TrawsCymru is the brand name for a network of regional bus services in Wales , sponsored by the Welsh Government . It was introduced as a replacement for the TrawsCambria network.
62-468: In 2010, the Welsh Assembly ran a consultation on improvements to the existing TrawsCambria network. In 2011, a programme of improvements for TrawsCambria services X40 ( Carmarthen - Pencader - Lampeter - Aberaeron - Aberystwyth ) and 704 /T4 ( Newtown - Brecon / Merthyr ) was announced. Under these plans services T4 & X40 and T4, and the network as a whole, were to be re-launched under
124-496: A Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE on the service. Journey time for the T1 is 2 hours 15 minutes. According to Dr Winckler's review, the journey time by car is 1 hour 25 minutes, meaning the bus service takes 58% longer than driving and hence misses the target set by the review. From 5 December 2016 to 14 April 2018, First Cymru operated the T1C service using the T1 fleet, which was then
186-399: A TrawsCymru service was dubious for many years as although the operators referred to the service as TrawsCymru from the start they did not have any TrawsCymru branded vehicles for use on the service. Instead, they used buses in their own standard liveries. In March 2016, the service was upgraded with four TrawsCymru branded Optare MetroCitys . In January 2018, one of those MetroCities, which
248-608: A fully commercial basis in place of the former TrawsCambria X40. Because of the commercial CymruExpress, the TC1 TrawsCymru service could not be introduced. The six new buses that had been ordered to operate the TC1 were thus placed into store. These were longer than the new vehicles for the TC4, so were later taken out of storage and put to use on the T4 service, to increase capacity. They replaced three of
310-839: A month-long trial on a service operating between Didcot Parkway railway station and the Milton Park business and technology park in September 2023. London United were the launch customer for the MetroCity, taking delivery of four examples in April 2014. These were followed in May 2014 by twelve for Quality Line , who was the largest operator of the type in London until their closure in 2021. Two MetroCity EVs were delivered to Arriva London in November 2014, followed by
372-453: A once per day (except Sundays) extension of the T1 to Swansea and Cardiff, introduced as a replacement for the more frequent 701 service which had ceased operating in August 2016 when its final operator, Lewis Coaches, ceased trading. The full journey time of the combined T1 & T1C service when operated by First Cymru was 4 hours 35 minutes. From 16 April 2018, NAT Group took over operation of
434-448: A seven-year contract to operate the service, initially with existing buses (one single deck Scania OmniCity of which was TrawsCymru liveried) before taking delivery of three Alexander Dennis Enviro400 bodied Scania N230UDs and an Alexander Dennis Enviro200 , all fitted with Wi-Fi and leather seats in 2015. Journey time is 2 hours 30 minutes. Following the collapse of GHA Coaches in July 2016,
496-568: A week, hourly Monday to Saturday with five journeys in each direction on Sundays and bank holidays. Since 2015, the service has been run by New Adventure Travel from Swansea depot, using Optare MetroCity and Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 , being painted in TrawsCymru livery for the Service. In early 2021, the service was upgraded to newer Optare MetroCity , painted in the New 2021 TrawsCymru livery for
558-462: Is a one-off, as it is an ex-demonstrator that only received orders on other chassis). All of these vehicles received TrawsCymru livery and seating, and in 2015 were joined by four new Optare MetroCitys . While the Tempos remain on the service, the fact that they are ageing former TrawsCambria examples (same as the older T4 ones withdrawn in 2017) as opposed to the newer ones used on the T4 and T9, means that
620-518: Is also responsible for some public bodies that are not classed as WGSBs, such as NHS Wales , and the Welsh Offices of England and Wales legal offices. The Welsh Government has a total of 18 core and operational offices across Wales. It also has an office based in Westminster. Additionally, it has 7 specialist properties across Wales, which include stores, traffic management centres and the pavilion at
682-542: Is chaired by the permanent secretary. Board members are appointed at the discretion of and by the permanent secretary. Membership is not wholly dependent on functional responsibilities; it is designed to provide balanced advice and support to the permanent secretary, and collective leadership to the organisation as a whole. The Welsh Government is responsible for a number of Welsh Government sponsored bodies (WGSBs). These are, respectively, WGSBs are staffed by public servants rather than civil servants. The Welsh Government
