is a network of regional long-distance bus services in Wales. The brand was introduced by the Welsh Government to improve cross-country public transport links and to replace the earlier TrawsCambria network. Services operate on key strategic routes, with the network now managed by Transport for Wales.
Operations routes operate over longer distances than conventional local bus services, linking key settlements and providing connections where rail routes are limited or indirect. Services typically connect with local bus networks and railway stations. The network aims to support economic development, improve accessibility, and encourage sustainable travel across Wales.
History
Launch plans In 2010, the Welsh Government 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 the X40 and T4 services, and the network as a whole, were to be re-launched under the new 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.Tempo is the vehicle of choice for TrawsCymru Optare 27 March 2012
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 the existing three Optare Tempos that had previously worked the T4 service.
The X40 was originally scheduled to be replaced by 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.Your X40, X41 and 550 services are changing Arriva Instead Arriva introduced services branded Cymru Express on a fully commercial basis in place of the former TrawsCambria X40.
Change of plan Because of the commercial CymruExpress, the TC1 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 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 route, given the number T9.
Arriva's CymruExpress services ceased on 21 December 2013, meaning a 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 service.
Review In July 2013, it emerged that Welsh Transport Minister, Edwina Hart, had commissioned a review of the network. This 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 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: requires a strategic, all-Wales, approach. Currently, contracts are let by four different local authorities and this approach was considered too fragmented. That the implementation of any new corridors should be based on robust business plans which demonstrate demand and provide for a package of measures to improve the passenger journey. should complement the rail network and not seek to compete with rail services. Where justified by demand, it should provide good connections to onward rail services, but it should not be driven by or secondary to the rail network. Service quality provision: services should serve intermediate bus stops as well as main towns, but should avoid detours. The impact of intermediate stops/detours should increase the journey duration by no more than 50% longer than by car, and ideally less (around 33% being preferable). should promote and accept CymruConnect (rail and bus combined) through-tickets, and action should be taken to improve the profile and performance of CymruConnect. services need to address passenger facilities at bus stations and passenger information, which are part of responding to passenger needs. Focus of effort in the short term should be on completing the rebrand of the five core routes (T1 to T5) from TrawsCambria, rather than expansion of the network to new routes The strategic board should focus on strategic issues with corridor delivery groups dealing with operational matters, on a formal basis. Both groups should have strengthened user representation.
2014 and 2015 launches During 2014, the rollout of the brand to the other TrawsCambria corridors 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 service was instead launched under the service number T1, in August 2014. Unlike the T4 and T9 contracts, the operator provides vehicles for the T1, rather than using vehicles owned by 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 the X50 the T5 in January 2015.GHA awarded TrawsCymru T3 Bus & Coach Buyer 30 October 2014Welsh Government funds new service Bus & Coach Buyer 8 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 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 the third due in March 2016.
TaithCymru coach service Plaid Cymru in its 2026 Senedd manifesto and its 100 day plan promised that it would create an express coach service between North and South Wales. On 30 June 2026, the new Plaid Cymru-led ap Iorwerth Welsh Government announced that a new coach service would be launched between Carmarthen and Bangor, it will reduce public transport journey time by over an hour. It was latter revealed that the coach will be called '' and daily services would start from 25 October 2026. Eight coaches have been bought for the services and coaches will call at other towns including; Caernarfon, Porthmadog, Dolgellau, Machynlleth, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth and Aberaeron. The Welsh Government has provided £2 million for the first year of the service.
