Written question WQ86261

We continue to provide considerable financial support to Powys County Council to enable them to secure a network of local buses across Brecon and Radnorshire. This includes the TrawsCymru T4 and T14 services, which provide essential links between Newtown, Hay on Wye, Brecon and Cardiff.

The covid pandemic has had a demonstratable impact on travel demand in this area, and we are working with the Council and Transport for Wales to better understand what is the most cost effective network of services moving forwards in this area. However, this needs to be based on what works for the communities of Brecon and Radnorshire and communities will be fully consulted on any bus network changes which are proposed as part of this review. In the longer term our plan is to transform bus services across Wales through our proposals to introduce bus franchising.

I am pleased to advise that Transport for Wales will be providing an increased service on the Heart of Wales Line from this December with one extra through service per day along the whole line, so increasing services from four to five full services a day plus an extra evening service at both the north and south end of the route.