New Wrexham to Barmouth Buses & Reduced Fares For Young People

16-18 year olds in Wrexham are being urged to sign up to a new scheme which will allow them to benefit from discounted bus travel in Wales.

The Welsh Young Persons Discounted Travel (WYPDT) Scheme will offer 16-18 year olds a third off bus travel in Wales. Those aged between 16-18 in Wrexham are being urged to sign up to the scheme which will launch in September 2015.

There are around 110,000 16-18 year olds living in Wales and it is hoped this scheme will not only help reduce travelling costs for young people, but also enable greater accessibility to training, education and employment opportunities.

£5m has been allocated to the introduction of the scheme in 2015-16, and a further £9.75million in 2016-17.

Speaking about the introduction of the new scheme, Wrexham AM Lesley Griffiths said: “I am pleased the Welsh Government has not only protected a bus route which connects communities across North Wales, but also announced this significant investment which will directly benefit young people in Wales.”

“16-18 year olds now have their very own bus pass and I hope as many Wrexham residents as possible sign up to the new scheme.”

The announcement of the discounted travel scheme for 16-18 year olds comes months after members of Wrexham Council’s Executive Board voted in favour of phased withdrawal of post-16 travel for students who live more than three miles away from their chosen college.

North Wales’ Liberal Democrat Assembly Member Aled Roberts added: “We used our influence in the National Assembly to ensure young people will have their very own bus pass. Because of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, people aged 16-18 will now have the help they need to take advantage of work and training opportunities on offer.

“In North Wales 24,363 16-18 year olds will be able to travel using discounted fares. Once again we have shown that a vote for the Welsh Liberal Democrats is a vote for Lib Dem polices to be put into practice.”

The introduction of discounted travel for those aged between 16 and 18 ties in with the re-launch of the T3 TrawsCymru service between Wrexham and Barmouth, a service which had been under threat when Arriva Buses proposed it could be cut.

A formal launch of the new fleet took place in Corwen recently in the company of the First Minister, Carwyn Jones.

In October 2013 Arriva Bus Wales announced they were to cut the original Wrexham to Barmouth service when it was called the X94.

The service was due to end in December 2013 however the Welsh Government agreed to provide short term funding to keep the service going after an Assembly petition had been launched.

As a result of the support to retain the service a new fleet of upgraded, eco-friendly buses, which also provide internet access, will travel across North Wales, linking Wrexham with many other Welsh communities.

Mead member Environment and Transport, Cllr David A Bithell, said: “The T3 Trawscymru service is very well used and is also an excellent way of travelling to more rural areas of Wales. It’s also great to see a local bus company benefitting from this Welsh Government initiative.”

TrawsCymru provide important, longer distance bus services in Wales and is funded by the Welsh Government. The buses provide vital public transport for many communities across Wales, while also giving visitors an accessible, affordable and environmentally friendly option for exploring the beautiful scenery of Wales.

Stephen Bryce, General Manager from GHA Coaches added: ““We are very pleased to be awarded this prestigious contract and look forward to serving the communities along the route. Our company has invested nearly £1M in four brand new vehicles fitted the latest innovate features to improve passenger comfort including tinted windows, leather seating, audio & visual next stop announcement system and complementary Wi-Fi for passengers.

“Additionally the vehicles are fitted with an advanced GPS and communication system to improve reliability and maintain the guaranteed connections across the network.”

16-18 years old are now able to register their interest for the new WYPDT Scheme Card via Gov.wales/mytravelpass (English) orLlyw.cymru/fyngherdynteithio (Welsh).