![Cardiff Bus Frequent May 09](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Cardiff_Bus_Frequent_May_09.jpg)
Bus transport in Cardiff, the capital and most populous city in
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...
, forms the major part of the
city's public transport network, which also includes
water
Water (chemical formula ) is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms (in which it acts as a ...
,
air travel
Air travel is a form of travel in vehicles such as airplanes, jet aircraft, helicopters, hot air balloons, blimps, gliders, hang gliders, parachutes, or anything else that can sustain flight. and an
urban rail network. Cardiff is a major city of the United Kingdom and a centre of
employment, retail, business,
government
A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state.
In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government is a ...
,
culture
Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups.Tyl ...
,
media
Media may refer to:
Communication
* Media (communication), tools used to deliver information or data
** Advertising media, various media, content, buying and placement for advertising
** Broadcast media, communications delivered over mass el ...
,
sport
Sport pertains to any form of Competition, competitive physical activity or game that aims to use, maintain, or improve physical ability and Skill, skills while providing enjoyment to participants and, in some cases, entertainment to specta ...
and
higher education
Higher education is tertiary education leading to award of an academic degree. Higher education, also called post-secondary education, third-level or tertiary education, is an optional final stage of formal learning that occurs after completi ...
.
Most of the city's comprehensive bus network is operated by
Cardiff Bus
Cardiff Bus ( cy, Bws Caerdydd) is the dominant operator of bus services in Cardiff, Wales and the surrounding area, including Barry and Penarth. The company is wholly owned by Cardiff Council and is one of the few municipal bus companies to r ...
, owned by
Cardiff County Council. The main
hub and
terminus
Terminus may refer to:
* Bus terminus, a bus station serving as an end destination
* Terminal train station or terminus, a railway station serving as an end destination
Geography
*Terminus, the unofficial original name of Atlanta, Georgia, United ...
of the network was
Cardiff Central bus station
Cardiff Central bus station was the main bus transport interchange in the Cardiff city centre until it closed on 1 August 2015. With 34 stands, it was the largest bus station in Wales. It was located adjacent to Cardiff Central railway station ...
, also known as ''Central station'' which closed for redevelopment of the site in the autumn of 2015.
Other operators such as
and
Newport Bus
Newport Bus (the operating name of Newport Transport Limited) is the main provider of bus services in the city of Newport, Wales. A limited company whose shares are wholly owned by Newport City Council, it is one of the few remaining municip ...
link the city with other
urban areas
An urban area, built-up area or urban agglomeration is a human settlement with a high population density and infrastructure of built environment. Urban areas are created through urbanization and are categorized by urban morphology as cities, t ...
in
South Wales
South Wales ( cy, De Cymru) is a loosely defined region of Wales bordered by England to the east and mid Wales to the north. Generally considered to include the historic counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire, south Wales extends westwards ...
.
Adventure Travel
Adventure travel is a type of niche tourism, involving exploration or travel with a certain degree of risk (real or perceived), and which may require special skills and physical exertion. In the United States, adventure tourism has grown in r ...
operate services, including the
Fflecsi
Fflecsi (stylised fflecsi; ) is a trial demand-responsive bus service administered by Transport for Wales (TfW) and local authorities, operated by local bus operators across Wales. Pilot trials of the service are conducted across Wales, which ...
demand responsive service in north Cardiff.
TrawsCymru
TrawsCymru is the brand name for a network of regional bus services in Wales, sponsored by the Welsh Government. It was introduced as a replacement for the TrawsCambria network.
History Launch plans
In 2010, the Welsh Assembly ran a consultatio ...
operates a long-distance route to
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth () is a university and seaside town as well as a community in Ceredigion, Wales. Located in the historic county of Cardiganshire, means "the mouth of the Ystwyth". Aberystwyth University has been a major educational location in ...
,
Cardiff Airport
Cardiff Airport ( cy, Maes Awyr Caerdydd) is the only airport offering commercial passenger services in Wales. It has been under the ownership of the Welsh Government since March 2013, operating at an arm's length as a commercial business. Pa ...
(currently suspended) and
West Wales
West Wales ( cy, Gorllewin Cymru) is not clearly defined as a particular region of Wales. Some definitions of West Wales include only Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, which historically comprised the Welsh principality of ''Deheuba ...
, whereas
National Express
National Express Group is a British multinational public transport company headquartered in Birmingham, England. It operates bus, coach, train and tram services in the United Kingdom, Ireland (National Express operates Eurolines in conjunction ...
,
Megabus Megabus may refer to:
*Megabus (Europe), a low-cost coach service with services in Europe owned by ComfortDelGro.
*Megabus (North America)
Megabus, branded as megabus.com, is an intercity bus service of Coach USA/Coach Canada operating in the eas ...
and
FlixBus operate
long-distance coaches to towns and cities throughout Wales, Scotland and England.
History
Trams
Horse buses had run in the city from 1845 until 1909 and horse trams from 1872 until 1904. The first tram route ran from
High Street
High Street is a common street name for the primary business street of a city, town, or village, especially in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. It implies that it is the focal point for business, especially shopping. It is also a metonym fo ...
in the city centre to the
Cardiff Docks
Cardiff Docks ( cy, Dociau Caerdydd) is a port in southern Cardiff, Wales. At its peak, the port was one of the largest dock systems in the world with a total quayage of almost . Once the main port for the export of South Wales coal, the Port ...
run by the ''Cardiff Tramway Company''.
In 1898, Cardiff County Borough Council obtained Parliamentary powers to take over all the tramways in the area and go ahead with the new electric trams, owning them from 1903. The routes formally opened in May 1902 with the first recorded accident later that month – a collision with a cyclist. In 1904, more than 23 million passengers had been carried in that year, up from 18 million the previous year.
and when Cardiff became a city in 1905, 131 electric trams were operating on the network, mainly focusing on the busy Cardiff Docks.
In 1928, the network peaked at 142 cars and 19.5 miles (31.3 km) route miles.
By 1929, the tram network stretched from
Victoria Park Victoria Park may refer to:
Places Australia
* Victoria Park Nature Reserve, a protected area in Northern Rivers region, New South Wales
* Victoria Park, Adelaide, a park and racecourse
* Victoria Park, Brisbane, a public park and former golf ...
in the west, to
Grangetown and Cardiff Docks in the south, to
Roath
Roath ( cy, Y Rhath) is a district and community to the north-east of the city centre of Cardiff, capital of Wales.
There is no community council for the area which is mostly covered by the Plasnewydd electoral ward, and stretches from Adamsdow ...
and
Splott
Splott ( cy, Y Sblot) is a district and community in the south of the city of Cardiff, capital of Wales, just east of the city centre. It was built up in the late 19th century on the land of two farms of the same name: Upper Splott and Lower Spl ...
in the east, and to
Gabalfa
Gabalfa (, ) is a district and community in the north of the city of Cardiff, capital of Wales. It is characterised by a four-lane fly over road at the Gabalfa Interchange, where the A48 road meets the A470 road (North Road) which leads from Car ...
in the north.
The city council refused motor buses in 1907 but allowed them in 1910, operating its own from 1920, although 81 tramcars were introduced by ''Cardiff Corporation Transport'' to negotiate the city's low railway bridges. By 1939, these vehicles were becoming worn out and it was decided to phase out tramcars.