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#1732848600011744-502: Is operated by Lloyds Coaches (formerly Lloyds Coaches and Express Motors until the latter's closure in January 2018) and runs twice a day from Bangor to Aberystwyth , with additional workings over part of the route on Mondays to Saturdays. This service was introduced towards the end of September 2012, when Arriva Buses Wales cancelled TrawsCambria service X32 . The T2 would have been the second TrawsCymru service launched but its status as
806-593: Is the executive arm of the devolved government of Wales . The government consists of cabinet secretaries and ministers . It is led by the first minister , usually the leader of the largest party in the Senedd (Welsh Parliament; Welsh : Senedd Cymru ), who selects ministers with the approval of the Senedd. The government is responsible for tabling policy in devolved areas (such as health, education, economic development, transport and local government) for consideration by
868-552: The Cabinet Secretary , for professional conduct. The permanent secretary remains, however, at the direction of the Welsh ministers. The Welsh Government Board translates the strategic direction set by the Welsh cabinet and its committees into work that is joined up across Welsh Government departments and makes the best use of its resources. The board is made up of six directors general, six directors and four non-executive directors, and
930-1114: The Optare Solo SR in London, while the longer models were to replace the Optare Versa and Optare Tempo SR in the London market. Although the Solo SR and Versa remain in production, the Tempo SR has now been entirely discontinued in the UK market with the introduction of the MetroCity due to poor sales. An electric version is available, named the Metrocity EV, using a 150 kW Magtec motor. In London, four entered service with London United in July 2014 on route H98 , while nine entered service with Arriva London on route 312 in September 2015. Twelve entered service in August 2023 with Stagecoach London on route 339. A Switch Metrodecker EV equipped with Fusion Processing CAVstar autonomous technology entered service with First Berkshire & The Thames Valley on
992-942: The Cabinet of the United Kingdom by a Secretary of State who did not represent a Welsh constituency at Westminster. These factors led to growing calls for political devolution. The Welsh Office was disbanded on 1 July 1999 when most of its powers were transferred to the National Assembly for Wales. Charles III Heir Apparent William, Prince of Wales First Minister ( list ) Rt Hon Eluned Morgan MS ( L ) Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies MS ( L ) Counsel General-designate – Elisabeth Jones Chief Whip and Trefnydd – Jane Hutt MS (L) Permanent Secretary Sixth Senedd Llywydd (Presiding Officer) Elin Jones MS ( PC ) Leader of
1054-673: The London market, the Metrocity is based on the Optare Versa which was introduced in 2009. In the UK market, longer variants of the Metrocity have replaced the Optare Tempo SR . As at August 2018, over 250 had been built. The first prototype Optare MetroCity was delivered to London United . The MetroCity is available in five lengths, with the V990MC, V1010MC, V1060MC, V1080MC and V1152MC models measuring 9.9m, 10.1m, 10.6m, 10.8m and 11.52m long respectively. The shorter models were designed to replace
1116-736: The MetroCitys and SB200s are somewhat prioritised. The new MCV Evora bodied Volvo B8RLEs received for the T11 have been known to operate the T5. The T6 was previously known as the services X63 & X64 and was renumbered and added to the TrawsCymru network in 2015. The service starts in Swansea and runs via Swansea University Bay Campus, Neath , Aberdulais Falls , Ystradgynlais and Abercrave , Dan Yr Ogof Show Caves and then terminates in Brecon . The T6 runs seven days
1178-486: The National Assembly for Wales (and within which Welsh ministers exercise executive functions) are: The Welsh Assembly Government was renamed Welsh Government ( Llywodraeth Cymru ) in practice in 2011, and in law by the Wales Act 2014 . The government is composed of cabinet secretaries and ministers. The current government is a minority by Welsh Labour . The current cabinet was formed on 11 September 2024, replacing
1240-480: The National Assembly for Wales, comprising 60 assembly members, and the Welsh Assembly Government, comprising the first minister, Welsh ministers, deputy ministers and the counsel general. This separation between the two bodies took effect on the appointment of the first minister by Queen Elizabeth II following the assembly election on 3 May 2007. Separation was meant to clarify the respective roles of
