Dear Ms England
Thank you for your e-mail of 22nd February regarding service 150.
We have received some complaints from users of this service that terminates now at Porth as opposed to Pontypridd.
The reasons for this given by Stagecoach at the time were as detailed in the paperwork you have supplied.
I have contacted Mr Edward Reid, Commercial Manager at Stagecoach in South Wales who confirms that they currently have no plans to reintroduce a through service between Gilfach Goch and Pontypridd. They did indicate however that they have recently conducted a survey of passengers on this service.
I have also contacted Me Charlie Nelson, Transportation Manager at Rhondda Cynon Taff CBC who comments as follows
“As we discussed this afternoon, I am aware of the concerns surrounding Stagecoach’s decision to reduce the frequency and withdraw the Pontypridd to Porth section of the 150 service, which previously had run between Gilfach Goch and Pontypridd.
The Council Leader and I met with some of the local Councillors, who represent a number of deprived and hill top areas on the line of the route that are remote from shopping areas, health and leisure facilities, as well as basic necessities such as Dentists, Opticians, Banks. From that meeting in January 2017, it was clear that such communities rely on a frequent and direct public transport link and any reduction or loss of services is regrettable.
At the Leader’s request, as agreed at the meeting, I met with Stagecoach’s Managing Director in the hope that as a major partner of the Council, and its major public transport provider, the impact of the changes on the affected communities and the loss of the through service to Pontypridd could be re-examined.
As a consequence of these discussions, it was agreed that an on bus survey, with a 200+ sample size, would be carried out by the operator within February 2017, so as to collect objective data against which Stagecoach could review the commercial business options. I am awaiting the results from that survey.
In the meantime, in recognition that having to change buses in Porth is more inconvenient for the public, especially the elderly, I have managed to secure through ticketing onto the remaining 11 buses an hour that operate between Porth and Pontypridd. This means that customers travelling from / to Gilfach Goch can purchase through single or return tickets to / from Pontypridd.
I trust the above information is of assistance and should you require anything further please do not hesitate to contact me.”
I hope that this information is of use to you.
Kind Regards
Barclay Davies
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Barclay
Davies | Deputy Director for
Cymru/Wales |
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