TrawsCambria / TrawsCymru

[johntrawscymru]

The Welsh Government have an "ambition for a zero emission bus, taxi and private hire vehicle fleet by 2028" - I wonder if they have any idea yet how they are going to deliver on that policy.

For a long distance route?

For the Conwy Valley I believe.

A route of about 40 miles

The depot's to be at Tanygrisiau, on Blaenau's outskirts

the main charging facilities are to be in Blaenau Ffestiniog, using hydro-electric power

The policy "for a zero emission bus, taxi and private hire vehicle fleet by 2028" is impossible to achieve if the Welsh Government (WG) continue with this piecemeal approach.

The Trawscymru service as its name implies is supposedly a "long distance network" and this short route does not fit in that category.

The Trawscymru network should be the last to be electrified as it is the most difficult and efforts should be concentrated on electrifying the local bus routes in the major towns and cities as they are doing in Cardiff and Newport. Emissions are far higher in towns and cities compared to long distance Trawscymru runs. It would have made more sense to have the main charging facilities in Bangor and concentrate on electrifying local routes along the heavily populated towns along the coastal strip.

There is an argument that low emissions from the Trawscymru network could be offset by "carbon credits" in the form of the WG tree planting policy. However the tree planting policy is way behind schedule.

In reality this new route is a local route not a long distance route. What the WG have failed to do yet again is research traffic patterns which needs to be done across the whole of Wales, before carrying out a root and branch review of the whole Trawscymru network.

 

[Dai Corner]

The policy "for a zero emission bus, taxi and private hire vehicle fleet by 2028" is impossible to achieve if the Welsh Government (WG) continue with this piecemeal approach.

The Trawscymru service as its name implies is supposedly a "long distance network" and this short route does not fit in that category.

The Trawscymru network should be the last to be electrified as it is the most difficult and efforts should be concentrated on electrifying the local bus routes in the major towns and cities as they are doing in Cardiff and Newport. Emissions are far higher in towns and cities compared to long distance Trawscymru runs. It would have made more sense to have the main charging facilities in Bangor and concentrate on electrifying local routes along the heavily populated towns along the coastal strip.

There is an argument that low emissions from the Trawscymru network could be offset by "carbon credits" in the form of the WG tree planting policy. However the tree planting policy is way behind schedule.

In reality this new route is a local route not a long distance route. What the WG have failed to do yet again is research traffic patterns which needs to be done across the whole of Wales, before carrying out a root and branch review of the whole Trawscymru network.

Off-topic for this thread (sorry) but just to point out that the Welsh Government has done nothing towards electrifying bus services in Newport. The vehicles and charging infrastructure were part-funded by the UK Government.

The only public transport investment from the Welsh Government in the City has been diesel minibuses for the Fflecsi service.

 

[krus_aragon]

I'm not sufficiently well-informed to engage in a full argument on the best methods of decarbonising all bus services. Having said that, it'd feel odd to me to see a new route provided with brand-new diesel buses, by a body that's trying to encourage their replacement elsewhere.

(Criticisms of TfW for recently procuring so many diesel-only trains comes to mind.)

 

[carlberry]

The policy "for a zero emission bus, taxi and private hire vehicle fleet by 2028" is impossible to achieve if the Welsh Government (WG) continue with this piecemeal approach.

The Trawscymru service as its name implies is supposedly a "long distance network" and this short route does not fit in that category.

The Trawscymru network should be the last to be electrified as it is the most difficult and efforts should be concentrated on electrifying the local bus routes in the major towns and cities as they are doing in Cardiff and Newport. Emissions are far higher in towns and cities compared to long distance Trawscymru runs. It would have made more sense to have the main charging facilities in Bangor and concentrate on electrifying local routes along the heavily populated towns along the coastal strip.

There is an argument that low emissions from the Trawscymru network could be offset by "carbon credits" in the form of the WG tree planting policy. However the tree planting policy is way behind schedule.

In reality this new route is a local route not a long distance route. What the WG have failed to do yet again is research traffic patterns which needs to be done across the whole of Wales, before carrying out a root and branch review of the whole Trawscymru network.

There are several different arguments here however the electrification of town/city networks solves local pollution problems, the electrification of a bus service solves a global problem. The Welsh government has managed to electrify some of the buses it controls which is a good thing and should be encouraged. However it doesn't (currently) have the ability to dictate local transport policy. Tree planting is the worst example of pretending you care, but not actually giving two figs.