1302-640: The Opposition Andrew RT Davies MS ( C ) Shadow Cabinet ( current ) Prime Minister Rt Hon Keir Starmer MP ( L ) Secretary of State for Wales Rt Hon Jo Stevens MP (L) Principal councils ( leader list ) Corporate Joint Committees Local twinning see also: Regional terms and Regional economy United Kingdom Parliament elections European Parliament elections (1979–2020) Local elections Police and crime commissioner elections Referendums The National Assembly
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#17328486000111364-676: The Royal Welsh Showground. The Government also has 21 offices located in 11 countries outside the United Kingdom: Belgium; Canada; China; France; Germany; Ireland; India; Japan; Qatar; United Arab Emirates, and the United States of America. Optare MetroCity The Switch Metrocity (formerly known as the Optare MetroCity) is an integral midibus manufactured by Switch Mobility since 2013. Originally aimed at
1426-532: The Senedd and implementing policy that has been approved by it. The current Welsh Government is a Labour minority administration , following the 2021 Senedd election . It is led by Eluned Morgan who has been the first minister of Wales since August 2024. Prior to devolution in 1999 many executive functions for Wales were carried out by the Secretary of State for Wales and the Welsh Office . The Welsh Office
1488-439: The T1C service. Though still once per day, the use of a separate Aberystwyth to Cardiff service by coach (in this case a Mercedes-Benz Tourismo bodied Mercedes-Benz OC 500 RF) and Sunday operation both resumed, neither of which had been seen since the 701. The T1C as operated by NAT Group takes advantage of being a separate service to the T1 by bypassing Lampeter, Llanybydder, and from Monday to Saturday, Swansea, taking an hour off
1550-492: The T4 and the T14 replacing the remaining Tempos and Enviro300s. The service is the longest end-to-end journey on the TrawsCymru network, with a journey time of 3 hours 50 minutes. The T5 was commenced on 5 January 2015. Roughly hourly departures are provided from Aberystwyth , Cardigan , Fishguard and Haverfordwest but the service is made up of a number of different routes, the most frequent being: Additionally: Shortly before
1612-611: The T6 service. These buses were originally intended for use for T9 Service, but the service was suspended in 2020 due to Covid-19. This route takes 1 hour 49 minutes In April 2020, Stagecoach West announced it would cease to operate the Severn Express and X14 routes on 13 June. On 10 June 2020, NAT Group announced that it would continue the Severn Express route working in partnership with Monmouthshire County Council and TrawsCymru. The route
1674-524: The TrawsCymru website and the vehicles used did carry any special livery or branding, until late 2017 when Richards Bros' Optare Versa and their brand new Enviro200 received the Cyswllt livery. As of February 2018, First Cymru have had the Cyswllt livery applied to one of their Enviro200s. From 2019 the services now appear on TrawsCymru literature. The present routes include: Welsh Government The Welsh Government ( Welsh : Llywodraeth Cymru )
1736-712: The Welsh Government's programmes; and enact acts of assembly on subjects that have been devolved to the Welsh administration. The result mirrored much more closely the relationship between the British government and British parliament and that between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament . The new arrangements provided for in the Government of Wales Act 2006 created a formal legal separation between
1798-569: The Welsh Government, giving Welsh ministers independent executive authority, this taking effect following the May 2007 elections . Following separation, the Welsh ministers exercise functions in their own right. Further transfers of executive functions from the British government can be made directly to the Welsh ministers (with their consent) by an Order in Council approved by the British parliament . Separation
1860-452: The Welsh Government. It remains to be seen how the vehicles used will compare to the Welsh Government owned ones on the other routes. Invitations To Tender were also published for the remaining three TrawsCambria routes X50 ( Aberystwyth - Cardigan ), T2 ( Bangor - Aberystwyth ) and X94 ( Wrexham - Barmouth ), to be known as T5, T2 and T3 respectively. The X94 became the T3 in November 2014, and
1922-507: The X50 the T5 in January 2015. The T2 contract was expected to start in 2014, but due to last minute registrations of commercial workings by the incumbent operators ended up being let as a short term extension without TrawsCymru branding. In November 2015, the T2 was finally launched with branded buses in due course. Lloyds Coaches have ordered three Optare MetroCitys with the first two due in January 2016 and
