Swansea Council say essential bus services in the city that provide public transport routes to and from hospitals, leisure venues and the city centre are being protected for the next five years.
The Council is set to approve plans to invest more than £1 million into local bus services for 2024, ensuring vital bus journeys for the travelling public do not disappear.
Routes including city centre to Morriston hospital, regular buses between Pennard and the city centre, along with city-wide bus services during Sunday evenings are all part of the Council’s plans to maintain services from 2024 – 2028.
Every year, the Council subsidises public transport services that bus companies deem as not commercially viable and ensures they continue for residents who rely on buses for travelling work, hospital visits or for visiting family.
For 2024, all 26 contracts previously subsidised are being maintained, along with a further seven new contracts for services which were at risk of being stopped by transport operators.
A total of £1,080,600.00 is being provided by the Council to public transport operators, along with a further £2,515,095.24 from the Welsh Government’s bus subsidy funding programme for 2024/25.
Andrew Stevens, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, said: “Every year, the Council and Welsh Government invest in local bus services that would otherwise not be operated by bus operators. They are services we consider ‘socially necessary’, meaning, regardless of their commercial value, they provide vital transport services for many residents in our city.
“Without the continuation of these services, many people would not be able to attend hospital appointments, travel into the city centre to their place of work or simply be able to visit family and friends.
“We consider these services essential for residents and that is why we are committing to supporting them for a further five years.
“Our aim is to support transport operators and encourage more people on to buses, ensuring public transport services are secured for the long term.”
The report to Cabinet for 15 February also includes plans to invest nearly £250k to continue Park & Ride services for 2024/25.
(Lead image: First Cymru)