 

[ATW158Xpress]

T7 service since the September timetable change has gradually been getting less reliable and frequently running late. Over the last week they got a really bad habit of cancelling the 16:00 Chepstow to Bristol and its return leg 17:00 back to Chepstow. Is the routing of the T7 via Clifton Down and along the A4018 now biting them in the back with traffic flows back to pre pandemic levels. In turn that's why First and Stagecoach decided to go via M32 as its more reliable to meet timetable.

 

[carlberry]

T7 service since the September timetable change has gradually been getting less reliable and frequently running late. Over the last week they got a really bad habit of cancelling the 16:00 Chepstow to Bristol and its return leg 17:00 back to Chepstow. Is the routing of the T7 via Clifton Down and along the A4018 now biting them in the back with traffic flows back to pre pandemic levels. In turn that's why First and Stagecoach decided to go via M32 as its more reliable to meet timetable.

First changed to using the M32 for a reason at the time however the M32 and the M4/M5 around Almondsbury are difficult to predict so things were getting fairly bad again before First gave up with it. Assuming nothing changes Covid wise it will also start to feel the effects of Cribbs at Christmas over the next few months. I hope they've got enough spare vehicles!

 

[Marcus Fryer]

In reply to posts 2194 and 2195:
Roadworks on Cribbs Causeway in connection with a new housing development are reducing the dual carriageway to one lane in each direction and thus causing delays to both the T7 and First West of England local services.

 

[DaveHarries]

In reply to posts 2194 and 2195:
Roadworks on Cribbs Causeway in connection with a new housing development are reducing the dual carriageway to one lane in each direction and thus causing delays to both the T7 and First West of England local services.

Yes indeed and there is a 30mph speed limit too on what is normally a 50mph road. I had to go to Cribbs Causeway on Saturday just gone: I decided against using the A4018 (Wyck Beck Road) to get out there and went through Henbury instead. Heading home again was not much better with traffic being a crawl between the Mercedes dealership and the railway bridge near the Rugby Club.

Perhaps the M5 (J17-J18A) might have been a better bet from where I live.

Dave

 

[ATW158Xpress]

First changed to using the M32 for a reason at the time however the M32 and the M4/M5 around Almondsbury are difficult to predict so things were getting fairly bad again before First gave up with it. Assuming nothing changes Covid wise it will also start to feel the effects of Cribbs at Christmas over the next few months. I hope they've got enough spare vehicles!

They only allocate 2 vehicles to the T7 where in the past when First and Stagecoach were operating the service they had 3 vehicles which made the service more resistant to delays.

 

[Dai Corner]

They only allocate 2 vehicles to the T7 where in the past when First and Stagecoach were operating the service they had 3 vehicles which made the service more resistant to delays.

First and Stagecoach used to go to Newport which took up one more bus and had further potential for congestion and delays.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

They only allocate 2 vehicles to the T7 where in the past when First and Stagecoach were operating the service they had 3 vehicles which made the service more resistant to delays.

Except First were operating to Newport and they had 53 mins between Chepstow and Bristol as opposed to NB’s 50

 

[sefyllian]

Not sure if this has been posted before, but TfW are now offering integrated TrawsCymru/rail tickets between Aberystwyth and south Wales. Tickets can be bought from stations or the TfW app just like normail train tickets. The app also show intermediate stops like Aberaeron. A standard single Aberystwyth–Cardiff Central via Carmarthen is £28.50 with advance tickets as low as £14.50 according to brfares.com (though I’ve only seen £16 ones in the app so far). Good prices, but would be good to keep the T1C as a budget option too.

Hopefully a sign of further sensible integration to come, now that TfW rail and more and more bus services are controlled or funded by the Welsh government.

 

[Bletchleyite]

If they could bring the Snowdon Sherpa network into Traws as well, through tickets to the likes of Llanberis with coordinated timetables would do great things for reducing car use in the National Park.

 

[Rhydgaled]

Not sure if this has been posted before, but TfW are now offering integrated TrawsCymru/rail tickets between Aberystwyth and south Wales. Tickets can be bought from stations or the TfW app just like normail train tickets. The app also show intermediate stops like Aberaeron. A standard single Aberystwyth–Cardiff Central via Carmarthen is £28.50 with advance tickets as low as £14.50 according to brfares.com (though I’ve only seen £16 ones in the app so far). Good prices, but would be good to keep the T1C as a budget option too.

