Owen Clark Research Fellow, Wales Transport Research Centre Polis Annual Conference – Toulouse – 15-16 March 2007

BACKGROUND

Rural Carmarthenshire is not inherently good bus operating territory „ Dispersed population does not generate many passenger flows large enough to produce a good income for operators „ Many services have to be subsidised by the County Council „ Even supported services operate at the margins of profitability „ Provision is often inefficient and ineffective due to the long and often circuitous routes Polis Annual Conference – Toulouse – 15-16 March 2007

AIM

‘To provide a major step forward in public transport service provision along the Carmarthen to Aberteifi corridor and surrounding area.’ Polis Annual Conference – Toulouse – 15-16 March 2007 Polis Annual Conference – Toulouse – 15-16 March 2007

PRESENT POSITION

In general terms there are four main transport providers: „ Private bus companies − First Cymru Buses − Brodyr Richards − Morris Travel „ The county council public transport co- ordination function „ The county council social services department „ The voluntary sector/community transport Polis Annual Conference – Toulouse – 15-16 March 2007

EXISTING TRANSPORT PROVISION

Core services

„ The A484 is a core interurban and cross boundary corridor „ 460/461 provides eleven journeys per day in each direction „ For the most part these services are operated by First Cymru buses, supported financially by the County Councils „ Diverts to serve off-route settlements „ Primary route users are put off by longer journey times (80 – 90 minutes) Polis Annual Conference – Toulouse – 15-16 March 2007

EXISTING TRANSPORT PROVISION Secondary Network

„ Various services operating within the wider Teifi Valley area between Aberteifi, Llandysul, Newcastle Emlyn and Carmarthen „ Cannot be provided commercially by the operators, but are considered to be socially necessary „ Services usually provide less than daily provision „ Offer a restricted range of choice in terms of timing and places served Polis Annual Conference – Toulouse – 15-16 March 2007 Polis Annual Conference – Toulouse – 15-16 March 2007

PROPOSED BWCABUS SERVICE „ Will link conventional bus to an integrated, demand responsive, low capacity service. − Trunk route - conventional bus − Villages not on A484 - DRT service „ System guarantees connections at designated hubs between the fixed and demand responsive services − 5 Hubs or interchange points en route: Cynwyl Elfed, Dre-fach Felindre, Henllan, Newcastle Emlyn & Cenarth „ A direct hourly service between Aberteifi - Carmarthen

„ Journey time would be reduced to approx 70 mins

„ Scheme provides increased ‘travel opportunities’ Polis Annual Conference – Toulouse – 15-16 March 2007 Polis Annual Conference – Toulouse – 15-16 March 2007

CONVENTIONAL BUS FEEDER BUS Polis Annual Conference – Toulouse – 15-16 March 2007 HUB:HUB: CONVENTIONALCONVENTIONAL BUSBUS -- DRTDRT Polis Annual Conference – Toulouse – 15-16 March 2007 HUB: CONVENTIONAL BUS - DRT Polis Annual Conference – Toulouse – 15-16 March 2007 MEETING UNMET TRANSPORT NEEDS

From To Current Future Increase / Decrease Carmarthen Aberteifi 10 12 +2

Llandysul Newcastle 7 12 +5 Emlyn Capel Iwan Carmarthen 1 12 +11

Capel Dewi Llandysul 3 12 +9

Pentre-cwrt Drefach 0 12 +12 Felindre Polis Annual Conference – Toulouse – 15-16 March 2007

CONSULTATION An on bus / at stop survey of 245 passengers completed in Sep 05 highlighted that:

„ Acceptance levels of the BWCABUS proposals are generally high „ The scheme could promote increased bus use in the area − 61% would increase their usage if the bus connection was guaranteed „ Acceptance of having to book outward and return journeys on the day of travel or earlier „ Indicated increase in bus use from regular car drivers Polis Annual Conference – Toulouse – 15-16 March 2007

IMPLEMENTATION

„ Scheme characteristics are firmly established

„ A study of GSM and GPS signals throughout the proposed service area has been carried out

„ The BWCABUS software system has been developed by the University of Glamorgan

„ Rigorous system testing has been completed

„ WTRC, WAG and Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion County Councils are working together to source necessary scheme funding Polis Annual Conference – Toulouse – 15-16 March 2007

BWCABUS: THE KEY BENEFITS

„ Integrates public transport networks to maximise travel opportunities „ Provides best use of capacity „ Provides a higher frequency of operation leading to increased demand (and revenue) „ Provides a more responsive and frequent on demand service „ Extends accessibility to sectors of society without personal transport provision „ Removes some of the physical, sociological and psychological barriers to rural multi-modal travel. Polis Annual Conference – Toulouse – 15-16 March 2007

PROJECT PARTNERS OwenOwen ClarkClark Research Fellow, Wales Transport Research Centre