absolutely no clue but I guess you can get on"!

 

[Djgr]

The bus in question No.35 goes from Merthyr bus station to Pant a few miles away and back to Merthyr bus station, why on earth would it not be covered? Are you saying you could use this bus on 90% of its route, but the few hundred yards past the A465 would be out of bounds.??

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Sep 2025 ==

I doubt the driver of the No.35 would not care either way, Pant would be, to any sensible person a place within the South Wales Valleys, so would have to be covered by the terms and conditions of the ticket. The idea of including buses in the ticket is to explore areas in the Valleys not served by trains, Pant being one such place. (if it isn't I will gladly pay the £2 fare!)

Pant is a village and community on the outskirts of Merthyr Tydfil, a large former mining town in the South Wales Valleys.

I'm not saying that but I absolutely understand why the OP would want official clarity. Are there any people on this forum who haven't had a bus driver or train conductor challenge a perfectly valid ticket?