Hopefully a sign of further sensible integration to come, now that TfW rail and more and more bus services are controlled or funded by the Welsh government.

Tickets are showing up on the GWR journey planner too, so it should be an indusry-wide thing not specific to the TfW website and app. However, is there no 17:05 from Carmarthen to Aberystwyth at the moment as it was offering a long wait in Carmarthen between 16:26 and 18:05 to get from Whitland to Aberystwyth?

Interestingly your link also mentioned through tickets on the T5 so I tried to get the journey planner to offer that. Eventually I found that it would offer me bus tickets between Aberystwyth and Aberaeron, with the T5 departures shown as terminating at Aberaeron. However, if I asked for a through ticket from Shrewsbury or Machynlleth to Aberaeron it failed to find anything, so I wonder if there is any reason for somebody to actually buy a ticket on the T5 from a rail journey planner.

 

[sefyllian]

However, is there no 17:05 from Carmarthen to Aberystwyth at the moment as it was offering a long wait in Carmarthen between 16:26 and 18:05 to get from Whitland to Aberystwyth?

A number of T1 services (including the 1705) are cancelled at the moment due to driver shortages. Just a temporary measure though.

Interestingly your link also mentioned through tickets on the T5 so I tried to get the journey planner to offer that. Eventually I found that it would offer me bus tickets between Aberystwyth and Aberaeron, with the T5 departures shown as terminating at Aberaeron. However, if I asked for a through ticket from Shrewsbury or Machynlleth to Aberaeron it failed to find anything, so I wonder if there is any reason for somebody to actually buy a ticket on the T5 from a rail journey planner.

I think it only offers T5 to give extra choice between Aberystwyth and Aberaeron. The page says the tickets are for travel between Aberystwyth specifically and places to the south of there. But it would make sense to allow through journeys too. (Though I think most people going Mach to Aberaeron would get an all-day Traws ticket and take the T2).

Hopefully this will also expand to other routes too. Tickets to Caernarfon via Bangor seems an obvious one.

 

[splashoutradio]

A number of T1 services (including the 1705) are cancelled at the moment due to driver shortages. Just a temporary measure though.

Whilst not directly related to the T1, the T2 and T3 have had their full timetable reinstated, following temporary reductions.

Also, TrawsCymru have announced that return tickets bought on the T19 (excluding 1bws) are valid to return via train. I've queried as to whether this works the other way around (return train tickets valid on the T19), but TC appear to be selective as to when they reply to Twitter queries.

T2 & T3 timetable source: https://twitter.com/TrawsCymru_/status/1452546746857533445
T19 ticket validity source:

https://twitter.com/TrawsCymru_/status/1452924226344730625

 

[Bletchleyite]

Hopefully this will also expand to other routes too. Tickets to Caernarfon via Bangor seems an obvious one.

Yes, that's another one that would make sense for tourists. If putting Caernarfon in on Trainline (for it'll mostly be Trainline) gives you a through fare at a decent price bookable online as an e-ticket, that will mean people consider the journey by public transport as tourists. If it's not there or is a faff to purchase, they won't, they'll just drive.

 

[K219UHA]

Had some trips on the T10 this week starting from the Corwen end and a quick update on observations.

Sunday, a last minute drive over to Corwen and a quick plan to get the 14:15 departure for Bangor with a purchase of a One Bws Ticket, my first opportunity. The journeys through to Corwen were Llew Jones operated with smartly presented, Optare Tempo - YD63 UZM. I was the only passenger aboard from Corwen, but had noted some alight from the inbound journey. The weather was a mixed bag as we got towards Betws-y-Coed but a cracking journey, been looking forward do doing for a while now, cracking scenery along the A5, something I have enjoyed taking in on countless drives over the years but by bus was a nice and different perspective. Betws-y-Coed was sadly silly with cars and tourists, we passed another Tempo on the T10 short Sunday runs Bangor to Betws-y-Coed (where it lays over a long time and sadly didn't see which one it was, perhaps KP Coaches?) and apparently is a summer based working that ends on 31st October. As we continued the journey, another chap got on in a (very wet) stop between Swallow Falls and Capel Curig through to Bangor. The driver was very friendly and I managed to have a quick talk at both ends of the run, he was very helpful with detail to knowing my plans just to have a round trip. After a Greggs coffee in Bangor and a quick nose around, caught the 16:28 from Bangor Clock (starting at the Railway Station 16:23) with some passengers boarding, one asked for a single through to Corwen. As we passed the outskirts of Bangor, five passengers boarded at the main road stop by the Maesgeirchen estate turn, they all got off at Bethesda and would appear they opted to catch the T10 over the intended Arriva offering from comments overheard, this the Arriva 67 service to Bethesda, due out of Bangor at 16:30. Another fast paced and scenic run enjoyed, a few passengers alighted at Betws-y-Coed and then finally myself and the other chap, a hiker it turns out, walking to his next camping base three miles away from Corwen, he mentioned to the driver.