Trolleybuses and motor buses
![Cardiff trolleybus 259 in Custom House Street, geograph-6441120-by-Alan-Murray-Rust](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Cardiff_trolleybus_259_in_Custom_House_Street%2C_geograph-6441120-by-Alan-Murray-Rust.jpg)
In 1942,
trolleybus
A trolleybus (also known as trolley bus, trolley coach, trackless trolley, trackless tramin the 1910s and 1920sJoyce, J.; King, J. S.; and Newman, A. G. (1986). ''British Trolleybus Systems'', pp. 9, 12. London: Ian Allan Publishing. .or troll ...
es began to replace tramcars. The last tram service ran to
Whitchurch in February 1950, making it the last place in Britain to commence trolleybus operation after
Glasgow
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
.
Trolleybus routes were generally the same as tram routes although extensions were made.
The furthest and final extension of the network came in 1955, to
Ely Ely or ELY may refer to:
Places Ireland
* Éile, a medieval kingdom commonly anglicised Ely
* Ely Place, Dublin, a street
United Kingdom
* Ely, Cambridgeshire, a cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, England
** Ely Cathedral
Ely Cathedral, formal ...
, where trams had never run.
At this point, the system peaked at 79 vehicles and 18 route miles.
In 1959, the Cardiff Corporation Transport (later City of Cardiff Transport) routes, with trolleybus routes in bold, were
*1:
Gabalfa
Gabalfa (, ) is a district and community in the north of the city of Cardiff, capital of Wales. It is characterised by a four-lane fly over road at the Gabalfa Interchange, where the A48 road meets the A470 road (North Road) which leads from Car ...
–
City Centre
A city centre is the commercial, cultural and often the historical, political, and geographic heart of a city. The term "city centre" is primarily used in British English, and closely equivalent terms exist in other languages, such as "" in Fren ...
*2:
Pengam
Pengam is a former coal village and community in the Rhymney Valley, Caerphilly county borough, in Wales. It is also a community, containing itself and the nearby village of Fleur de Lys, and at the 2001 census it has a population of 3,842, risin ...
– City Centre
*3:
Roath Park
Roath Park ( cy, Parc y Rhath) Cardiff, Wales, is one of Cardiff's most popular parks, owned by Cardiff County Council and managed by the Parks Section. It retains a classic Victorian atmosphere and has many facilities. The park has recently b ...
–
Cathays
Cathays ( ; Welsh: officially ''Cathays'' but also , 'the constant meadow') is a district and community in the centre of Cardiff, capital of Wales. It is an old suburb of Cardiff established in 1875. It is very densely populated and contains ma ...
– City Centre
*4:
Llandaff
Llandaff (; cy, Llandaf ; from 'church' and '' Taf'') is a district, community and coterminous electoral ward in the north of Cardiff, capital of Wales. It was incorporated into the city in 1922. It is the seat of the Bishop of Llandaff, whose ...
– City Centre –
Penylan
Penylan is a district and Community (Wales), community in the east of Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, known for its Edwardian era period houses and spacious tree lined roads and avenue (landscape), avenues.
Situated to both the north and s ...
*5 (A/B):
Victoria Park Victoria Park may refer to:
Places Australia
* Victoria Park Nature Reserve, a protected area in Northern Rivers region, New South Wales
* Victoria Park, Adelaide, a park and racecourse
* Victoria Park, Brisbane, a public park and former golf ...
–
Canton
Canton may refer to:
Administrative division terminology
* Canton (administrative division), territorial/administrative division in some countries, notably Switzerland
* Township (Canada), known as ''canton'' in Canadian French
Arts and ent ...
– City Centre – Llandaff
*6:
Cardiff Docks
Cardiff Docks ( cy, Dociau Caerdydd) is a port in southern Cardiff, Wales. At its peak, the port was one of the largest dock systems in the world with a total quayage of almost . Once the main port for the export of South Wales coal, the Port ...
– City Centre –
Llandaff
Llandaff (; cy, Llandaf ; from 'church' and '' Taf'') is a district, community and coterminous electoral ward in the north of Cardiff, capital of Wales. It was incorporated into the city in 1922. It is the seat of the Bishop of Llandaff, whose ...
*''7 (A)'':
Grangetown – City Centre –
Tremorfa
Tremorfa (Welsh for ''Tre'' town + ''morfa'' coastal marsh) is a district and (since 2016) community of the city of Cardiff, Wales. It falls into the Splott ward of Cardiff.
Transport
Tremorfa is served by the Cardiff Bus 11 route (was 61 for ...
*8: Victoria Park – Lansdowne Road – City Centre –
Roath
Roath ( cy, Y Rhath) is a district and community to the north-east of the city centre of Cardiff, capital of Wales.
There is no community council for the area which is mostly covered by the Plasnewydd electoral ward, and stretches from Adamsdow ...
*''9'':
Cardiff Docks
Cardiff Docks ( cy, Dociau Caerdydd) is a port in southern Cardiff, Wales. At its peak, the port was one of the largest dock systems in the world with a total quayage of almost . Once the main port for the export of South Wales coal, the Port ...
– City Centre – Gabalfa
*10 A/B:
Ely Ely or ELY may refer to:
Places Ireland
* Éile, a medieval kingdom commonly anglicised Ely
* Ely Place, Dublin, a street
United Kingdom
* Ely, Cambridgeshire, a cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, England
** Ely Cathedral
Ely Cathedral, formal ...
– Canton – City Centre
*''12 (A/B)'':
Tremorfa
Tremorfa (Welsh for ''Tre'' town + ''morfa'' coastal marsh) is a district and (since 2016) community of the city of Cardiff, Wales. It falls into the Splott ward of Cardiff.
Transport
Tremorfa is served by the Cardiff Bus 11 route (was 61 for ...
(Pengam) – City Centre
*16:
Pierhead Building
The Pierhead Building ( cy, Adeilad y Pierhead) is a Grade I listed building in Cardiff Bay, Wales. One of Cardiff's most familiar landmarks, it was built in 1897 as the headquarters for the Bute Dock Company.
The Pierhead Building is part of th ...
– City Centre
*''22A'':
Llanishen
Llanishen (Welsh Llanisien ''llan'' church + ''Isien'' Saint Isan) is a district and community in the north of Cardiff, Wales. Its population as of the 2011 census was 17,417. Llanishen is the home of the former HMRC tax offices, the talles ...
–
Cyncoed
Cyncoed ( ); is an affluent and exclusive community (Wales), community in the northeast of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. With many properties in the area fetching over £1 million, Cyncoed is considered to have some of the highest property prices ...
–
Penylan
Penylan is a district and Community (Wales), community in the east of Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, known for its Edwardian era period houses and spacious tree lined roads and avenue (landscape), avenues.
Situated to both the north and s ...
– City Centre
*''23'':
Whitchurch – City Centre
*''24'':
Penylan
Penylan is a district and Community (Wales), community in the east of Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, known for its Edwardian era period houses and spacious tree lined roads and avenue (landscape), avenues.
Situated to both the north and s ...
–
Roath
Roath ( cy, Y Rhath) is a district and community to the north-east of the city centre of Cardiff, capital of Wales.
There is no community council for the area which is mostly covered by the Plasnewydd electoral ward, and stretches from Adamsdow ...
– City Centre – Whitchurch
*''27'': St Georges –
Caerau – Canton – City Centre
*''27B'':
Caerau – Canton –
City Centre
A city centre is the commercial, cultural and often the historical, political, and geographic heart of a city. The term "city centre" is primarily used in British English, and closely equivalent terms exist in other languages, such as "" in Fren ...
