Travel from Aberystwyth.

[Polarbear]

Looking at BR fares, I note there are two fare options. Both are Off-Peak, restriction 8A with no time restrictions.

The cheaper of the two is “Route Bangor”. Given the lack of rail options, I assume this would be valid on a bus, but there’s no mention of this anywhere?

For example, would one be expected to use rail for as much as possible (ie Aberystwyth-Porthmadog, then bus to Bangor for onward rail), or could one jump on the same bus (service T2) at Aberystwyth?

I’d also be intrigued as to how the 8A restrictions could be enforced given the necessity to change transport modes?

 

[alex17595]

If you use Aberystwyth- Llandudno Junction as an example on journey planners, it suggests you can take the bus from Aberystwyth.

Theres even advance tickets available

 

[Haywain]

Looking at BR fares, I note there are two fare options. Both are Off-Peak, restriction 8A with no time restrictions

Where to? It's difficult to give advice about a mystery journey.

 

[Harpo]

Aberystwyth to North Wales is far easier by T2 bus direct to Bangor and avoids changing at Porthmadog.

Apart from the 0827 train from Aber with a cross/platform change at Dovey Jn and 2h 25-ish journey to Porthmadog (same as T2 bus), all other train options add an hour because of the 1h+ at Dovey or 50+ minutes change at Machynlleth.

 

[mmh]

Whether you would be able to board the bus in Aberystwyth, I couldn't say. It certainly isn't intended that way so hard to say what the bus driver would accept your ticket.

It certainly is intended and that's why a journey planner will give you an itinerary using the bus from Aberystwyth, and the chance of any issue with a driver will be close to zero.

 

[DelW]

Where to? It's difficult to give advice about a mystery journey.

The OP refers to "route Bangor" as one of the options, so presumably to anywhere on the north Wales coast line. You'd be unlikely to go from Aberystwyth to anywhere else via Bangor.

 

[Polarbear]

Apologies, the destination I was looking at (and omitted) was Chester.

Time wise, the bus option makes sense for a lot of North Wales, but I’d never have considered it for Chester, especially as the “bus only” option is £7.50.

 

[Haywain]

Apologies, the destination I was looking at (and omitted) was Chester.

Time wise, the bus option makes sense for a lot of North Wales, but I’d never have considered it for Chester, especially as the “bus only” option is £7.50.

For me, the saving (of going via Bangor) wouldn’t be enough to make me want to double the journey time and spend nearly 4 hours on a bus!

 

[Belperpete]

TfW have a web-page about the combined fares, but it took me a bit of finding:
Combined rail and TrawsCymru bus tickets
Journey times depend greatly on how good or bad the connection is in Bangor. Presumably journey planners use the standard rail MCT of 5 minutes at Bangor for connections?

I quite often use the TrawsCymru T2 instead of the Cambrian Coast line, as the journey times can be significantly less by bus. And the scenery is equally impressive.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Mar 2026 ==

For me, the saving (of going via Bangor) wouldn’t be enough to make me want to double the journey time and spend nearly 4 hours on a bus!

Changing at Dolgellau onto the TrawsCymru T3 to Ruabon or Wrexham can significantly reduce the journey time to places like Chester. The T2 and T3 services are all run by the same company, and in my experience the buses wait at Dolgellau if one is running a bit late. The T3 connects at Ruabon station for rail services to Chester, or at Corwen for the T8 to Chester.

Unfortunately the combined rail/bus fares currently don't include the T3 or T8, however the TrawsCymru day ticket is only £7 adult. Welsh concessionary pass holders can travel free to Chester on the T8, while English and Scottish concessionary pass holders can buy a £4.70 1bus ticket.
Use the 1bws ticket in North Wales