Having enjoyed my trip, having a few days off with my son for the school half term, we decided to have another trip on the T10 on Tuesday, and work a loop back to Ruabon where I had parked up. Therefore the T3 was caught and bang on time at Ruabon at 09:18, in the shape of Lloyds Coaches, SN15 ETD, ADL Enviro400 bodied Scania N230UD, a very helpful driver asking where I was off to to help with connections as I purchased our tickets via contactless, he was spot on with his knowledge of the T10 too which was good, a fair amount of passengers aboard too but all downstairs, so had the top deck front views to ourselves. On arrival at Corwen, KP Coaches operated Optare Tempo - YA13 AAF soon pulled into the car park on the inbound T10 and on a 15 minute layover, whilst awaiting another of the T3 Scania N230UD's, SN15 ETF (I think) was Wrexham bound and had a good load, there was also a Solo SR, operated by M&H in the Denbighshire based livery on the 55 to Ruthin. Anyway back to the T10, it pulled up and two ladies with passes boarded and went through to Bangor, as we called into Cerrigydrudion, a family of three boarded and purchased tickets, they alighted at Betws-y-Coed and a single passenger boarded for Bangor. It was sad to note the T19 Llandudno bound departs 10 minutes before our departure from here, a real missed opportunity to provide a connection, more so as the other working, Llew Jones operated, YD63 UZM was due in Corwen bound only five minutes later which we passed near Swallow Falls. Oddly picked up a elderly man at Capel Curig, odd as no houses there, I suspected he had just alighted the other T10 and was having a ride around (confirmed in a way as he was on my next bus!). On nearing our destination of Bangor, a group of people boarded at the main road, Maesgeirchen estate turn stop, all asking for singles to Bangor Railway Station. I then after another quick Greggs coffee again in Bangor! To continue my loop plan, I boarded the Arriva 5 for Llandudno (which the older chap mentioned was on and enjoying his journey it seemed), alighted at Llandudno Junction and then did a 13 to Rhuddlan (on the 13 Llandudno to Prestatyn service, annoyingly dropped from 40 minutes to 50 minutes only that week, due to driver shortages at Arriva) and connected onto a 35 bound into Rhyl for a mid afternoon late bite to eat, a nose of the beach etc. The day was completed with a 16:25, 51 - Rhyl to Denbigh, which continued as a X51 to Wrexham, this service sadly at the moment dropped to 2 hourly from hourly and quickly onto a 5 at Wrexham back to Ruabon. I was very tempted to try my local operator, Arriva Midlands on the 2 service to see if my One Bws would scan, I'm told they can issue and accept them to the border at Chirk.

All in all, excellent trips on the T10 and other routes with the One Bws Ticket, my next plan is to try the T19 soon, which I have already planned the moves for. Hope of interest.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Had some trips on the T10 this week starting from the Corwen end and a quick update on observations.