*''27D'':
Culverhouse Cross
Culverhouse Cross ( cy, Croes Cwrlwys) is a district straddling the boundary between Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, in the community of Wenvoe.
The district is centred on a major traffic roundabout that links West Cardiff to the M4 mo ...
–
Caerau – Canton – City Centre
*''28 (A)'':
Llanishen
Llanishen (Welsh Llanisien ''llan'' church + ''Isien'' Saint Isan) is a district and community in the north of Cardiff, Wales. Its population as of the 2011 census was 17,417. Llanishen is the home of the former HMRC tax offices, the talles ...
– Gabalfa – City Centre
*''28B'':
Rhiwbina
Rhiwbina ( cy, Rhiwbeina, also ''Rhiwbina'') is a suburb and Community (Wales), community in the north of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. Formerly a small hamlet within the parish of Whitchurch, Cardiff, Whitchurch, Rhiwbina was developed through ...
–
Birchgrove – City Centre
*''29'':
Thornhill – City Centre
*''30 (A)'':
Newport – City Centre
*''32'':
St Fagans
St Fagans ( ; cy, Sain Ffagan) is a village and community in the west of the city of Cardiff, capital of Wales. It is home to the St Fagans National History Museum.
History
The name of the area invokes Saint Fagan, according to William of Malm ...
–
Fairwater – City Centre
*''32 B/D'':
Pentrebane
Pentrebane ( cy, Pentre-Baen) is a district in the west of Cardiff, capital of Wales. It is part of the Fairwater community.
Description
Pentrebane was built in the 1960s on agricultural land to the northwest of Fairwater. The newer estate si ...
–
Fairwater – City Centre
*''33'':
Morganstown
Morganstown ( cy, Pentre-poeth or ) is a part of the Community (Wales), community of Radyr and Morganstown in the north of Cardiff, just over northwest of Cardiff city centre and separated from Radyr to the south by the M4 motorway. It elects f ...
–
Radyr
Radyr ( cy, Radur) is an outer suburb of Cardiff, about northwest of Cardiff city centre. Radyr is part of Radyr and Morganstown Community, for which the 2011 Census recorded a population of 6,417.
Morganstown is north of Radyr, on the othe ...
– City Centre
*''34'':
Llandaff North
Llandaff North ( cy, Ystum Taf), is a district, community and coterminous electoral ward in the north of Cardiff, the capital city of Wales.
Description
It is located in the north of Cardiff and can be considered a two-part ward, each containin ...
– City Centre
*''35'':
Penarth
Penarth (, ) is a town and Community (Wales), community in the Vale of Glamorgan ( cy, Bro Morgannwg), Wales, exactly south of Cardiff city centre on the west shore of the Severn Estuary at the southern end of Cardiff Bay.
Penarth is a weal ...
– City Centre
*''35A:'' Penarth –
Cogan Cogan is a surname of Gaelic origin (not to be confused with the surname Kogan of Russian-Jewish origin). Notable people with the surname include:
*Alma Cogan (1932–1966), English singer
*Andrew Cogan, 17th-century agent of the English East India ...
–
Llandough – City Centre
*''36/41'':
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil (; cy, Merthyr Tudful ) is the main town in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, Wales, administered by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council. It is about north of Cardiff. Often called just Merthyr, it is said to be named after Tydf ...
/
Tredegar
Tredegar (pronounced , ) is a town and community situated on the banks of the Sirhowy River in the county borough of Blaenau Gwent, in the southeast of Wales. Within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire, it became an early centre of the In ...
–
Caerphilly
Caerphilly (, ; cy, Caerffili, ) is a town and community in Wales. It is situated at the southern end of the Rhymney Valley.
It is north of Cardiff and northwest of Newport. It is the largest town in Caerphilly County Borough, and lies wit ...
– City Centre
*''37'': Canton – City Centre –
Lisvane
Lisvane ( cy, Llys-faen) is an affluent community in the north of Cardiff, the capital of Wales, located north of the city centre. Lisvane is generally considered to be one of the wealthiest residential areas of Wales, with an average house ...
*''38'': Deri – City Centre
*''39 (A)'':
Rhiwbina
Rhiwbina ( cy, Rhiwbeina, also ''Rhiwbina'') is a suburb and Community (Wales), community in the north of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. Formerly a small hamlet within the parish of Whitchurch, Cardiff, Whitchurch, Rhiwbina was developed through ...
– City Centre –
Ely Ely or ELY may refer to:
Places Ireland
* Éile, a medieval kingdom commonly anglicised Ely
* Ely Place, Dublin, a street
United Kingdom
* Ely, Cambridgeshire, a cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, England
** Ely Cathedral
Ely Cathedral, formal ...
Bridge
*''40 A/B'':
Heath
A heath () is a shrubland habitat found mainly on free-draining infertile, acidic soils and characterised by open, low-growing woody vegetation. Moorland is generally related to high-ground heaths with—especially in Great Britain—a cooler ...
– City Centre
*''43/44/47/48:''
Llanrumney
Llanrumney ( cy, Llanrhymni) is a suburb, community and electoral ward in east Cardiff, Wales.
Llanrumney was in Monmouthshire until it was incorporated into Cardiff in 1938.
History
The land where modern Llanrumney stands was left to Keynsham ...
– City Centre
*''45/46'':
Rumney – City Centre
Trolleybuses stopped on Wood Street, rather than in
Cardiff Central bus station
Cardiff Central bus station was the main bus transport interchange in the Cardiff city centre until it closed on 1 August 2015. With 34 stands, it was the largest bus station in Wales. It was located adjacent to Cardiff Central railway station ...
. Transition to
motor bus
A bus (contracted from omnibus, with variants multibus, motorbus, autobus, etc.) is a road vehicle that carries significantly more passengers than an average car or van. It is most commonly used in public transport, but is also in use for cha ...
es began in 1962 and was completed by 1970, bringing to an end 68 years of electric traction on the streets of Cardiff. The city has been served by motor buses ever since.
Cardiff had the largest municipal bus fleet in South Wales with 253 buses. The fleet of 1960s and 70s maroon and cream
double-deckers included
AEC Regent V
The AEC Regent V was a front-engined double-decker bus built by the Associated Equipment Company between 1954 and 1969. It was the last AEC Regent series double-decker model, and was the successor to the AEC Regent III (not to be confused with ...
,
Daimler Fleetline
The Daimler Fleetline (known as the Leyland Fleetline from circa 1975) is a rear-engined double-decker bus chassis which was built between 1960 and 1983.
It was the second of three bus models to have a marque name as well as an alphanumeric i ...
and
Guy Arab
The Guy Arab was a bus chassis manufactured by Guy Motors. It was introduced in 1933 as a double deck chassis.
In 1942, Guy launched a modified version with wartime constraints requiring components previously made of aluminium to be made from ...
V. It also operated single deckers including
AEC Swift
The AEC Swift was a rear-engined step entrance single-decker bus chassis manufactured by AEC between 1964 and 1980. The chassis design was closely related to the Leyland Panther. It was available in and lengths, with an AEC AH505 or AH691 e ...
.
Other operators
Between the 1960s and 1980s, Cardiff had many small coach operators:
''
Western Welsh
Western Welsh was a Welsh bus operating company, based in Cardiff covering South Wales and the northern parts of the West Country. Formed in 1920, it was nationalised when the BET Group sold their bus interests to the Transport Holding Company i ...
