TrawsCambria / TrawsCymru

[Rhydgaled]

The Sunday service is a big plus, however apart from that the T5 timetable is a disapointment. For one thing, my comments at the bus users' surgery that New Quay, Aberporth and direct services should have different numbers to avoid confusion seems to have fallen on deaf ears. Not only does the T5 number cover the multiple routes but the remnant X50 service will not be a single route either. Apart from that, my big gripe is that they intend to call it a TrawsCymru service. TrawsCymru is of course supposed to provide long-distance strategic routes, but the current X50 and 412 (which it seems will simply be renumbered as the T5) are hopeless as end-to-end routes. Long-distance it may be, but really it is a number of local services stuck together and not strategic route material at all. It is a decent service of course, just I think the Welsh Government will be making a mistake if they try to call it a strategic long-distance through route (and given the inaccurate marketing I have already pointed out for the T1, I wouldn't be supprised if they try to claim it is "your direct link between Cardigan/Haverfordwest and Aberystwyth". It is far from direct Welsh Government, so don't try to claim it is).

Further to this, I attach the rough draft timetable I have developed for the X50/50/550 and a slightly modified TC1 to fit with it.

There's also a file illustrating one of my options for extending the X50/TC5 TrawsCymru service south of Cardigan. The options are:

1. 412 reduced to every 2 hours between Cardigan and Fishguard, with a TrawsCymru service between Aberystwyth/Cardigan and Fishguard (extending to Fishguard Harbour for train connections at appropriate times) connecting in the other hours (this is the option illustrated in the attachment)
2. TrawsCymru service (up to every 2hrs) between Aberystwyth/Cardigan and Haverfordwest via the direct B4329 route, either with the 412 unchanged or with 412 reduced to every two hours between Newport and Cardigan (the TrawsCymru service would mean hourly frequency would still be maintained between Eglwyswrw and Cardigan)
3. As option 2, but with the TrawsCymru service extended from Haverfordwest to Pembroke via the Cleddau Bridge
4. 430 service reduced to run between Cardigan and Hermon only and increased to run every two hours connecting at Crymych with an Aberystwyth/Cardigan - Clunderwen - Narberth TrawsCymru service, perhaps extending to Tenby, without deviating from the A487/A478 anywhere on route.

 

[WelshBuses93]

It looks like the Tempo SR is been made with a new length. The X1270SR. Australasian Bus & Coach have made a video of it demonstrating at Sydney Airport. Wonder if the X1270SR will be made for the UK market? Could be a good vehicle for TrawsCymru services.
http://optarebus.com.au/news
http://www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk/i...eweb.co.uk/list.asp?listname=729&Type=Chassis (look down the bottom of the page).
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Apparently, service T3 will be operated with new low floor double deckers. Likely to be Alexander Dennis Enviro400's!

 

[adey2011]

Do you know which operator will work the T3 with the Enviro 400's?

 

[WelshBuses93]

From what I've seen on another forum, it may be operated by G.H.A. Coaches. Not 100%.

 

[adey2011]

Interesting, any mention of which operator/s my have secured the T2?

 

[WelshBuses93]

Not at the moment, but my guess it will be Express Motors and Lloyd's Coaches or possibly Mid Wales Travel.

 

[Bwsbro]

It has emerged that Mid Wales Travel and First Cymru have come to an arrangement that any Aberystwyth University Student/Staff Member who purchase a Mid Wales Travel Travel Pass will be allowed to use their pass on any T1 service within Aberystwyth.

Also a special £3 Return ticket to Carmarthen will be provided also to MWT Travel Pass Holders. Giving a substantial saving compared to standard return fares between Aberystwyth and Carmarthen

 

[Rhydgaled]

Also a special £3 Return ticket to Carmarthen will be provided also to MWT Travel Pass Holders. Giving a substantial saving compared to standard return fares between Aberystwyth and Carmarthen

Saw that advertsied on a poster on a Mid Wales Travel bus in Aberystwyth earlier this week. An interesting arrangment.

 

[Bwsbro]

GHA Confirmed as operator of TrawsCymru Route T3 from November 2nd 2014

From GHA Coaches Facebook Page

Goodbye X94, Hello T3
We are pleased to announce that GHA have been awarded contract by Gwynedd CC to operate New TrawsCymru T3 Wrexham > Barmouth service. A new timetable will be introduced from Nov 2nd (subject to approval by Traffic Commissionaire office ) featuring additional journeys on the route, running from early morning to late evening, with improved connections at Dolgellau with services to / from Bangor , Macynlleth & Aberystwyth. We will shortly be placing an order for 4 brand new high spec vehicles ( A mix of Single deck & Twin deck buses) to operated the route for delivery in early 2015. These buses will feature Leather seats, Luggage racks, Passenger information system & WiFi, and will be in TrawsCymru livery. Details of new timetable will appear on our website soon.

 

[WelshBuses93]

I wonder if G.H.A. will purchase the Dolgellau outstation.

 

[Bwsbro]

I wonder if G.H.A. will purchase the Dolgellau outstation.