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1984-474: The appointment of Vaughan Gething. The Welsh Government also includes a civil service that supports the Welsh ministers. As of March 2018, there are 5,015 full-time equivalent civil servants working across Wales. The civil service is a matter reserved to the British Parliament at Westminster : Welsh Government civil servants work within the rules and customs of His Majesty's Civil Service , but serve
2046-449: The appointment of Welsh ministers. The first minister is nominated by the Senedd and then appointed by His Majesty the King. The first minister then appoints the Welsh ministers and the deputy Welsh ministers with the approval of the monarch. The Act created a new post of Counsel General for Wales , the principal source of legal advice to the Welsh Government. The counsel general is appointed by
2108-472: The assembly and the government. The role of the government is to make decisions; develop and implement policy; exercise executive functions and make statutory instruments. The 60 assembly members in the National Assembly scrutinise the Welsh Government's decisions and policies; hold ministers to account; approve budgets for the Welsh Government's programmes; and have the power to enact assembly measures on certain matters. Assembly measures can now go further than
2170-470: The assembly, only had those powers that the assembly as a whole voted to delegate to ministers. On 27 November 2001, First Minister Rhodri Morgan announced that the brand "Welsh Assembly Government" would be used going forward for the committee, to more clearly delineate the division of functions within the Assembly. The Government of Wales Act 2006 formally separated the National Assembly for Wales and
2232-547: The deputy ministers or the counsel general. Following the "yes" vote in the referendum on further law-making powers for the assembly on 3 March 2011, the Welsh Government is now entitled to propose bills to the National Assembly for Wales on subjects within 20 fields of policy. Subject to limitations prescribed by the Government of Wales Act 2006, Acts of the National Assembly may make any provision that could be made by Act of Parliament. The 20 areas of responsibility devolved to
2294-735: The devolved administration rather than the British Government . The Permanent secretary heads the civil service of the Welsh Government and chairs the Strategic Delivery and Performance Board. The Permanent Secretary is a member of His Majesty's Civil Service , and therefore takes part in the Permanent Secretaries Management Group of the Civil Service and is answerable to the most senior civil servant in Britain,
2356-476: The existing three Optare Tempos that had previously worked the T4 service. The X40 was originally scheduled to be replaced by TrawsCymru service T1/TC1 from 1 April 2012 under a contract until 31 March 2020 on offer. However it later emerged that Arriva Buses Wales intended to stop operating the X40 service, along with its share of route 550, from 26 February. Instead Arriva introduced services branded Cymru Express on
2418-576: The first minister and the counsel general. Accordingly, the maximum size of the Welsh Government is 14. In Acts of the Senedd and of the UK Parliament, the expression "the Welsh Ministers" is used to refer to the Welsh government in similar contexts to those where "the Secretary of State" would be used to refer to the British government; it is defined to include only the first minister and ministers, not
2480-499: The full journey time which is now 3 hours 35 minutes. The T1S service also commenced operation by First Cymru on 16 April 2018 using the T1 fleet. The T1S provides connections at Carmarthen for passengers travelling between Aberystwyth and Swansea on Monday to Saturday, has an approximate full journey time of 1 hour and additionally serves the National Botanic Garden of Wales once per day in either direction. The T2 service
2542-707: The interim cabinet formed by Morgan when she was appointed First Minister in August 2024, which was largely a continuation of Gething's . In the September reshuffle, new positions were created, while all existing ministers remained in cabinet (except the Counsel General-designate) but most with amended roles. The September 2024 cabinet is as follows: MS Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs MS Cabinet secretaries and ministers were known as ministers and deputy ministers respectively before 2016, and under Mark Drakeford from 2018 to 2024. They returned to their current names in May 2024 following
