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Fares across the Stagecoach bus network in south Wales have risen by an average of 7% from today, April 1.
In addition to the rises, the company has also ditched dedicated saver tickets for the Islwyn and Rhymney areas because, according to its website, of low sales.
At the beginning of a new financial year, there are also changes to the timetable covering Caerphilly County Borough because of a new tender for bus services subsidised by the council.
Following the end of the Welsh Government’s Bus Emergency Scheme in July 2023, and the Bus Transition Fund in March this year, Caerphilly County Borough Council needed to re-tender all of its supported bus service contracts and where possible, bus services deemed ‘socially necessary’ but that could not run commercially.
The Welsh Government has since announced a £39 million ‘Bus Network Grant’ which will run for the next 12 months to fund bus services through council tenders.
Part of the route changes include the controversial axing of the service to the Grange Hospital – which we have previously covered.
Fare increases
On Stagecoach buses, adult single prices will change by an average of 20p, while child and young person single prices will change by an average of 13p. Overall, single, return, day, week and Xtra ticket prices will change on average by 7%.
A seven-day MegaRider ticket for unlimited travel in the Caerphilly zone (which covers an area as far as Ystrad Mynach in the north, Graig y Rhacca in east and the Aber Valley in the west) now costs £18.
A seven-day unlimited ticket for the South Wales area now costs £30.
Martin Gibbon, Managing Director for Stagecoach South Wales said: “As well as paying for the day-to-day running of the country’s vital bus networks, ticket costs help us to continue investing in improvements for our customers and pay for our employees who continually work hard to keep communities connected.
“Attracting new employees to the business is an important part of service delivery and building our network.
“We are doing everything possible to absorb these cost increases and to help protect our valued customers at the same time as ensuring our own people receive fair pay increases to help them manage the significant cost-of-living challenges.
“That means that changing our fares to reflect the current climate is a necessity to ensure we can keep our services running and provide a sustainable network for our customers.”
Stagecoach has been awarded more than 50 new tender contracts across south Wales, including new routes.
It will operate the contracts from for three years, with an optional extension of two further years.
Daytime Services
| Service No. | Route | Operation | Operator | Frequency in mins |
| 4A | TREDEGAR TO TREDEGAR (via RHYMNEY, PONTLOTTYN & ABERTYSSWG) | Mon-Sat Daytime | Harris Coaches | 120 |
| 4C | TREDEGAR TO TREDEGAR (via RHYMNEY, PONTLOTTYN & ABERTYSSWG) | Mon-Sat Daytime | Harris Coaches | 120 |
| 5 | BLACKWOOD TO PANTSIDE ESTATE | Mon-Sat Daytime | Stagecoach | 60 |
