Wales’ bus overhaul becomes law as Swansea region first in line for 2027 shake‑up

Wales’ new Bus Services Act has now received Royal Assent, giving ministers sweeping powers to take back control of local bus networks after years of cuts, collapsing operators and shrinking timetables. The Welsh Government says the change marks the start of a complete rebuild of how buses operate across the country — and Southwest Wales will be the first to feel it.

The law was formally sealed in Cardiff by First Minister Eluned Morgan, who said the move sends a clear signal that the days of unreliable, patchwork bus services are numbered.

First Minister Eluned Morgan said:

“This is a historic day for public transport in Wales – it sends out a clear message that we are committed to improving the bus system and delivering better, more reliable services for the people of Wales.”

Swansea region becomes the testing ground

The first rollout in 2027 will cover Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire — an area that has seen repeated route cuts, operator collapses and emergency funding packages just to keep buses on the road.

Under the new system, the public sector will take charge of designing the entire network. Instead of operators deciding which routes they want to run, Transport for Wales will set the timetables, fares and connections, and companies will bid for contracts to operate them.

It’s a complete reversal of the deregulated model that has shaped Welsh buses since the 1980s — and one the Welsh Government argues is essential to stop communities being “cut off”.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, said:

“Today marks a major milestone for bus services in Wales. It’s the beginning of a new era… These changes won’t be seen overnight, it’s going to take time, but we are working closely with the industry and local authorities to plan and deliver bus services to meet the needs of passengers today and for generations to come.”

What franchising actually means for passengers

For decades, bus companies have been free to pick and choose the routes they run. If a service wasn’t profitable, it disappeared — leaving councils scrambling to plug the gaps with dwindling budgets.

Franchising flips that on its head.

Instead of operators calling the shots, Transport for Wales will design a single, joined‑up network, deciding where buses go, how often they run and how they connect with trains. Operators will then compete for contracts to run those routes — similar to the system used in London.

The Welsh Government says this will mean clearer timetables, simpler routes and a network that actually works together, rather than a patchwork of competing companies.

For passengers, the promise is straightforward: more reliable buses, better connections and a system designed around public need, not commercial priorities.

Why the change was needed

The bus network in Wales has been in crisis for years. Operators have folded, routes have vanished and councils have repeatedly warned that entire communities risk losing their only public transport link.

Swansea Bay News has reported extensively on the turmoil — from emergency funding packages to operators collapsing and councils warning that cuts could leave people stranded.

The Welsh Government says the new law is the only way to rebuild a stable, reliable network that doesn’t fall apart every time a company pulls out or a subsidy ends.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said:

“We will use local knowledge to design and plan services that put the voice of the passenger at the heart of their local bus network.”

What happens next

Transport for Wales will now work with councils, unions, operators and the public to design the new franchised network for Southwest Wales ahead of the 2027 launch.

Early proposals published last year showed plans for simpler routes, better interchange points and more direct links between key towns, hospitals and employment sites.

The Welsh Government insists the direction of travel is now set — and that the Swansea region will lead the way in proving whether franchising can finally fix Wales’ broken bus system.