October 23, 2026 - 168 views
A new coach service linking North and South Wales launches this Sunday, offering passengers a direct connection between Bangor and Carmarthen with stops at towns and communities along the way.
The TaithCymru service will operate daily, connecting Bangor, Caernarfon, Porthmadog, Dolgellau, Machynlleth, Aberystwyth and Aberaeron before reaching Carmarthen.
The new route is designed to make travelling across Wales easier, with journey times expected to be more than an hour shorter than previously available options on some journeys.
There will be 10 regular services a day from Monday to Saturday, with a similar timetable on Sundays. An additional late-night journey will link Bangor with Holyhead railway station and the port, providing connections with rail services and ferries.
The coaches are equipped with Wi-Fi, reclining seats, air conditioning and onboard toilet facilities. The service is accessible, with one wheelchair space available on each coach, although the onboard toilet is not wheelchair accessible. Aberaeron is currently not an accessible stop.
Tickets can be booked online up to 15 minutes before departure, and passengers will be able to track their coach using the TrawsCymru app.
Fares include £10 for a typical adult journey between Bangor and Carmarthen, while travelling between Aberystwyth and Carmarthen will cost £4.50 for an adult.
Deputy Minister for Transport Mark Hooper said the service was a significant step towards improving connections between communities in North and South West Wales.
He said it formed part of wider plans to create a more integrated public transport network, linking buses with rail services, supporting tourism and encouraging people to make more journeys without relying on their cars.
Lee Robinson, executive director for regional transport and integration at Transport for Wales, said the service had been designed around passengers' needs, with modern coaches, online booking and connections with local buses, trains and ferry services.
The new route will operate alongside existing TrawsCymru services, local bus routes and Fflecsi demand-responsive transport.
For communities along the route, the service could provide another option for reaching employment, education, healthcare and visitor attractions without needing to drive the entire journey.
Passengers can find timetables, fares and booking information through the TrawsCymru website or the Transport for Wales website.