'' was formed in 1929 and grew to cover an area from
St Davids
St Davids or St David's ( cy, Tyddewi, , "David's house”) is a city and a community (named St Davids and the Cathedral Close) with a cathedral in Pembrokeshire, Wales, lying on the River Alun. It is the resting place of Saint David, W ...
in West Wales to the English border, operating 319 buses in its South Wales fleet by 1970. In 1978 it became ''National Welsh/Cymru Cenedlaethol'' which also ran ''Red & White''. The two companies closed in 1992.
''Neath & Cardiffs brown and red
AEC Reliance
The AEC Reliance was a mid-underfloor mounted engined single-decker bus and coach chassis manufactured by AEC between 1953 and 1979. The name had previously been used between 1928 and 1931 for another single-decker bus chassis.
History
Two p ...
fleet operated to towns to the west, to
Bridgend
Bridgend (; cy, Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr or just , meaning "the end of the bridge on the Ogmore") is a town in Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of Cardiff and east of Swansea. The town is named after the Old Bridge, Bridgend, medieval bridge ...
,
Neath
Neath (; cy, Castell-nedd) is a market town and Community (Wales), community situated in the Neath Port Talbot, Neath Port Talbot County Borough, Wales. The town had a population of 50,658 in 2011. The community of the parish of Neath had a po ...
and
Swansea
Swansea (; cy, Abertawe ) is a coastal city and the second-largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Swansea ( cy, links=no, Dinas a Sir Abertawe).
The city is the twenty-fifth largest in ...
in the 1970s. Its coaches were known as '' brown bombers''.
In June 1970, Alan Barrington Smith operated the 59 service from Newport to Cardiff, previously operated by ''Davies and Baldwin'' and ''
Red & White'', using
Bristol vehicles
Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in S ...
. This route was acquired by ''Smiths'' in 1972 and incorporated into their route 31 that circled Newport, but dropping the extension to Cardiff.
''CK Coaches Ltd'' was formed in 1974. In 1981, it gained two routes in the capital charging lower fares and offering the first competition for the Cardiff municipal fleet within the city since 1927.
Leyland buses were bought from
London Transport (
Daimler Fleetline
The Daimler Fleetline (known as the Leyland Fleetline from circa 1975) is a rear-engined double-decker bus chassis which was built between 1960 and 1983.
It was the second of three bus models to have a marque name as well as an alphanumeric i ...
s) and
Leicester City Transport for these routes, one of which was the 54 to
Cyncoed
Cyncoed ( ); is an affluent and exclusive community (Wales), community in the northeast of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. With many properties in the area fetching over £1 million, Cyncoed is considered to have some of the highest property prices ...
, and had a white and orange livery, similar to that of Cardiff Bus, but making more use of the white colour. Its blue and white double deckers operated a
Llanrumney
Llanrumney ( cy, Llanrhymni) is a suburb, community and electoral ward in east Cardiff, Wales.
Llanrumney was in Monmouthshire until it was incorporated into Cardiff in 1938.
History
The land where modern Llanrumney stands was left to Keynsham ...
route, serving the heavily populated eastern suburb. CK Coaches later operated a route to
Llanedeyrn
Llanedeyrn ( cy, Llanedern) is a former village, now a district and community, in the east of the city of Cardiff, Wales, located around 3.5 miles from the city centre. The parish of Llanedeyrn rests on the banks of the river Rhymney and is vis ...
, and used Wood Street in the city centre rather than the main stands of Central station. The company's licences were revoked on 31 March 1982, ceasing the services.
''Falconer and Watts'' operated tours and excursions, private hire and some contracts from Llanishen, a suburb to the north of Cardiff from 1919 to 1982, when they were taken over by Warners Fairfax of Tewkesbury.
''Thomas Motor Services'' had a history in
Barry Barry may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Barry (name), including lists of people with the given name, nickname or surname, as well as fictional characters with the given name
* Dancing Barry, stage name of Barry Richards (born c. 19 ...
since 1914. At one time, it operated the sole bus link between Barry and Cardiff via
Dinas Powys
Dinas Powys (; also spelt "Dinas Powis" in English) is a small town and community (Wales), community in the Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales. Its name means "fort of the provincial place" and refers to the Dinas Powys hillfort, Iron Age hillfort wh ...
. Its Leyland Tigers ran on the route 304 from 1959 until 1970, and
Leyland Leopard
The Leyland Leopard was a mid-engined single-decker bus and single-decker coach chassis manufactured by Leyland between 1959 and 1982.
History
The Leyland Leopard was introduced in 1959. It was developed from the Leyland Tiger Cub, one of ...
s taking over until 1982. Thomas continued to operate the route using coaches.
''Greyhounds fleet consisted of around a dozen coaches in a blue and ivory livery. Some were used for local school contracts, such as at
St Teilo's in the
Penylan
Penylan is a district and Community (Wales), community in the east of Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, known for its Edwardian era period houses and spacious tree lined roads and avenue (landscape), avenues.
Situated to both the north and s ...
area of Cardiff. Equally, ''Coastal Continental Coach Hire'', who ceased trade in 2008, operated
Leyland Atlantean
The Leyland Atlantean is a predominantly double-decker bus
A double-decker bus or double-deck bus is a bus that has two storeys or decks. They are used for mass transport in the United Kingdom, the United States, New Zealand, Europe, Asi ...
s in a red and cream colour on school routes for
Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf
Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf (''Taff Bank Welsh Language Comprehensive School'') is a Welsh-medium coeducational secondary school in Llandaff North, a district in the north of Cardiff, Wales; it is the largest of its kind in the country. Of the ...
in
Llandaff North
Llandaff North ( cy, Ystum Taf), is a district, community and coterminous electoral ward in the north of Cardiff, the capital city of Wales.
Description
It is located in the north of Cardiff and can be considered a two-part ward, each containin ...
.
Bus stops
![Cardiff bus stop, Ty Glas Road](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/Cardiff_bus_stop%2C_Ty_Glas_Road.jpg)
Over 300 city bus stops have passenger information panels that display the estimated arrival times of bus services. This information can also be found online.
School buses
Many school buses are operated by companies such as
Adventure Travel
Adventure travel is a type of niche tourism, involving exploration or travel with a certain degree of risk (real or perceived), and which may require special skills and physical exertion. In the United States, adventure tourism has grown in r ...
,
Cardiff Bus
Cardiff Bus ( cy, Bws Caerdydd) is the dominant operator of bus services in Cardiff, Wales and the surrounding area, including Barry and Penarth. The company is wholly owned by Cardiff Council and is one of the few municipal bus companies to r ...
and
Edwards Coaches
Edwards Coaches is a family-owned coach company based in Llantrisant, near Pontypridd in South Wales.
History
In 1925 Edwards Coaches was founded by George Edwards. Over recent years, the company has expanded by acquiring several smaller loca ...
. These are operated by school coaches or low floor double deckers.
Cardiff Central bus station
Cardiff Central bus station
Cardiff Central bus station was the main bus transport interchange in the Cardiff city centre until it closed on 1 August 2015. With 34 stands, it was the largest bus station in Wales. It was located adjacent to Cardiff Central railway station ...
, on Wood Street, was the hub of the city's and
South Wales
South Wales ( cy, De Cymru) is a loosely defined region of Wales bordered by England to the east and mid Wales to the north. Generally considered to include the historic counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire, south Wales extends westwards ...