| 5A | BLACKWOOD – OAKDALE – BLACKWOOD | Tues & Friday only | Connect2 | 4 journeys |
| 6 | BLACKWOOD TO WYLLIE | Mon-Sat Daytime | Harris Coaches | 60 |
| 7 | BLACKWOOD TO PONTYPRIDD | Mon-Sat Daytime | Harris Coaches | 60 |
| 8 | BLACKWOOD TO GROVE PARK TO BLACKWOOD | Mon-Sat Daytime | Harris Coaches | 60 |
| 9 | BLACKWOOD TO PENLLWYN | Mon-Sat Daytime | Harris Coaches | 60 |
| 11 | BLACKWOOD TO GELLIGAER | Mon-Sat Daytime | Harris Coaches | Varied |
| 12 | BLACKWOOD TO NEW TREDEGAR | Mon-Sat Daytime | Harris Coaches | 30 |
| 13 | BLACKWOOD TO MANMOEL | Tues & Friday only | Connect2 | 2 journeys |
| 14 | BLACKWOOD TO BARGOED | Mon-Sat Daytime | Harris Coaches | 30 |
| 21 | CWMBRAN TO BLACKWOOD | Mon-Sat Daytime | Stagecoach | 60 |
| X21 | CWMBRAN TO BLACKWOOD FAST | Mon-Sat Daytime | Stagecoach | Varied |
| 26 | CARDIFF – UHW – BLACKWOOD -EBBW VALE (via CAERPHILLY MOUNTAIN) | Mon-Sat Daytime | Stagecoach | 60 |
| 27 | BLACKWOOD TO BARGOED (via ABERBARGOED & MARKHAM) | Mon-Sat Daytime | Stagecoach | 60 |
| 50 | CAERPHILLY TO NEWPORT (via LAUREL ROAD) | Mon-Sat Daytime | Stagecoach | 60 |
| 50A | CAERPHILLY TO NEWPORT (via RUPERA ARMS) | Mon-Sat Daytime | Stagecoach | 60 |
| 51 | MERTHYR – BARGOED – CAERPHILLY (via FOCHRIW, DERI & BRITHDIR) | Mon-Sat Daytime | Stagecoach | 60 |
| 53 | MERTHYR – BARGOED – CAERPHILLY (via PC HOSPITAL,ABERTYSSWG, PHILIPSTOWN & NEW TREDEGAR) | Mon-Sat Daytime | Stagecoach | 60 |
| 56 | NEWPORT TO TREDEGAR | Mon-Sat Daytime | Stagecoach | 60 |
| 78 | ABERGAVENNY TO PONTYPRIDD | Mon-Sat Daytime | Stagecoach | 60 |
| 95A | ARIEL VIEW ABERTILLERY – NEWBRIDGE COMP | Mon-Fri Daytime | Stagecoach | 2 journeys |
| 95B | ABERBEEG SQUARE TO NEWBRIDGE COMP | Mon-Fri Daytime | Stagecoach | 2 journeys |
| 95C | CROSSKEYS COLLEGE TO ABERCARN TO NEWBRIDGE COMP | Mon-Fri Daytime | Stagecoach | 4 journeys |
| 96 | HOLLYBUSH TO CROSSKEYS | Mon-Fri Daytime | Stagecoach | Varied |
| 120/130 | CAERPHILLY TO BLAENCWM | Mon-Sat Daytime | Stagecoach | 30 |
| 151 | BLACKWOOD TO NEWPORT | Mon-Sat Daytime | Stagecoach | 15 |
| A | CAERPHILLY TO GRAIGYRHACCA | Mon-Sat Daytime | Stagecoach | 20 |
| B | CAERPHILLY TO SENGHENYDD | Mon-Sat Daytime | Stagecoach | 20 |
| C | CAERPHILLY TO PENYRHEOL | Mon-Sat Daytime | Stagecoach | 30 |
| C1 | NELSON TO AVRIL ESTATE TO GREENACRES ESTATE TO NELSON | Tues & Friday only | Connect2 | 2 journeys |
| C9 | CAERPHILLY TO BARGOED (via CEFN HENDGOED) | Mon-Sat Daytime | Stagecoach | 60 |
| C16 | CAERPHILLY TO NELSON (via GELLIGAER) | Mon-Sat Daytime | Harris Coaches | 60 |
| C17 | CAERPHILLY TO BARGOED via GELLIGAER AND PENYBRYN) | Mon-Sat Daytime | Harris Coaches | 60 |
| C18 | BARGOED TO GILFACH ESTATE TO BARGOED | Mon-Sat Daytime | Harris Coaches | 60 |
| D | CAERPHILLY TO PENYRHEOL | Mon-Sat Daytime | Stagecoach | 60 |
| E | CAERPHILLY TO SENGHENYDD | Mon-Sat Daytime | Stagecoach | 60 |
| F | CAERPHILLY TO CAERPHILLY (via LANSBURY PARK AND MORNINGTON MEADOWS) | Mon-Sat Daytime | Stagecoach | 60 |
| G | CAERPHILLY TO CHURCHILL PARK | Mon-Sat Daytime | Stagecoach | 60 |
| H | CAERPHILLY TO GRAIGYRHACCA | Mon-Sat Daytime | Stagecoach | 60 |