Routes Route numberStart pointviaEnd pointOperatorVehiclesT1AberystwythAberaeron, Lampeter, Pencader, CarmarthenshireCarmarthenFirst CymruYutong E12T1AAberystwythTregaron, Lampeter, PencaderCarmarthenFirst CymruYutong E12T1CAberystwythAberaeron, Llandysul, Carmarthen, Bridgend Designer Outlet, Cardiff BayCardiffMid Wales TravelMercedes-Benz TourismoT1XAberystwythAberaeron, Llandysul, PencaderCarmarthenFirst CymruYutong E12T2Bangor, GwyneddCaernarfon, Porthmadog, Dolgellau, MachynllethAberystwythLloyds CoachesMCV EvoraT3 & T3CBarmouthDolgellau, Bala, Corwen, LlangollenWrexhamLloyds CoachesMCV EvoraT4Newtown, PowysLlandrindod Wells, Builth Wells, BreconMerthyr TydfilCeltic Travel & Williams CoachesMCV EvoraT5AberystwythAberaeron, Cardigan, Newport, FishguardHaverfordwestRichards BrothersMCV EvoraT6BreconYstradgynlais, NeathSwanseaAdventure Travel (bus company)Optare MetroCityT7ChepstowCribbs CausewayBristolNewport BusYutong E12T8ChesterMold, RuthinCorwenM&H CoachesWright StreetLite WFT10BangorBethesda, Betws-y-Coed, CerrigydrudionCorwenK&P CoachesADL Enviro200 MMCT11FishguardGoodwick, St DavidsHaverfordwestRichards BrothersMCV EvoraT22CaernarfonPenygroes, PorthmadogBlaenau FfestiniogLlew Jones CoachesYutong E12T51RhylSt Asaph, Denbigh, RuthinWrexhamArriva Buses WalesWright StreetDeck Ultroliner
Proposed services Route numberStart pointviaEnd pointOperatorVehiclesCommencement dateTaithCymruCarmarthenAberaeron, Aberystwyth, Aberystwyth University, Machynlleth, Dolgellau, Porthmadog and Caernarfon.BangorEdwards Coaches and Llew Jones CoachesMCV EvoTor25 October 2026
Former services Route numberStart pointviaEnd pointOperatorEnd dateT1SCarmarthenCross HandsSwanseaFirst CymruService Suspended due to Lockdown, 2020T9CardiffCardiff AirportAdventure Travel (bus company)Service Suspended due to Lockdown, 2020T12MachynllethNewtown, Welshpool, OswestryWrexhamLloyds Coaches & Tanat Valley CoachesService Ceased on 30/08/2025 due to retendering of Powys Bus Network T14HerefordHay-on-Wye, Brecon, Merthyr Tydfil, PontypriddCardiffStagecoach South WalesService Ceased on 30/08/2025 due to retendering of Powys Bus Network T19LlandudnoLlanrwst, Betws-y-CoedBlaenau FfestiniogLlew Jones CoachesService Cancelled 11/02/2023
T1, T1A, T1C and T1X
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 the other nothing).
The T1 is operated by First Cymru using eight Yutong E12 battery electric buses launched for the service in livery in March 2023; many duties were subcontracted to Mid Wales Travel drivers.
Journey time for the T1 was 2 hours 15 minutes.T1 timetable TrawsCymru 22 February 2015 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 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.
On the 16 April 2018, NAT Group took over operation of the T1C service. NAT Group 16 April 2018 Though still once per day, the use of a separate Aberystwyth to Cardiff service by coach and Sunday operation both resumed, neither of which had been seen since the 701.
On the 21st of March 2023 it was announced that NAT Group had lost the contract to Mid Wales Travel with them taking over on the 1st of April and not long after in September Mid Wales Travel had one of their coaches (a Volvo B8R Plaxton Panther 3 number 122 YX22 LWA) liveried up into the livery to be the dedicated T1C coach . In 2025 Mid Wales Travel upgraded the T1C by buying a new Coach (a 3rd gen Mercedes-Benz Tourismo BJ75 NYA) which resulted in the cascading of the Plaxton Panther 3 onto other routes operated by Mid Wales Travel. The T1C as operated by Mid Wales Travel takes advantage of being a separate service to the T1 by bypassing Lampeter, Llanybydder, and from Monday to Saturday, Swansea, taking an hour off the full journey time which is now 3 hours 35 minutes.