Lloyds Coaches are currently using the depot to stable 2 vehicles overnight

 

[WelshBuses93]

Lloyds Coaches are currently using the depot to stable 2 vehicles overnight

Ah right ok. Perhaps G.H.A. might use their Ruthin depot with Wrexham.

 

[Bwsbro]

Ah right ok. Perhaps G.H.A. might use their Ruthin depot with Wrexham.

Maybe they will continue with their current operation of operating the service from their Ruabon Depot

 

[WelshBuses93]

Possibly aye.
Surely a bus launch wouldn't go a miss.

 

[adey2011]

GHA Confirmed as operator of TrawsCymru Route T3 from November 2nd 2014

Can't be long now then until Gwynedd announce who has won the T2 which should complete the tendering process for this area. Interesting GHA vehicles will be branded livery, I wonder whether the winners of the T2 will also be expected to either re-livery existing vehicles or purchase new, obviously after sufficient time allowed to order them.

 

[Rhydgaled]

Can't be long now then until Gwynedd announce who has won the T2 which should complete the tendering process for this area. Interesting GHA vehicles will be branded livery, I wonder whether the winners of the T2 will also be expected to either re-livery existing vehicles or purchase new, obviously after sufficient time allowed to order them.

How many seats do the vehicles currently used on the T2 have? The T2 service specification, among other things, requires 40 seats minimum and TrawsCymru livery. As has been noted though, the Enviros on the T1 don't seem to fully meet the specification so I suppose it is possible the T2 vehicles won't either.

 

[adey2011]

How many seats do the vehicles currently used on the T2 have? The T2 service specification, among other things, requires 40 seats minimum and TrawsCymru livery. As has been noted though, the Enviros on the T1 don't seem to fully meet the specification so I suppose it is possible the T2 vehicles won't either.

Lloyds currently use two new Versa's which seat 39 x 42 respectively for the daytime services and use a new 30 seat Solo SR (one of two) for the evening service presumably because the loads are much lower. Express have one commercial and one tendered journey and usually use a 40+ seater. All vehicles of Lloyds and Express though are currently in the companies standard livery.
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Looking at a Gwynedd web site today showing details of tenders awarded the T2 looks if it may be going out to tender again with bids now due in on October 2nd. The contract is forecast to be awarded on the 9th October but will now only be for a term of one year from 02/11/14 until 01/11/14. It would appear that negotiations with the initial returnees has broken down, does anyone know differently?

 

[Rhydgaled]

Lloyds currently use two new Versa's which seat 39 x 42 respectively for the daytime services and use a new 30 seat Solo SR (one of two) for the evening service presumably because the loads are much lower. Express have one commercial and one tendered journey and usually use a 40+ seater. All vehicles of Lloyds and Express though are currently in the companies standard livery.

I was aware that they used their own liveries, but not the capacities of the vehicles used, so thanks for that. Supprised the Versas have sufficient capacity but the Solo SR would not meet the tender specification. Also, the Envrio Express Motors seem to use on their share of the service sometimes is probably older than 3yrs.

Looking at a Gwynedd web site today showing details of tenders awarded the T2 looks if it may be going out to tender again with bids now due in on October 2nd. The contract is forecast to be awarded on the 9th October but will now only be for a term of one year from 02/11/14 until 01/11/14. It would appear that negotiations with the initial returnees has broken down, does anyone know differently?

I can only speculate, but I'd guess that either:

• Plans for the timetable have changed, but cannot be implemented quickly so an interim contract is now required or
• One of the tenders suggested something interesting, which the council/WAG would like to trial for a year or
• One or more of the requirements inflated the cost of the tenders alot and they are trying again without these requirements in the hope of a cheaper contract or
• Lloyds coaches and don't want to repaint their new Versas and Solo SRs (apparently, they've rejected TrawsCymru livery in the past, on ex-Arriva Tempos), so interim contracts are being let until a solution can be found that permits TrawsCymru livery to be introduced

Are there any changes in the new ITT other than contract duration?

 

[adey2011]

That is the only change I can see, the site is "Sell2Wales"

 

[Bwsbro]

I was aware that they used their own liveries, but not the capacities of the vehicles used, so thanks for that. Supprised the Versas have sufficient capacity but the Solo SR would not meet the tender specification. Also, the Envrio Express Motors seem to use on their share of the service sometimes is probably older than 3yrs.

The Enviro 200 used on the service by Express Motors R1EMS was previously registered CX60AAU, bought to operate on the X1 Llandudno - Blaenau Ffestiniog Service


Regarding the amended tender for the T2 it is due to many of the services being operated commercially by Express Motors and Lloyds Coaches

Attached to this post is the new ITT Timetable alongside the Service Specification for this Service.

 

[adey2011]

The Enviro 200 used on the service by Express Motors R1EMS was previously registered CX60AAU, bought to operate on the X1 Llandudno - Blaenau Ffestiniog Service


Regarding the amended tender for the T2 it is due to many of the services being operated commercially by Express Motors and Lloyds Coaches

Attached to this post is the new ITT Timetable alongside the Service Specification for this Service.

