Bus Service between Popular Welsh Seaside Towns to be Reduced
The Adventure Travel 88 bus service connecting Barry and Penarth is set to undergo reductions in its service frequency, alongside various other alterations, as discussed during a recent Vale of Glamorgan Council’s community liaison committee meeting.
At a meeting held on Monday, April 7, committee members were briefed on the upcoming changes to bus services within the county. Among the adjustments outlined, it was revealed that the Adventure Travel number 88 supported bus service between Penarth and Barry would see a decrease in frequency by three return journeys. Additionally, the route of the First Cymru X2 service running between Porthcawl and Cardiff is due to be revised to include a stop at Cardiff Bus Interchange instead of Cardiff Bay.
According to Vale of Glamorgan Council’s operational manager for transport services, Kyle Phillips, adjustments to the Adventure Travel 88 service were deemed necessary due to significant timing issues that have affected its reliability. As a result, an application has been submitted to amend the timetable, which will result in a reduction of three return journeys. Phillips stated, “It does mean there will be reduced frequency by three return journeys, but it will make the service more reliable and it will be turning up at bus stops on time.”
Regarding the alterations to the First Cymru X2 service, the changes are being implemented in anticipation of disruptions that may arise from the construction of the initial phase of Cardiff Crossrail. Phillips elaborated on this, explaining, “There is going to be a major issue when Cardiff Council start work on their Cardiff Bay Crossrail, which means the buses won’t be able to get access from the Bay into the city centre so… the company has put that change in early.”
Concerns were expressed about the impact of the X2 modifications, with specific mention of potential delays affecting students commuting to the CAVC Creative Arts Academy. It is anticipated that the commencement of construction for the multi-million-pound Cardiff Crossrail project, aimed at linking Cardiff Central with Cardiff Bay via a tram line, will commence in the near future.
Phillips highlighted, “The issue we are going to have is when Cardiff start building the cross rail service later this summer. We will not be able to get buses from the Bay through to the bus station. Once Cardiff Crossrail is in… people will go to the bus station and then they will be using the cross rail to get through to the Bay which is obviously the point of that scheme.”
These developments in the bus services linking Penarth, Barry, Porthcawl, and Cardiff signify the proactive measures being taken to address current challenges and adapt to the evolving transportation landscape in the region. The forthcoming changes aim to enhance service reliability and adaptability in the face of upcoming infrastructure projects, demonstrating a commitment to ensuring efficient and accessible public transportation options for residents and visitors alike.