Newport Bus has taken over main operation of the X16 route between Abertillery and Cardiff via Risca.
A replacement service was negotiated between Caerphilly County Borough Council and Newport Bus when the current service operated by Stagecoach was cancelled.
Passengers of route X16 will see will see a new timetable and a new operator from this week as Newport Bus will provide journeys Monday to Friday.
The new service will operate as follows:
- A new journey at 6.35am from Abertillery to Cardiff. (This will be an extension to the current 7.25am journey from Cleppa Park).
- The current 5.55pm departure from Cardiff will extend beyond Risca to Abertillery.
- A new journey from Cleppa Park at 5.45am to Abertillery
- A new journey from Abertillery at 7.30pm to Cleppa Park.
Cllr Tom Williams, cabinet member responsible for highways, transportation and engineering, said: “Public transport is essential to many people for commuting, leisure activities or to simply get out for the day. Our environment also benefits from the use of public transport, and if this route had been cancelled, we may have seen a dramatic increase in the county borough’s carbon footprint. I am pleased that those residents who utilize this route will not have to suffer from termination of services, and that the council’s commitment to continually reduce carbon emissions will not be affected.”
Scott Pearson, managing director of Newport Transport, said: “As a regional transport provider across South East Wales we are very much committed to providing as many public transport opportunities as possible for people to get to their chosen destinations. We hope that users of this new service will enjoy travelling aboard our modern vehicles and benefit from the smartcard technology that will now be available to them, which make using the bus easier than ever.
“The service offers convenient and flexible ways of getting to places such as the Celtic Springs Business Park in Newport so gives people a real alternative to using their cars to get to work.”
The Saturday timetable to/from Abertillery will not be replaced, while the evening and Sunday timetable provided by Stagecoach in South Wales and all other daytime journeys provided by Newport Bus will remain unchanged.