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2604-411: The monarch, on the nomination of the first minister, whose recommendation must be agreed by the Senedd and who cannot be dismissed without the Senedd's consent, but automatically leaves office when a new first minister is nominated. The counsel general may be, but does not have to be, a member of the Senedd. The Act permits a maximum of 12 Welsh ministers, which includes deputy Welsh ministers, but excludes
2666-504: The new TrawsCymru brand. Service X40 was to be re-numbered TC1 and T4 would have become TC4, along with extension south to Cardiff . During 2012, these two routes were to receive new Optare Tempos equipped with coach style seating, greater luggage space, real time information and WiFi . The plans for re-numbering T4 were dropped, but the new vehicles and extension to Cardiff were introduced. The six additional WAG-funded Optare Tempos with leather seats, free WiFi and tables operate alongside
2728-462: The other nothing). The T1 is operated by First Cymru using eight Yutong E12 battery electric buses launched for the service in TrawsCymru livery in March 2023; many duties are subcontracted to Mid Wales Travel drivers. From August 2014 to July 2016 First used two Alexander Dennis Enviro200s and three Alexander Dennis Enviro300s , and from July 2016 to March 2023 First used five Enviro300s as well as
2790-506: The roll-out of the TrawsCymru brand to the other TrawsCambria corridors finally began. The first route to appear was the Carmarthen-Aberystwyth route, but the original plan for the service to become known as TC1 has been dropped. The TrawsCymru service was instead launched under the service number T1, in August 2014. Unlike the T4 and T9 TrawsCymru contracts, the operator provides vehicles for the T1, rather than using vehicles owned by
2852-550: The route falls some way short of the 25 mile minimum distance given in Dr Victoria Winckler's review of TrawsCymru (see sub-section of history section above). The journey time from Cardiff Airport to Cardiff Central is 40 minutes. Due to the circular route via Cardiff Bay , the journey from Cardiff Central to the airport is only 30 minutes. A number of shorter services are designated as TrawsCymru Cyswllt (English: TrawsCymru Connect ). These were initially not mentioned on
2914-590: The service is by no means direct. The website also reported that the service operates 7 days per week, when in fact there are no services between 03:00 on Sundays and 05:45 on Mondays (effectively no Sunday service). By 8 January 2015, this latter error had been corrected to say that the service operates 6 days per week. The service was initially operated with existing buses, including four former TrawsCambria Optare Tempos, and four VDL SB200s (two with Wright Pulsar 2 bodies, one with an old-style Wright Pulsar body and one with an MCV Evolution body registered as YJ14CCV, which
2976-408: The service launched, the TrawsCymru website was updated to include the service, with the report: "The TrawsCymru T5 provides a regular and direct service along the scenic Cambrian Coast, linking Aberystwyth, Aberaeron, New Quay, Cardigan, Fishguard and Haverfordwest." This is inaccurate because not all journeys serve New Quay and the inclusion of Fishguard and (on some trips) New Quay and Aberporth means
3038-525: The service to Cardiff. The new vehicles were to an enhanced standard with a new design of seat and WiFi. The three aging former TrawsCambria Optare Tempos were finally retired in May to June 2017 after more than a decade of service, and replaced with three transferred two-year-old Alexander Dennis Enviro300 bodied Scania K230UBs . The T14 service (Cardiff to Hereford via Merthyr Tydfil, Brecon and Hay-on-Wye) commenced operating on 2 September 2018. In July 2019, 12 MCV Evoras were introduced for use on both
3100-609: The service was immediately taken over by Lloyds Coaches. Initially, Lloyds Coaches entirely used vehicles they already owned, before acquiring all three of the Scania-ADL Enviro400s, but not the OmniCity nor the ADL Enviro200, the latter of which went to NAT Group as one of the T6 vehicles, so a different Enviro200 was used in its place. As of July 2017 that Enviro200 has been replaced with two brand new Optare MetroCitys. The T4
3162-411: The sixth. Arriva's CymruExpress services ceased on 21 December 2013, meaning a TrawsCymru service between Aberystwyth and Carmarthen was once again a possibility. Interim contracts to continue bus services on the route were let pending the introduction of a TrawsCymru service. In July 2013, it emerged that Welsh Transport Minister, Edwina Hart , had commissioned a review of the TrawsCymru network. This