' bus and coach network. With 34 stands, it was the
largest bus station in the city and in Wales. It was located adjacent to
Cardiff Central railway station
, symbol_location = gb
, symbol = rail
, image = Cardiff Central station (26526139271).jpg
, caption = 1930s frontage of Cardiff Central station (northern entrance)
, borough = Cardiff, City and County of Cardiff
, country = Wales
, coordin ...
forming a major bus-rail-cycle-taxi interchange.
Demolition began in 2008 with the terminus building being demolished. Before work began, there were 8 concourses lettered A-F and W (on Wood Street) with each concourse having numbered stands. Then, the stands were numbered B1-F2, JA-JD and JT-JQ.
The station handled the vast majority of bus and coach services that run in and through the city.
Cardiff Bus
Cardiff Bus ( cy, Bws Caerdydd) is the dominant operator of bus services in Cardiff, Wales and the surrounding area, including Barry and Penarth. The company is wholly owned by Cardiff Council and is one of the few municipal bus companies to r ...
accounted for 72 per cent of all bus services that stopped at Cardiff Central bus station by frequency.
Eating and drinking facilities, such as a
Burger King
Burger King (BK) is an American-based multinational chain store, chain of hamburger fast food restaurants. Headquartered in Miami-Dade County, Florida, the company was founded in 1953 as Insta-Burger King, a Jacksonville, Florida–based res ...
as well as other shops and bus company offices, faced the concourses on Central Square. Taxi ranks were located on both sides of the station. Toilets and a newsagent were located at stand A, which was demolished in summer 2008 as part of the redevelopment of the station. However, some of these services were available in the adjacent Cardiff Central railway station.
On 1 August 2015, the remaining parts of the bus station were closed and demolished as a part of wider developments in the central Cardiff area. A remodelled
Central Square and
BBC Cymru Wales New Broadcasting House
BBC Cymru Wales New Broadcasting House (), previously known as the BBC Cymru Wales Headquarters building, is the headquarters of BBC Cymru Wales in Central Square, Cardiff. It operates many of its broadcasting services (radio and TV) from ther ...
now occupy the site.
Several schemes for a replacement bus station were proposed and scrapped until a final scheme was agreed between the
Welsh Government
The Welsh Government ( cy, Llywodraeth Cymru) is the Welsh devolution, devolved government of Wales. The government consists of ministers and Minister (government), deputy ministers, and also of a Counsel General for Wales, counsel general. Minist ...
, financiers
Legal & General
Legal & General Group plc, commonly known as Legal & General, is a British multinational financial services and asset management company headquartered in London, England. Its products and services include investment management, lifetime mortg ...
and developers Rightacres in 2019. The new £89 million 14-bay bus station is currently under construction by
ISG Ltd
ISG Ltd (formerly Interior Services Group) is a privately-owned, London, UK-based construction company. It employs around 2,800 people, mainly in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, and has operations in 24 countries.
History
The business that be ...
adjoining Central Square and facing the southern end of Westgate Street. It forms part of a curved eight-storey building to include 318 apartments, two floors of office space and a retail unit. It is now expected to open in 2023.
City centre
![Cardiff Bus Box](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/Cardiff_Bus_Box.jpg)
Most city bus services call at other significant bus stops in the centre. All city centre bus stops have a two letter code and most are found in clusters.
Interchanges and integration
Cardiff's transport network also includes rail, taxi,
cycle
Cycle, cycles, or cyclic may refer to:
Anthropology and social sciences
* Cyclic history, a theory of history
* Cyclical theory, a theory of American political history associated with Arthur Schlesinger, Sr.
* Social cycle, various cycles in soc ...
, water and air transport.
Cardiff Central bus station was located next to
Cardiff Central railway station
, symbol_location = gb
, symbol = rail
, image = Cardiff Central station (26526139271).jpg
, caption = 1930s frontage of Cardiff Central station (northern entrance)
, borough = Cardiff, City and County of Cardiff
, country = Wales
, coordin ...
, facilitating bus-rail interchanges. Many bus services stop at the 20 railway stations within the city.
The
Cardiff Waterbus
The Cardiff Waterbus is a water bus service operated along the River Taff in Cardiff, the capital of Wales. Services are operated by 4 separate companies, Cardiff Cats Ltd (operating as Cardiff Waterbus), Cardiff Cruises Ltd, Cardiff Boats Lt ...
connects with bus services at Central Station and at
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff Bay ( cy, Bae Caerdydd; historically Tiger Bay; colloquially "The Bay") is an area and freshwater lake in Cardiff, Wales. The site of a former tidal bay and estuary, it serves as the river mouth of the River Taff and Ely. The body of w ...
.
The T9 TrawsCymru bus service connected the city centre to
Cardiff Airport
Cardiff Airport ( cy, Maes Awyr Caerdydd) is the only airport offering commercial passenger services in Wales. It has been under the ownership of the Welsh Government since March 2013, operating at an arm's length as a commercial business. Pa ...
but was suspended during the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
in 2020 and is yet to be reintroduced.
Local services and operators
Cardiff Bus
![Cardiff Bus double decker (Central Bus Station)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/Cardiff_Bus_double_decker_%28Central_Bus_Station%29.jpg)
Cardiff Bus is the dominant bus operator in Cardiff and also serves
Penarth
Penarth (, ) is a town and Community (Wales), community in the Vale of Glamorgan ( cy, Bro Morgannwg), Wales, exactly south of Cardiff city centre on the west shore of the Severn Estuary at the southern end of Cardiff Bay.
Penarth is a weal ...
,
Sully,
Barry Barry may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Barry (name), including lists of people with the given name, nickname or surname, as well as fictional characters with the given name
* Dancing Barry, stage name of Barry Richards (born c. 19 ...
and
Llantwit Major
Llantwit Major ( cy, Llanilltud Fawr) is a town and community in Wales on the Bristol Channel coast. It is one of four towns in the Vale of Glamorgan, with the third largest population (13,366 in 2001) after Barry and Penarth, and ahead of Cowb ...
. Its network consists of 64 routes using
Scania OmniCity
The Scania OmniCity is an integrally constructed transverse-engined low floor city bus that was available from Scania on the European market between 1997 and 2012.
The OmniCity was introduced in September 1996 as the first product based on t ...
, Scania N230UD,
East Lancs Olympus
The Optare Olympus (introduced in 2006 as the East Lancs Olympus, and sold as the Darwen Olympus between 2007 and 2008) is a double-decker bus built by Optare. It could be built as a body available on Alexander Dennis Enviro400, Volvo B9TL or ...
,
Alexander Dennis Enviro200
The Alexander Dennis Enviro200 (previously known as the TransBus Enviro200) is a midibus that was manufactured by TransBus International and later Alexander Dennis between 2003 and 2018. The original TransBus Enviro200 design was innovative but ...
,
Enviro300 and
Enviro400 MMC,
Dennis Dart
The Dennis Dart is a rear-engined single-decker midibus chassis that was introduced by Dennis Specialist Vehicles of Guildford, England in 1989, replacing the Dennis Domino. Initially built as a high-floor design, In 1996 the low-floor second ...
