Written question WQ99160

The Welsh Government is committed to improving integration between bus and rail services in Newport as part of our wider plans for a more joined up public transport network across Wales.

The Bus Services (Wales) Act 2026 will enable the delivery of greater integration across the public transport network in Wales. Transport for Wales (TfW), on behalf of Welsh Ministers, will plan routes, fares and service standards in the public interest, supporting more coordinated services and integrated ticketing. The new franchising framework for delivering bus services will be rolled out regionally across Wales, with South East Wales being the third region to be rolled out. TfW has undertaken extensive engagement with stakeholders in Newport, including Newport City Council and bus operators, which will continue during the transition into the new framework, in order to inform network design and delivery. By 2030, franchising will be in place across Wales, providing the foundation for integration between bus and rail services.

A public consultation has been held by TfW for the proposed 3 "Burns" stations within Newport. The new stations will be safe and accessible with bus interchange included where it is possible to do so. The consultation report published in December last year included and reflected all respondents views on bus connectivity for the stations and will be used to inform the design and delivery of the new stations.

Alongside this, TfW is developing a single digital travel companion to bring together journey planning, booking and payment into one easier-to-use platform across app, website and customer account. This will support more seamless door-to-door journeys across different modes of transport and over time enable simpler and more flexible ticketing.