Press releases

• Arriva and Welsh Assembly Government work together to improve services
• More opportunities to connect from North to South Wales
• Current 701 service replaced by X40 – same frequency maintained

Arriva North West and Wales in partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government and First is improving the Traws Cambria network linking North and South Wales .

From Sunday 13 February, there will be a new service, X40, operating between Aberystwyth and Cardiff .

Whilst the X40 will replace services 540 and 701, it will retain the current service frequency between Aberystwyth and Lampeter and will be extending hourly to Carmarthen (Monday to Saturday daytimes). In addition, the service will continue to provide the two journeys each day to Swansea and Cardiff , and an earlier morning journey will offer a better day return facility.

Bob Hind, managing director for Arriva North West and Wales , said: “We will be offering customers more regular services on parts of the Traws Cambria network and more opportunities to connect from North Wales to South Wales .

“We are very pleased to be able to work with the Welsh Assembly Government, local councils, and other operators to continually improve the services for our customers in Wales.“

The connections at lunchtime in Aberystwyth will be maintained with the X32 service operating to and from Bangor , and because of the new hourly frequency between Aberystwyth and Carmarthen there are additional opportunities to use the bus/rail connections.

Through bus fares remain available on Arriva buses between Bangor , Aberystwyth, Swansea and Cardiff .

Deputy transport minister, Tamsin Dunwoody-Kneafsey, said: "The Welsh Assembly Government is investing heavily in all forms of transport and public transport is an essential part of our integrated transport strategy. I'm pleased that we have been able to support this service as the Traws Cambria is an important service for people travelling across Wales ."

To find out more about the new services including times, fares, and rail connections please contact Traveline Cymru on 0870 608 2 608 (between 7am and 10pm daily) or www.traveline-cymru.org.uk .

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