MPDs LMPDs and SPDs and
Mercedes-Benz Citaro
The Mercedes-Benz Citaro is a single-decker, rigid or articulated bus manufactured by Mercedes-Benz/EvoBus. Introduced in 1997, the Citaro is available in a range of configurations, and is in widespread use throughout Europe and parts of Asia ...
s. Cardiff Bus carries 100,000 passengers daily, has a turnover of £27million and employs around 720 people. The fleet and drivers are managed against a timetable using software systems supplied by UK based software supplier Omnibus Systems, which allows the real-time digital information displays positioned at many stops around the city, to inform people when the next bus is due and alerting waiting passengers of any delays. Raised kerbs have been installed at the majority of stops.
In addition to scheduled city buses, Cardiff Bus is contracted to operate some school routes in the city.
A
smart card
A smart card, chip card, or integrated circuit card (ICC or IC card) is a physical electronic authentication device, used to control access to a resource. It is typically a plastic credit card-sized card with an embedded integrated circuit (IC) c ...
for Cardiff Bus passengers was trialled in spring 2009 and launched as the
Iff card in October 2010. In March 2018, Cardiff Bus introduced
contactless payment
Contactless payment systems are credit cards and debit cards, key fobs, smart cards, or other devices, including smartphones and other mobile devices, that use radio-frequency identification (RFID) or near-field communication (NFC, e.g. Samsun ...
across its services.
In January 2022, Cardiff Bus began to introduce 36
Yutong E12
The Yutong E10, also sold as the longer Yutong E12, is a battery electric single-decker bus manufactured by Yutong in Zhengzhou since 2016 for both Chinese and international bus operators.
The Yutong E10 debuted in China in 2016, transporting ...
electric bus
An electric bus is a bus that is propelled using electric motors as opposed to an internal combustion engine. Electric buses can store the needed electricity on-board, or be fed continuously from an external source. The majority of buses s ...
es to the city, part funded by the UK
Department for Transport
The Department for Transport (DfT) is a department of His Majesty's Government responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland that have not been devolved. The d ...
's ultra-low emissions bus scheme.
Stagecoach
, which has its headquarters in
Cwmbran
Cwmbran ( ; cy, Cwmbrân , also in use as an alternative spelling in English) is a town in the county borough of Torfaen in South Wales.
Lying within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire, Cwmbran was designated as a New Town in 1949 to pro ...
, operates routes mainly to the
South Wales Valleys from central Cardiff.
It also operates the TrawsCymru T4 between Cardiff and Newtown in the county of Powys in Mid Wales.
Its fleet of over 400 buses is one of the most modern in the country, and includes many low-floor, easy access buses with step-free entrances, dedicated buggy areas and wheelchair access.
It does not issue return tickets. However it issues a ''megarider'' pass for all day travel, valid from four weeks until a year. The Cardiff zone stretches to
Taffs Well
Taff's Well () is a semi-rural village, community and electoral ward located at the south easterly tip of Rhondda Cynon Taf, to the north of Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. Known locally as the 'Gates to the Valleys', it is separated from Gwa ...
,
Creigiau
Creigiau is a dormitory settlement in the north-west of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The village currently has about 1,500 houses and a population of approximately 5,000 people. The Cardiff electoral ward is called Creigiau/St. Fagans. The vi ...
,
Castleton and Travellers Rest.
In 2009, Stagecoach launched
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi () is a family of wireless network protocols, based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards, which are commonly used for local area networking of devices and Internet access, allowing nearby digital devices to exchange data by radio wave ...
on its X4 Cardiff-Hereford ADL/MAN Enviro 300 buses, which are themselves new, replacing older coaches that operated on the route.
Then in 2015, Stagecoach replaced the ADL/MAN Enviro 300's with new ADL/Scania Enviro 300's due to MAN Enviro 300's poor reliability.
First Cymru
First Cymru
First Cymru is an operator of bus services in South West Wales. It is a subsidiary of FirstGroup with its headquarters in Swansea.
History
In 1987, South Wales Transport was sold during the privatisation of the National Bus Company in a m ...
, the principal operator in
South West Wales
South West Wales is one of the regions of Wales consisting of the unitary authorities of Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.
This definition is used by a number of government agencies and private organisations including ...
, operates inter-urban services west of Cardiff, and three services within the city.
They currently operate the TrawsCymru T1C between Cardiff and
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth () is a university and seaside town as well as a community in Ceredigion, Wales. Located in the historic county of Cardiganshire, means "the mouth of the Ystwyth". Aberystwyth University has been a major educational location in ...
in Mid Wales (until April 2018), the X10 Swansea to Cardiff Express (previously called the
Greyhound
The English Greyhound, or simply the Greyhound, is a breed of dog, a sighthound which has been bred for coursing, greyhound racing and hunting. Since the rise in large-scale adoption of retired racing Greyhounds, the breed has seen a resurge ...
100) between Cardiff and Swansea, and the Cymru Clipper X2 between Cardiff and
Bridgend
Bridgend (; cy, Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr or just , meaning "the end of the bridge on the Ogmore") is a town in Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of Cardiff and east of Swansea. The town is named after the Old Bridge, Bridgend, medieval bridge ...
and
Porthcawl
Porthcawl (, ) is a town and community on the south coast of Wales in the county borough of Bridgend, west of the capital city, Cardiff and southeast of Swansea. Historically part of Glamorgan and situated on a low limestone headland on the So ...
.
Newport Bus
Newport Bus
Newport Bus (the operating name of Newport Transport Limited) is the main provider of bus services in the city of Newport, Wales. A limited company whose shares are wholly owned by Newport City Council, it is one of the few remaining municip ...
, the principal operator in neighbouring
Newport, operates an hourly express service between Cardiff,
University Hospital of Wales
University Hospital of Wales ( cy, Ysbyty Athrofaol Cymru) (UHW), also known as the Heath Hospital, is a major 1,000-bed hospital in the Heath district of Cardiff, Wales. UHW is a teaching hospital of Cardiff University School of Medicine. Constr ...
, and Newport. It also operates a non-express service to and from Newport jointly with
Cardiff Bus
Cardiff Bus ( cy, Bws Caerdydd) is the dominant operator of bus services in Cardiff, Wales and the surrounding area, including Barry and Penarth. The company is wholly owned by Cardiff Council and is one of the few municipal bus companies to r ...
. Like Cardiff Bus, it is a
municipal bus company
A municipal bus company is an operator of bus services owned by the local government authority. This article lists all current municipal bus companies in the United Kingdom.
Most municipal bus companies disappeared between 1968 and 1974 before (o ...
, owned by
Newport City Council
Newport City Council () is the governing body for Newport, one of the Principal Areas of Wales. It consists of 51 councillors, who represent the city's 20 wards.
The council is currently, and has historically been, held by the Labour Party. ...
.
City Sightseeing
City Sightseeing
City Sightseeing is an open-top, sightseeing tour bus operator. It provides tour bus services in more than 130 cities around the world. As City Sightseeing has grown and expanded, the company now also provides boat tours, sightseeing trai ...
operates timetabled
open top double-decker bus
A double-decker bus or double-deck bus is a bus that has two storeys or decks. They are used for mass transport in the United Kingdom, the United States, New Zealand, Europe, Asia and also in cities such as Sydney; the best-known example is the ...
tours around the city centre and the Bay, including the
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium ( cy, Stadiwm y Mileniwm), known since 2016 as the Principality Stadium ( cy, Stadiwm Principality) for sponsorship reasons, is the national stadium of Wales. Located in Cardiff, it is the home of the Wales national rug ...