Sunday, a last minute drive over to Corwen and a quick plan to get the 14:15 departure for Bangor with a purchase of a One Bws Ticket, my first opportunity. The journeys through to Corwen were Llew Jones operated with smartly presented, Optare Tempo - YD63 UZM. I was the only passenger aboard from Corwen, but had noted some alight from the inbound journey. The weather was a mixed bag as we got towards Betws-y-Coed but a cracking journey, been looking forward do doing for a while now, cracking scenery along the A5, something I have enjoyed taking in on countless drives over the years but by bus was a nice and different perspective. Betws-y-Coed was sadly silly with cars and tourists, we passed another Tempo on the T10 short Sunday runs Bangor to Betws-y-Coed (where it lays over a long time and sadly didn't see which one it was, perhaps KP Coaches?) and apparently is a summer based working that ends on 31st October. As we continued the journey, another chap got on in a (very wet) stop between Swallow Falls and Capel Curig through to Bangor. The driver was very friendly and I managed to have a quick talk at both ends of the run, he was very helpful with detail to knowing my plans just to have a round trip. After a Greggs coffee in Bangor and a quick nose around, caught the 16:28 from Bangor Clock (starting at the Railway Station 16:23) with some passengers boarding, one asked for a single through to Corwen. As we passed the outskirts of Bangor, five passengers boarded at the main road stop by the Maesgeirchen estate turn, they all got off at Bethesda and would appear they opted to catch the T10 over the intended Arriva offering from comments overheard, this the Arriva 67 service to Bethesda, due out of Bangor at 16:30. Another fast paced and scenic run enjoyed, a few passengers alighted at Betws-y-Coed and then finally myself and the other chap, a hiker it turns out, walking to his next camping base three miles away from Corwen, he mentioned to the driver.

Having enjoyed my trip, having a few days off with my son for the school half term, we decided to have another trip on the T10 on Tuesday, and work a loop back to Ruabon where I had parked up. Therefore the T3 was caught and bang on time at Ruabon at 09:18, in the shape of Lloyds Coaches, SN15 ETD, ADL Enviro400 bodied Scania N230UD, a very helpful driver asking where I was off to to help with connections as I purchased our tickets via contactless, he was spot on with his knowledge of the T10 too which was good, a fair amount of passengers aboard too but all downstairs, so had the top deck front views to ourselves. On arrival at Corwen, KP Coaches operated Optare Tempo - YA13 AAF soon pulled into the car park on the inbound T10 and on a 15 minute layover, whilst awaiting another of the T3 Scania N230UD's, SN15 ETF (I think) was Wrexham bound and had a good load, there was also a Solo SR, operated by M&H in the Denbighshire based livery on the 55 to Ruthin. Anyway back to the T10, it pulled up and two ladies with passes boarded and went through to Bangor, as we called into Cerrigydrudion, a family of three boarded and purchased tickets, they alighted at Betws-y-Coed and a single passenger boarded for Bangor. It was sad to note the T19 Llandudno bound departs 10 minutes before our departure from here, a real missed opportunity to provide a connection, more so as the other working, Llew Jones operated, YD63 UZM was due in Corwen bound only five minutes later which we passed near Swallow Falls. Oddly picked up a elderly man at Capel Curig, odd as no houses there, I suspected he had just alighted the other T10 and was having a ride around (confirmed in a way as he was on my next bus!). On nearing our destination of Bangor, a group of people boarded at the main road, Maesgeirchen estate turn stop, all asking for singles to Bangor Railway Station. I then after another quick Greggs coffee again in Bangor! To continue my loop plan, I boarded the Arriva 5 for Llandudno (which the older chap mentioned was on and enjoying his journey it seemed), alighted at Llandudno Junction and then did a 13 to Rhuddlan (on the 13 Llandudno to Prestatyn service, annoyingly dropped from 40 minutes to 50 minutes only that week, due to driver shortages at Arriva) and connected onto a 35 bound into Rhyl for a mid afternoon late bite to eat, a nose of the beach etc. The day was completed with a 16:25, 51 - Rhyl to Denbigh, which continued as a X51 to Wrexham, this service sadly at the moment dropped to 2 hourly from hourly and quickly onto a 5 at Wrexham back to Ruabon. I was very tempted to try my local operator, Arriva Midlands on the 2 service to see if my One Bws would scan, I'm told they can issue and accept them to the border at Chirk.

All in all, excellent trips on the T10 and other routes with the One Bws Ticket, my next plan is to try the T19 soon, which I have already planned the moves for. Hope of interest.

Very much of interest - thank you for sharing

 

[Bletchleyite]

I wonder if it would be worth trying to establish a Park and Ride setup at Corwen for passengers going into the Park from the south, e.g. day tripping from Brum?

I still think if you're going to go as far as Corwen it might as well go all the way to Llangollen, though.

 

[Llandudno]

Yes, that's another one that would make sense for tourists. If putting Caernarfon in on Trainline (for it'll mostly be Trainline) gives you a through fare at a decent price bookable online as an e-ticket, that will mean people consider the journey by public transport as tourists. If it's not there or is a faff to purchase, they won't, they'll just drive.

Yes, it would make sense to include Bangor to Caernarfon, but should it not include travel on Arriva’s commercial 5/5C/5D bus route, even though this has now been cut to every 20 minutes as well as the hourly at best Traws service?

