Labour Councillors Matthew Dorrance, Liz Rijnenberg, Chris Walsh and David Meredith have said they are determined to secure better, more reliable bus services between Brecon and Cardiff following a key meeting with transport partners held on Monday 29th June.
The meeting brought together representatives from Transport for Wales, Stagecoach, Powys County Council and Bus Users UK to address ongoing concerns about connectivity between Brecon, Merthyr Tydfil and Cardiff.
Councillors made clear that the current situation is not good enough for passengers, with too many people facing long waits, missed connections and unreliable journeys for work, education and essential services.
As a direct outcome of the meeting, all partners agreed to undertake a focused review of four key areas to improve services for passengers:
- Reinstatement of a direct bus service like the previous T4 service
- Improving connections and timetabling between the current T4 and X4 services
- Improving connecting train services with the ability to use concessionary bus passes and one ticket across the network
- Another provider or public body stepping in where the market has failed
The review will report back to the Councillors by the end of August and it will look specifically at the improvements each of the options will make along with the cost and resources needed.
The Labour councillors also raised specific concerns about gaps in provision, including the lack of Sunday services between Merthyr Tydfil and Cardiff, which continues to limit access to jobs, healthcare and leisure opportunities.
In addition, serious concerns were highlighted about the evening closure of Merthyr Bus Station, which raises both practical and safety issues for passengers needing to change buses later in the day.
Speaking jointly, the Labour councillors said:
“We are absolutely determined to stand up for bus users across our community. People are being let down by a system that doesn’t properly join up.
“Yesterday’s meeting was constructive, but we were also very clear—passengers need to see real improvements, and quickly.
“We have secured agreement from all partners to carry out a focused review of the key issues affecting journeys, and we will be holding them to account to deliver meaningful change.
“Reliable, safe and joined-up public transport is not a luxury—it is essential for people’s daily lives, and we will continue to push until services meet that standard.”
The councillors confirmed they will continue to work closely with transport providers and Transport for Wales to ensure progress is made, and will provide updates to residents as the review develops.