1. Connecting People Connecting Places
Presentation by David Hall, Traws Cambria
Network Manager, Welsh Assembly Government.
David.Hall@Wales.gsi.gov.uk
2. Traws Cambria – “What’s in a
name?”
• Limited stop longer
distance coach
services across
Wales originally
operated by former
National Bus Co.
subsidiaries
(Crosville and
National Welsh);
• However network
very limited.
5. A group of 5 services
Based on the following corridors:-
• X32 Bangor – Aberystwyth;
• X40 Aberystwyth - Carmarthen –
Cardiff;
• X50 / 550 Aberystwyth – Aberaeron –
Cardigan;
• X94 Wrexham – Barmouth;
• X43/ 704 Cardiff – Merthyr Tydfil /
Brecon - Newtown
6. Current Network Characteristics
(1)
• Much of the existing network funded by Welsh
Assembly Government;
• Existing network of services delivered through
contracts between:-
– 7 local authorities (Carmarthenshire CC, Ceredigion
CC, Denbighshire CC, Gwynedd CC, Flintshire CC,
Pembrokeshire CC);
– 7 bus / coach operators (Arriva Buses Cymru,
Stagecoach Buses in Wales, GHA, Express Motors
Ltd, Lloyds, Richard Brothers and Six Sixty Coaches;
– Total annual public subsidy for the TrawsCambria
network is currently £720,248.
7. Current Network Characteristics
(2)
• Welsh Assembly Government has funded
22 new low floor vehicles across the
TrawsCambria network.
• Only commercially operated sections of
the TrawsCambria network are:-
– Aberystwyth – Aberaeron;
– Bangor – Caernarfon; and
– Carmarthen – Cardiff.
8. Issues to Address
• Services not operated as a single easily
identifiable national network (e.g. no common
branding, route numbering and through
ticketing arrangements);
• Service quality varies across routes, and
restrictive timetables in some cases (especially
poor evening and Sunday services);
• Connections and interchange between network
services and with the rail network not always
possible or easy; and
• Current vehicle mix not best suited to
promoting medium and longer distance
services.
9. Moving Forwards
• TrawsCambria network features as a key
element of the National Transport Plan for
Wales, business plan to be produced in 2011;
• TrawsCambria Strategic Management Advisory
Board has been established to advise Welsh
Assembly Government on further network
improvements; and
• Welsh Assembly Government has appointed a
new TrawsCambria Network Manager.
10. TrawsCambria Board Update
• Recommended to Ministers that:-
– The network be renamed and rebranded
“TrawsCymru”;
– Significant timetable network changes be
restricted to 2 dates per year (May and
December) to align with national rail timetable
change dates; and
– Examining future vehicle options for the
network.
11. New Strategic Vision
“TrawsCymru should signify a network of high
quality and fully integrated longer distance
coach style services linking key settlements and
communities across Wales.
The Welsh Assembly Government and the
TrawsCymru Strategic Management Advisory
Board have committed to further develop the
network over the next five years to provide a
very attractive, modern, accessible and more
sustainable network of services which puts
passengers at the heart of its operations.”
12. TrawsCymru Core Brand Values
• A coherent and readily identifiable
network of longer distance services,
linking centres not directly served by the
rail network in Wales;
• High Quality services, accessible and
comfortable vehicles and facilities;
• Offer consistent timetable across network
with good connections between services
and rail network at key interchange points.
13. Proposals for 2010
• TrawsCambria Strategic Management Advisory
Board working up proposals to:-
– Introduce new north-south direct coach style services
between north and south Wales via Aberystwyth;
– Improvements to frequencies of service X32 between
Aberystwyth and Bangor;
– Reduce journey times on service X40 between
Aberystwyth and Carmarthen;
– Improve quality of vehicles used on the service X32;
– Better connections to the network; and
– Introduce ‘national’ marketing campaign to promote
‘TrawsCambria’ services across Wales including
relaunch of web site.
17. Proposals for North Wales
• Ideas received to date:-
– Improve capacity of existing service X94 Wrexham –
Barmouth;
– Better connections between Oakley Arms (Service
X32) and Blaenau Ffestiniog (onward destinations in
Conwy Valley);
– Extend network to serve Isle of Anglesey;
– Re-instate frequency (one journey every 2 hours)
between Bangor and Aberystwyth; and
– Introduce additional evening journeys – Bangor to
Aberystwyth.