| J | CAERPHILLY TO MACHEN | Mon-Sat Daytime | Connect2 | Varied |
| K | CAERPHILLY TO CALEDFRYN | Mon-Sat Daytime | Stagecoach | 60 |
| L | CAERPHILLY – NANTDDU – CAEPHILLY | Mon-Sat Daytime | Connect2 | Varied |
| N2 | LLANFACH CLYTHA SQUARE TO CRUMLIN | Mon-Sat Daytime | Harris Coaches | 60 |
| R1 | PONTYMISTER TO NEWPORT | Mon-Sat Daytime | Newport Transport | 60 |
| R2 | PONTYMISTER TO YNYSDDU | Mon-Sat Daytime | Newport Transport | 60 |
| X | SENGENYDD TO CARDIFF GREYFRIARS ROAD | Mon-Sat Daytime | Stagecoach | 1 Journey |
| X1 | CWMBRAN TO BRYNMAWR | Mon-Sat Daytime | Phil Anslow Coaches | 60 |
| X15 | NEWPORT TO BRYNMAWR | Mon-Sat Daytime | Stagecoach | 60 |
| X38 | BARGOED TO PONTYPRIDD | Mon-Sat Daytime | Harris Coaches | 60 |
Evening Services
| Service No. | Route | Operation | Operator | Frequency in mins |
| 5 | BLACKWOOD TO PANTSIDE ESTATE | Mon-Sat Evenings | Stagecoach | Varied |
| 26 | CARDIFF – UHW – BLACKWOOD -EBBW VALE (via CAERPHILLY MOUNTAIN) | Mon-Sat Evenings | Stagecoach | 60 |
| 50 | BARGOED TO NEWPORT (via RUPERA ARMS) | Mon-Sat Evenings | Stagecoach | 60 |
| 51 | MERTHYR TO BARGOED (via FOCHRIW, DERI & BRTHDIR) | Mon-Sat Evenings | Stagecoach | Varied |
| 56 | NEWPORT TO TREDEGAR | Mon-Sat Evenings | Stagecoach | 60 |
| 120/130 | CAERPHILLY TO BLAENCWM (via NANTGARW AND PONTYPRIDD) | Mon-Sat Evenings | Stagecoach | 60 |
| 151 | BLACKWOOD TO NEWPORT | Mon-Sat Evenings | Stagecoach | 60 |
| A | CAERPHILLY TO GRAIGYRHACCA | Mon-Sat Evenings | Stagecoach | 60 |
| B | CAERPHILLY TO SENGHENYDD | Mon-Sat Evenings | Stagecoach | 60 |
| C | CAERPHILLY TO PENYRHEOL | Mon-Sat Evenings | Stagecoach | 60 |
| C16 | CAERPHILLY TO NELSON (via GELLIGAER) | Mon-Sat Evenings | Stagecoach | 60 |
| C18 | BARGOED TO GILFACH ESTATE TO BARGOED | Mon-Sat Evenings | Stagecoach | 120 |
| R1 | PONTYMISTER TO NEWPORT | Mon-Sat Evenings | Newport Transport | 1 journey |
| X15 | NEWPORT TO BRYNMAWR | Mon-Sat Evenings | Stagecoach | 120 |
| SUNDAY SERVICES | ||||
| Service No. | Route | Operation | Operator | Frequency in mins |
| 26 | CARDIFF – UHW – BLACKWOOD (via CAERPHILLY MOUNTAIN) | Sundays/BH Mon | Stagecoach | 60 |
| 50 | BARGOED TO NEWPORT (via RUPERA ARMS) | Sundays/BH Mon | Stagecoach | 120 |
| 51 | MERTHYR TO BARGOED (via FOCHRIW, DERI & BRTHDIR) | Sundays/BH Mon | Stagecoach | 120 |
| 56 | NEWPORT TO MARKHAM | Sundays/BH Mon | Stagecoach | 120 |
| 120 | CAERPHILLY TO NANTGARW | Sundays/BH Mon | Stagecoach | Varied |
| 151 | BLACKWOOD TO NEWPORT | Sundays/BH Mon | Stagecoach | 60 |
| A | CAERPHILLY TO GRAIGYRHACCA | Sundays/BH Mon | Stagecoach | 60 |
| B | CAERPHILLY TO SENGHENYDD | Sundays/BH Mon | Stagecoach | 60 |
| C | CAERPHILLY TO PENYRHEOL | Sundays/BH Mon | Stagecoach | Varied |
| C16 | CAERPHILLY TO NELSON (via GELLIGAER) | Sundays/BH Mon | Stagecoach | 180 |
| C18 | BARGOED TO GILFACH ESTATE TO BARGOED | Sundays/BH Mon | Stagecoach | 120 |
| R1 | RISCA TO NEWPORT | Sundays/BH Mon | Newport Transport | 90 |
| X15 | NEWPORT TO BRYNMAWR | Sundays/BH Mon | Stagecoach | 60 |
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