,
Cardiff Castle
Cardiff Castle ( cy, Castell Caerdydd) is a medieval castle and Victorian Gothic revival mansion located in the city centre of Cardiff, Wales. The original motte and bailey castle was built in the late 11th century by Norman invaders on top ...
, the
Civic Centre
A civic center or civic centre is a prominent land area within a community that is constructed to be its focal point or center. It usually contains one or more dominant public buildings, which may also include a government building. Recently, the ...
, the
National Museum of Wales
National may refer to:
Common uses
* Nation or country
** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen
Places in the United States
* National, Maryland, ce ...
and Alexandra Gardens on the route. The tour takes 50 minutes
Adventure Travel
Adventure Travel
Adventure travel is a type of niche tourism, involving exploration or travel with a certain degree of risk (real or perceived), and which may require special skills and physical exertion. In the United States, adventure tourism has grown in r ...
, formerly the NAT Group, operate the X1, X5 and X8 Crosscity services, with the X1 being launched in 2015 which connect the western, central and eastern parts of the city, serving populous areas such as Pentwyn and Llanedeyrn, as well as Canton.
NAT Group updated their services in Cardiff in March 2017; The X11 (no longer operates) had received an extension to Grangetown and Cardiff Bay, and the X8 service was launched connecting Thornhill, Llanishen, Birchgrove, and Maindy to Cardiff City Centre, as well as leading to Cardiff Bay, providing a northern-southern Crosscity service for the capital.
Their latest addition to the Crosscity services was in early September 2017, and it introduced the X5, which now operates between Cardiff City Centre and Newport, serving many new stops in Adamsdown and Trowbridge. They also altered the X11 service's southern terminus, changing the route from the city centre from Cardiff Bay to serve Canton along with the X1, and extending further west to Pentrebane.
They also operate the TrawsCymru T9 Cardiff Airport Express between Cardiff Bay, Cardiff City Centre and Cardiff Airport, until the route was suspended during the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
in 2020, the TrawsCymru T1C between Cardiff and Aberystwyth in Mid Wales from April 2018, as well as Service 304 to Barry and some home-school coaches in the Cardiff area. In partnership with
Transport for Wales
Transport for Wales (TfW; cy, Trafnidiaeth Cymru; cy, TrC, label=none) is a not-for-profit company owned by the Welsh Government and managed at arms length by its appointed board. TfW oversees the Transport for Wales Group (TfW Group) consi ...
, and the
local council, they also operate the G1
Fflecsi
Fflecsi (stylised fflecsi; ) is a trial demand-responsive bus service administered by Transport for Wales (TfW) and local authorities, operated by local bus operators across Wales. Pilot trials of the service are conducted across Wales, which ...
route.
Edwards
Edwards Coaches
Edwards Coaches is a family-owned coach company based in Llantrisant, near Pontypridd in South Wales.
History
In 1925 Edwards Coaches was founded by George Edwards. Over recent years, the company has expanded by acquiring several smaller loca ...
operates the 400 bus service between
Beddau
Beddau ( en, Graves cy, Y Beddau) is a large former mining village (and electoral ward) situated within the South Wales Valleys Davies (2008), page 507. around from Llantrisant and from the larger town of Pontypridd in the county borough of R ...
and Greyfriars Road bus stop in Cardiff.
National operators and services
Megabus
Megabus Megabus may refer to:
*Megabus (Europe), a low-cost coach service with services in Europe owned by ComfortDelGro.
*Megabus (North America)
Megabus, branded as megabus.com, is an intercity bus service of Coach USA/Coach Canada operating in the eas ...
is a low-cost
no-frills intercity coach network in the United Kingdom operated by
Stagecoach
A stagecoach is a four-wheeled public transport coach used to carry paying passengers and light packages on journeys long enough to need a change of horses. It is strongly sprung and generally drawn by four horses although some versions are draw ...
that commenced operations in 2003, including non-stop services to
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
in a journey time of three and a half hours. Other longer routes to London stop in
Newport and
Bristol
Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...
. Cardiff is also linked by Megabus coach to
Newcastle Newcastle usually refers to:
*Newcastle upon Tyne, a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England
*Newcastle-under-Lyme, a town in Staffordshire, England
*Newcastle, New South Wales, a metropolitan area in Australia, named after Newcastle ...
via
Birmingham
Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the West ...
,
Manchester
Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...
,
Leeds
Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by populati ...
,
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough ( ) is a town on the southern bank of the River Tees in North Yorkshire, England. It is near the North York Moors national park. It is the namesake and main town of its local borough council area.
Until the early 1800s, the a ...
and
Sunderland
Sunderland () is a port city in Tyne and Wear, England. It is the City of Sunderland's administrative centre and in the Historic counties of England, historic county of County of Durham, Durham. The city is from Newcastle-upon-Tyne and is on t ...
.
National Express
Birmingham
Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the West ...
based
National Express
National Express Group is a British multinational public transport company headquartered in Birmingham, England. It operates bus, coach, train and tram services in the United Kingdom, Ireland (National Express operates Eurolines in conjunction ...
has operated , intercity coach services across the United Kingdom since 1972 and sub-contracts to
Edwards Coaches
Edwards Coaches is a family-owned coach company based in Llantrisant, near Pontypridd in South Wales.
History
In 1925 Edwards Coaches was founded by George Edwards. Over recent years, the company has expanded by acquiring several smaller loca ...
the operation of routes from Cardiff to:
* Service 201 and 202 to
Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport (), also known as London Gatwick , is a major international airport near Crawley, West Sussex, England, south of Central London. In 2021, Gatwick was the third-busiest airport by total passenger traffic in the UK, after H ...
and
Heathrow Airport
Heathrow Airport (), called ''London Airport'' until 1966 and now known as London Heathrow , is a major international airport in London, England. It is the largest of the six international airports in the London airport system (the others be ...
* Service 320, 322 and 323 to
Birmingham
Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the West ...
* Service 322 and 509 to
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
and
Brecon
Brecon (; cy, Aberhonddu; ), archaically known as Brecknock, is a market town in Powys, mid Wales. In 1841, it had a population of 5,701. The population in 2001 was 7,901, increasing to 8,250 at the 2011 census. Historically it was the coun ...
* Service 528 to
Birmingham
Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the West ...
,
Swansea
Swansea (; cy, Abertawe ) is a coastal city and the second-largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Swansea ( cy, links=no, Dinas a Sir Abertawe).
The city is the twenty-fifth largest in ...
,
Carmarthen
Carmarthen (, RP: ; cy, Caerfyrddin , "Merlin's fort" or "Sea-town fort") is the county town of Carmarthenshire and a community in Wales, lying on the River Towy. north of its estuary in Carmarthen Bay. The population was 14,185 in 2011, ...
,
Tenby
Tenby ( cy, Dinbych-y-pysgod, lit=fortlet of the fish) is both a walled seaside town in Pembrokeshire, Wales, on the western side of Carmarthen Bay, and a local government community.
Notable features include of sandy beaches and the Pembroke ...
,
Pembroke and
Haverfordwest
Haverfordwest (, ; cy, Hwlffordd ) is the county town of Pembrokeshire, Wales, and the most populous urban area in Pembrokeshire with a population of 14,596 in 2011. It is also a community, being the second most populous community in the county, ...
FlixBus
In April 2021, German-owned low-cost coach operator
FlixBus launched a twice-daily service connecting Cardiff with
Swansea
Swansea (; cy, Abertawe ) is a coastal city and the second-largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Swansea ( cy, links=no, Dinas a Sir Abertawe).
