Transport for Wales and Welsh Government have set out the next steps towards franchising in a document entitled Our Roadmap to Reform: Towards One Network, One Timetable, One Ticket.

Responding to the news, Aaron Hill, Director of CPT Cymru, said:

“This roadmap is a welcome signal of intent from Transport for Wales and Welsh Government, recognising the importance of a strong bus network to the wellbeing of Wales.

“However, bus operators across the country have faced huge challenges in recent years, and regulatory change alone will not change the economic reality of this.

“Our own research published last year shows that a minimum subsidy franchise – as used in Jersey – could strike the right balance between Government control and using the skills and expertise of commercial operators to deliver maximum benefit for the public.

“Whoever controls bus services in Wales, we need carefully managed long-term investment and policies which encourage people to choose the bus over a car.”