Simpler to just add £5.70 to every rail ticket and issue a 1BWS ticket, so valid in everything in north Wales?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yes, it would make sense to include Bangor to Caernarfon, but should it not include travel on Arriva’s commercial 5/5C/5D bus route, even though this has now been cut to every 20 minutes as well as the hourly at best Traws service?

Potentially yes.

Simpler to just add £5.70 to every rail ticket and issue a 1BWS ticket, so valid in everything in north Wales?

However you account it, four things are key:
1. That if you enter the key North Wales destination into a booking site, a through itinerary is produced (this is what would get people using it; anything more complex like "tick a box if you want a bus ticket" will reduce sales)
2. That all booking sites will ticket it
3. That it is available by all methods of fulfilment that would be available to the railhead (i.e. CCST, e-ticket, m-ticket if TfW really must etc)
4. That all protections apply that would apply if it was a through rail journey, including if it's an Advance validity on a later train and the provision of hotels/taxis if last connections are missed either to bus or to rail.

One reason why the mid-2000s RailLinks concept failed was that the ticketing and protections weren't simple - most notably none of the online sites could sell it. It needs to be treated as a permanent rail replacement bus (e.g. the same as the buses that run on the Marston Vale at present), not as something a bit quirkier.

 

[Llandudno]

Potentially yes.



However you account it, four things are key:
1. That if you enter the key North Wales destination into a booking site, a through itinerary is produced (this is what would get people using it; anything more complex like "tick a box if you want a bus ticket" will reduce sales)
2. That all booking sites will ticket it
3. That it is available by all methods of fulfilment that would be available to the railhead
4. That all protections apply that would apply if it was a through rail journey, including if it's an Advance validity on a later train and the provision of hotels/taxis if last connections are missed either to bus or to rail.

Not sure how you could apply point 4 though?

Who would be responsible/capable/willing to arrange and fund alternative travel and/or accommodation?
If your stuck at some remote bus stop without mobile phone coverage and the bus is late/cancelled and forms a connection into the last train of the day or vice versa.

Are there any current bus/rail through ticketing arrangements in the UK that offers this kind of protection?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Not sure how you could apply point 4 though?

Who would be responsible/capable/willing to arrange and fund alternative travel and/or accommodation?

In this regulated context that's for TfW to sort out.

If your stuck at some remote bus stop without mobile phone coverage and the bus is late/cancelled and forms a connection into the last train of the day or vice versa.

Same as if you're stood on Corrour station, I guess.

Are there any current bus/rail through ticketing arrangements in the UK that offers this kind of protection?

Not aware of any, but that doesn't mean there should not be if you want to sell bus-rail integration properly in a country with big gaps in its rail network.

 

[markymark2000]

Yes, it would make sense to include Bangor to Caernarfon, but should it not include travel on Arriva’s commercial 5/5C/5D bus route, even though this has now been cut to every 20 minutes as well as the hourly at best Traws service?

Simpler to just add £5.70 to every rail ticket and issue a 1BWS ticket, so valid in everything in north Wales?

That couldn't possibly happen. Why? Because it makes sense.

The same reason as why PlusBus won't sell discounted multi operator tickets where they exist instead opting for confusing drivers with another ticket type which most of them don't know if it's valid.

 

[Rhydgaled]

Are there any current bus/rail through ticketing arrangements in the UK that offers this kind of protection?

I don't know. The most likely candiates I can think of (where through tickets used to be offered on the GWR journey planner, although they don't seem to be coming up today) are Minehead Bus and Bude Bus. Possibily Exeter Airport too since there are automated annoucements for a bus to there from Exeter St. Davids though I'm not sure if through tickets are available for that.

If your stuck at some remote bus stop without mobile phone coverage and the bus is late/cancelled and forms a connection into the last train of the day or vice versa.

Same as if you're stood on Corrour station, I guess.