The city is the twenty-fifth largest in ...
,
Bristol
Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...
and
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
.
TrawsCymru
TrawsCymru are a set of routes, set up by the Welsh Government but operated by private bus companies using the TrawsCymru branding. This service is similar to a previous service,
TrawsCambria.
Service T1C launched in December 2016 on a six-month trial basis, is operated by
First Cymru
First Cymru is an operator of bus services in South West Wales. It is a subsidiary of FirstGroup with its headquarters in Swansea.
History
In 1987, South Wales Transport was sold during the privatisation of the National Bus Company in a m ...
and connects Cardiff with
Carmarthen
Carmarthen (, RP: ; cy, Caerfyrddin , "Merlin's fort" or "Sea-town fort") is the county town of Carmarthenshire and a community in Wales, lying on the River Towy. north of its estuary in Carmarthen Bay. The population was 14,185 in 2011, ...
and
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth () is a university and seaside town as well as a community in Ceredigion, Wales. Located in the historic county of Cardiganshire, means "the mouth of the Ystwyth". Aberystwyth University has been a major educational location in ...
. It is a replacement for the former 701 service that ceased operating in August 2016 when its final operator, Lewis Coaches, ceased trading. Unlike the 701 however, the T1C only operates once a day in and out of Cardiff, does not operate on Sundays, does not stop at Port Talbot and a single deck city bus is used, not coaches.
Service T4 launched in May 2011 and is operated by
. It connects Cardiff with
Brecon
Brecon (; cy, Aberhonddu; ), archaically known as Brecknock, is a market town in Powys, mid Wales. In 1841, it had a population of 5,701. The population in 2001 was 7,901, increasing to 8,250 at the 2011 census. Historically it was the coun ...
and
Newtown and operates up to 7 times a day.
Service T9, also known as the Cardiff Airport Express, launched in August 2013 and is operated by
New Adventure Travel
Adventure Travel (stylised as Adventuretravel; formerly NAT Group and New Adventure Travel) is a bus and coach company in South Wales. It is a subsidiary of ComfortDelGro.
History
Established in 2008 with four buses, Adventure Travel has now gr ...
. It connects the centre of Cardiff with
Cardiff Airport
Cardiff Airport ( cy, Maes Awyr Caerdydd) is the only airport offering commercial passenger services in Wales. It has been under the ownership of the Welsh Government since March 2013, operating at an arm's length as a commercial business. Pa ...
and operates up to every 20 minutes. When launched, this route was originally operated by
First Cymru
First Cymru is an operator of bus services in South West Wales. It is a subsidiary of FirstGroup with its headquarters in Swansea.
History
In 1987, South Wales Transport was sold during the privatisation of the National Bus Company in a m ...
. It was suspended during the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
in 2020 and is yet to be reintroduced.
Snap
Snap
Snap or SNAP may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Snap'', the original release title for the 2013 film ''Enter the Dangerous Mind''
*''Snap'' (TV series), a CITV programme
* ''The Stanly News and Press'', a newspaper in Albemarle, North Carol ...
operated an on-demand service that chartered coaches from local operators. It provided services from several pick-up points in and around Cardiff to various cities in England. It stopped operating in March 2020 during the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
and announced in August 2021 that it would not be restarting.
Other bus services
Bus passes
Residents of Cardiff (and Wales) who are over sixty or suffering from certain disabilities, injuries or impediments are entitled to a bus pass enabling free travel across most bus services in Wales. For the Cardiff area, the following buses are exempt from this facility:
National Express
National Express Group is a British multinational public transport company headquartered in Birmingham, England. It operates bus, coach, train and tram services in the United Kingdom, Ireland (National Express operates Eurolines in conjunction ...
(including Airport Buses 200, 201 and 202),
Eurolines
Eurolines is a brand of intercity bus service owned by an international non-profit organisation formed under Belgian law. Using the Eurolines brand, partner bus companies operate service to over 600 destinations in 36 countries of Europe, as well ...
and
Megabus Megabus may refer to:
*Megabus (Europe), a low-cost coach service with services in Europe owned by ComfortDelGro.
*Megabus (North America)
Megabus, branded as megabus.com, is an intercity bus service of Coach USA/Coach Canada operating in the eas ...
.
Park and ride
Park and Ride services run every weekend in Cardiff throughout the year. The cost includes bus travel to the City Centre, usually less than many
multi-storey car park
A multistorey car park (British and Singapore English) or parking garage (American English), also called a multistory, parking building, parking structure, parkade (mainly Canadian), parking ramp, parking deck or indoor parking, is a build ...
s. There are four Park and Ride services in the city:
The Park and Ride services are part of Cardiff council's Sustainable Travel City initiative, which is partly funded by the Welsh Assembly Government. There are plans to extend the number of space from 340 to 1,100 due to its sudden increase in usage.
Iff card
Iff card is a
contactless smart card
A contactless smart card is a contactless credential whose dimensions are credit-card size. Its embedded integrated circuits can store (and sometimes process) data and communicate with a terminal via NFC. Commonplace uses include transit tickets ...
introduced by Cardiff Bus in October 2010, allowing customers to travel on its services after having pre-paid. The first 30,000 cards were issued free of charge and pre-loaded with £3 of credit, after which the cards will be charged at £5.
An amount of money is electronically loaded onto the card, either upon boarding a bus or at the Cardiff Bus customer service centre. A passenger then chooses a ticket type. The card can also be used as a season ticket. The card should be topped-up when the balance is low, however the card allows the customer to acquire a negative balance up to £3.
[Cardiff Bus , Iff](_blank)
The card can be topped-up in units of £1, £2, £3, £4, £5, £10, £15 and £20 up to maximum amount of £50. The card may be used by persons aged between 6 and 60. The Iff card cannot be used to pay a partial amount. The card would be cancelled if not used for a continuous period of one year
See also
*
List of bus stations in Wales
This is a list of bus stations in Wales:
See also
*Transport in Wales
* List of bus stations in London
*List of bus stations in Scotland
References
External links
Traveline Cymru
Bus transport in the United Kingdom
Buses play a major role in the public transport of the United Kingdom, as well as seeing extensive private use. While rail transport has increased over the past twenty years due to road congestion, the same does not apply to buses, which have g ...
*
Coach transport in the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has a number of intercity coach services.
Comparison with other travel modes
Coach services generally travel further than, and do not stop as frequently as, and cost more than, bus services. It is common, but not universal, ...
*
Transport in Cardiff
Transport in Cardiff, capital and most populous city in Wales involves road, rail, bus, water and air. It is a major city of the United Kingdom and a centre of employment, government, retail, business, culture, media, sport and higher education. ...
*
Transport in Wales
Transport in Wales is heavily influenced by the country's geography. Wales is predominantly hilly or mountainous, and the main settlements lie on the coasts of north and south Wales, while mid Wales and west Wales are lightly populated. The ma ...
*
Transport in the United Kingdom
Transport in the United Kingdom is facilitated with road, air, rail, and water networks. A radial road network totals of main roads, of motorways and of paved roads. The National Rail network of 10,072 route miles (16,116 km) in Great B ...
References
External links
Cardiff BusStagecoach South WalesNational ExpressCity Sightseeing Route MapCardiff Transport MapCardiff City Centre/Bay general mapHistoric photos of Central Station
{{Transport in Cardiff
Bus transport in Wales
Transport in Cardiff