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#17328486000113224-539: The subordinate legislation which the assembly had the power to make prior to 2007. The assembly's functions, including that of making subordinate legislation, in the main, transferred to the Welsh ministers upon separation. A third body was also established under the 2006 Act from May 2007, called the National Assembly for Wales Commission. It employs the staff supporting the new National Assembly for Wales, and holds property, enters into contracts and provides support services on its behalf. The 2006 Act made new provision for
3286-454: The third due in March 2016. The T1 service commenced operating on 4 August 2014. An hourly service is provided Monday to Saturday with a few Sunday journeys. A late evening working also operates, between Aberystwyth and Lampeter. A single service number is used, but buses take two different routes between Pencader and Lampeter in order to serve intermediate villages every two hours (prior to the T1 launch, one village had an hourly bus service and
3348-435: The vehicles that had been ordered for the TC4, which joined the remaining three unused vehicles which had been intended for the TC1 in store. In August 2013, the Welsh Government launched an express bus service between Cardiff Central station and Cardiff Airport . This was branded as a TrawsCymru route, given the number T9. Five of the six TrawsCymru buses were taken out of storage to operate this service, later being joined by
3410-546: Was a department in the Government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Wales. It was established in April 1965 to execute government policy in Wales, and was headed by the Secretary of State for Wales, a post which had been created in October 1964. The post however had no Welsh electoral mandate, and over the ensuing years there were complaints of a "democratic deficit". For eleven years prior to 1997 Wales had been represented in
3472-450: Was created by the Government of Wales Act 1998 , which followed a referendum in 1997 . As initially established, the Welsh Government had no independent executive powers in law (unlike, for instance, the Scottish ministers and British government ministers). The National Assembly was established as a body corporate by the Government of Wales Act 1998 and the executive, as a committee of
3534-458: Was designed to clarify the respective roles of the assembly and the government. Under the structures established by the Government of Wales Act 2006 , the role of Welsh ministers is to make decisions; develop and implement policy; exercise executive functions and make statutory instruments. The remainder of the 60 assembly members in the National Assembly scrutinise the government's decisions and policies; hold ministers to account; approve budgets for
3596-470: Was initially operated by First Cymru and ran every 20 minutes, 7 days a week. Five Optare Tempos are allocated to the service. The buses used were reported to be those ordered for the Carmarthen - Aberystwyth TC1 service. On 1 November 2014 New Adventure Travel took over operation of the route, which was reduced to a half-hourly. It was restored to a 20 minutes frequency in April 2015. At around 15 miles,
3658-407: Was operated on a 6 month trial basis until 31 December 2020. Newport Bus took over the route on 4 January 2021 and route was renumbered from X7 to T7. Newport Bus operated the route using two MCV Evoras previously operated by Stagecoach South Wales on their T4/T14 TrawsCymru routes; these were replaced by two new Yutong E12s in early 2023. The T9 service commenced operating on 1 August 2013. It
3720-445: Was the first TrawsCymru service to be launched on 31 May 2011 and is operated by Stagecoach South Wales , who also operated the previous TrawsCambria 704 (which operated between Newtown and Brecon only). The service as launched was operated with nine Optare Tempos , branded TrawsCymru, three of which had been ordered and used on the 704 and were repainted into TrawsCymru livery. The other six were new vehicles introduced to extend
3782-478: Was the one owned by Express Motors, was replaced by a brand new one owned by Lloyds Coaches. Since then, the original one was acquired and joined the fleet. The T3 service commenced operating on 2 November 2014. A more frequent Monday to Saturday service is provided compared to the previous TrawsCambria service X94 it replaces along with improved connections with the T2 service in Dolgellau. GHA Coaches were awarded
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#17328486000113844-519: Was to be undertaken by Director of the Bevan Foundation, Dr Victoria Winckler. This outcome of this review was published by in February 2014, defining the purpose of TrawsCymru as a network of medium-to-long-distance (defined as 25 miles or more), strategically important bus services that connect key towns in Wales – complementing the rail network. The report's recommendations included: During 2014,
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