So is the timetable you show be the one that will operate from the beginning of November and will Express and Lloyds be the operators? and if so what is the share.

 

[WelshBuses93]

Perhaps Mid Wales Travel will be given a chance, but could be still Express and Lloyds. Timetables for service T3 will be up on G.H.A. Coaches' website tomorrow (if the site is working). Additional journeys have been added to the T3 service.

 

[Rhydgaled]

The Enviro 200 used on the service by Express Motors R1EMS was previously registered CX60AAU, bought to operate on the X1 Llandudno - Blaenau Ffestiniog Service

Yeah, that's the one I was thinking of.

Perhaps Mid Wales Travel will be given a chance, but could be still Express and Lloyds.

The timetable Bwsbro posted above shows only one non-commertial journey into Aberystwyth, and none departing. Assuming it is the incumbent operators who have registered the commertial journeys it would therefore be rather difficult for Mid Wales Travel to take the remaining journeys, given the requirement that positioning journeys not compete against any other trips on the corridor.

Attached to this post is the new ITT Timetable alongside the Service Specification for this Service.

Interestinglly the vehicle requirements are now desirable, not required, with a minimum of 14 seats being the only manditory requirement. Alot of the journeys seem to be split into part-commertial part-tendered. This suggests the only feesible way of providing them is likely to be funding extension of the commertial journeys, over which the tendering authority I presume has no control regarding vehicles used. Full incorporation of the T2 into TrawsCymru, with the full livery, is therefore, I think, starting to look unlikely.

 

[WelshBuses93]

Here are the 2 links to the TrawsCymru T3 timetable via G.H.A. Coaches' website.

http://www.ghacoaches.co.uk/Pics/T3MS12A.jpg (Monday-Saturday)

http://www.ghacoaches.co.uk/Pics/T3SU12A.jpg (Sunday & Bank Holiday)

 

[Teflon Lettuce]

It has emerged that Mid Wales Travel and First Cymru have come to an arrangement that any Aberystwyth University Student/Staff Member who purchase a Mid Wales Travel Travel Pass will be allowed to use their pass on any T1 service within Aberystwyth.

Also a special £3 Return ticket to Carmarthen will be provided also to MWT Travel Pass Holders. Giving a substantial saving compared to standard return fares between Aberystwyth and Carmarthen

Strange how a subsidised council contract is getting away with aggressive undercutting of fares on a parallel commercial service. I'm sure there's some clauses in the Transport Act to prevent this. I'm surprised that Bryan's Coaches haven't complained about this fares offer seeing as though it is designed to attack a core segment of their market (ie uni students)

Indeed it could be deemed that First is trying to undermine the 701 with incremental nibbling at the 701's market... what with the introduction of the X12 direct link between carmarthen and swansea via cross hands.... a corridor it has never been interested in before it won the T1 contract!

 

[Bwsbro]

Gwynedd Council have made amendments to the TrawsCymru T2 timetable

 

[adey2011]

Gwynedd Council have made amendments to the TrawsCymru T2 timetable

Isn't this the same timetable you printed on September 26th?

 

[DaveHarries]

From the VOSA Bus Service registrations for the Welsh Traffic Area, 02-Oct-2014:

PG1073209/6 - G H A COACHES LTD, UNIT 11, VAUXHALL INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, RUABON, WREXHAM, LL14 6UY
Cancellation Accepted by SN: Operating between Wrexham and Barmouth given service number X94 effective from 01-Nov-2014.

PG1073209/113 - G H A COACHES LTD, UNIT 11, VAUXHALL INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, RUABON, WREXHAM, LL14 6UY
Cancellation Accepted by SN: Operating between Wrexham Bus Station and Barmouth given service number X94 effective from 01-Nov-2014.

PG1073209/125 - G H A COACHES LTD, UNIT 11, VAUXHALL INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, RUABON, WREXHAM, LL14 6UY
Registration Accepted by SN
Starting Point: BARMOUTH
Finish Point: WREXHAM
Via: DOLGELLAU, BALA
Service Number: T3
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 02-NOV-2014
Other Details: Monday to Sunday

HTIOI,
Dave

 

[adey2011]

Yeah, that's the one I was thinking of.

The timetable Bwsbro posted above shows only one non-commertial journey into Aberystwyth, and none departing. Assuming it is the incumbent operators who have registered the commertial journeys it would therefore be rather difficult for Mid Wales Travel to take the remaining journeys, given the requirement that positioning journeys not compete against any other trips on the corridor.

Interestinglly the vehicle requirements are now desirable, not required, with a minimum of 14 seats being the only manditory requirement. Alot of the journeys seem to be split into part-commertial part-tendered. This suggests the only feesible way of providing them is likely to be funding extension of the commertial journeys, over which the tendering authority I presume has no control regarding vehicles used. Full incorporation of the T2 into TrawsCymru, with the full livery, is therefore, I think, starting to look unlikely.

Has anyone heard any whispers or rumours yet as to which company/s have secured the T2 tender

 

[Bwsbro]

Has anyone heard any whispers or rumours yet as to which company/s have secured the T2 tender

The tender for the T2 is still being assed by Gwynedd Council