New bus services begin in the Welshpool area
The county council says the revised bus routes and timetables – backed by a significant investment and new seven-year contracts for local and regional operators – will deliver a more reliable and sustainable network.
But concerns had been raised by councillors in several communities earlier in the consultation process, with some questioning whether rural communities and local links into towns would benefit as much as longer-distance routes.
At the time, Newtown councillors said they feared the focus on connecting Powys residents with “core towns within an hour’s journey” might overlook the day-to-day needs of people travelling into Newtown for shopping, work, education, or health services. There have been similar concerns raised in Welshpool.
Announcing the launch of the new network, Cllr Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys, said: “With an increase in routes, bus numbers and more evening and weekend travel options, Powys communities can benefit from a more connected county. Along with improved provision, we are delighted that young people will now also benefit from the extension of the Welsh Government’s MyTravelPass scheme, allowing them to travel on buses within Wales for just £1.”
The changes are part of the council’s “Sustainable Powys” ambition, which aims to link communities to their nearest core towns within an hour and strengthen cross-border connections to larger centres for healthcare, education, and other services.
Full details of the new services are available on the council’s website at www.powys.gov.uk/localbuses, with timetables published via Traveline Cymru.
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