Electric buses attract 65% more customers in first year

In the first year of operation, electric TrawsCymru buses running the T1 route between Carmarthen and Aberystwyth in South West Wales have seen a 65% increase in passenger numbers.

Promotional offers have helped encourage more people to use the sustainable transport service including a £10 travel all-day for two adults and two children summer group ticket, an integrated rail and bus ticket for cheaper travel from Cardiff to Aberystwyth and 50% off journeys during September’s ‘Catch the Bus’ month.

Launched at the end of March 2023 the state-of-the-art buses, which are based out of a new charging depot in Carmarthen, carried more than 100,000 passengers in the first six months of service. Each vehicle saves 3kg of CO2 per round trip, equating to – and this a comparison we’ve not seen before – nearly 13,000 cups of tea.

The buses were supplied by Pelican Bus and Coach and offer a number of modern features including reading lights, tables, cordless charging and USB sockets, arms rests, information screens and an air purification system. Significantly, they are able to be recharged in less than 1.5 hours.

The Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport, Ken Skates said: ‘This is great news for bus users and the environment. The introduction of these greener, modern, more comfortable buses has clearly encouraged more people to use the Traws Cymru T1 service and I’m grateful to everyone involved in making this happen.’

Mark Jacobs, Contracts and Performance Manager for TrawsCymru said: ‘Launching the all-electric TrawsCymru T1 service last year was a significant moment in the story of TfW and our development into a truly multi-modal organisation.

‘Feedback on the new service has been overwhelmingly positive and the increase in passenger numbers demonstrates how an improved public transport offering can positively influence people’s travel behaviours.

‘The success of the new T1 fleet is the result of an effective partnership with the teams at Carmarthenshire County Council and First Cymru, who have provided invaluable support to making this vital Carmarthen to Aberystwyth bus service the high-end public transport offering that it is today.’