I'm guessing there are no bus services Corrour station, in which case if you're stranded there because your service is cancelled it is clearly a train service that was cancelled and therefore the rail industry's responsibility to do something about it. They might not be able to do anything about it, but it is still their responsiblity. However, if you are waiting for a bus that is cancelled and miss your rail connection as a result (or it's the last bus of the day and you're stranded) then it isn't the rail industry's fault you are stranded and the National Rail Conditions Of Carriage/Travel might not apply.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'm guessing there are no bus services Corrour station, in which case if you're stranded there because your service is cancelled it is clearly a train service that was cancelled and therefore the rail industry's responsibility to do something about it. They might not be able to do anything about it, but it is still their responsiblity. However, if you are waiting for a bus that is cancelled and miss your rail connection as a result (or it's the last bus of the day and you're stranded) then it isn't the rail industry's fault you are stranded and the National Rail Conditions Of Carriage/Travel might not apply.

And that is for TfW to resolve if they want to provide proper integration in a country where the rail network is rather bitty.

 

[johntrawscymru]

TfW are now offering integrated TrawsCymru/rail tickets between Aberystwyth and south Wales. A standard single Aberystwyth–Cardiff Central via Carmarthen is £28.50 Good prices, but would be good to keep the T1C as a budget option too.

Many thanks for that.

A standard single Aberystwyth–Cardiff Central at £28.50 is not comparable to a £10 Trawscymru Day ticket for a return journey .

The Tfw publicity, (https://tfw.wales/ways-to-travel/rail/traws), states

you can travel from Aberystwyth to destinations in South Wales with just one ticket. If you’re travelling on our rail service from destinations in South Wales you’ll need to get off at Carmarthen and then swap onto a TrawsCymru T1 service to continue your journey. By travelling on both modes, you can save time and money. A journey from Swansea to Aberystwyth with our integrated ticket saves you £59.20 and it's 2 hrs 11 mins quicker.

The claim that the integrated ticket saves money and saves more than 2 hours of journey time is complete nonsense when compared to the all TrawsCymru bus route (T1/T1C/T1S) which existed before the Covid pandemic .

Before the Covid pandemic travel between Swansea and Aberystwyth was provided by the Trawscymru T1S (Swansea to Carmarthen along the M4) linking with the T1 or T1C. The T1S took 52 minutes to travel between Swansea and Carmarthen and linked with either the T1 or T1C with a journey time of 2 hours between Carmarthen and Aberystwyth. The total travel time on TrawsCymru buses between Swansea and Aberystwyth was approx 3 hours and the cost was £10 for a Trawscymru day ticket, which covered return travel on all 3 services. How Transport for Wales can claim a £59.20 saving and a journey time which is 2 hrs 11 mins quicker than the T1/T1C/T1S bus route by using an integrated train/bus ticket is a puzzle when the previous cost was £10 and the journey time was only 3 hours.

The T1S was withdrawn from service on 29/03/2020 due to “the Covid pandemic” and is obviously not returning as the integrated train/bus ticket is being touted as its replacement.
Unfortunately the T1C will join the T1S and be axed in favour of the integrated bus/rail ticket. The Tfw publicity only quotes examples from Swansea and Newport but Cardiff to Aberystwyth is obviously the route they want to replace just like Swansea to Aberystwyth.

However, if I asked for a through ticket from Shrewsbury or Machynlleth to Aberaeron it failed to find anything, so I wonder if there is any reason for somebody to actually buy a ticket on the T5 from a rail journey planner.

You are right to question the reason, It smacks of someone in Tfw not knowing very much of the geography of Wales, the rail network and the bus routes on the Trawscymru Network.

Also, TrawsCymru have announced that return tickets bought on the T19 (excluding 1bws) are valid to return via train. I've queried as to whether this works the other way around (return train tickets valid on the T19), but TC appear to be selective as to when they reply to Twitter queries.

Yes indeed. Very selective. The T1S has disappeared without an explanation . The T1C will be next to disappear without an explanation ..

 

[markymark2000]

The savings are based off a stupid journey which very few people would do. TFW do state on their website "When compared with standard single fare by rail only journey via Shrewsbury". It's a typical Welsh Govt thing bragging about something which they shouldn't be bragging. They're as bad as Transdev when it comes to press releases.

 

[daodao]

The T1S has disappeared without an explanation. The T1C will be next to disappear without an explanation.

Not true. These unnecessary extensions SE of Carmarthen are not needed for the purpose for which TrawsCymru was set up, namely to provide longer distance bus links where there is no adequate rail link. They do not deserve public subsidy and if not commercially viable, will inevitably be withdrawn. TfW are right to promote the rail/bus connection at Carmarthen station as the way to travel from Aberystwyth/Aberaeron/Lampeter to SE Wales. Good riddance to services T1S and T1C.