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Public Transport – Buses and Coaches

Local buses
The bus operators in your area will issue timetables and details of their services. Most of the bus companies offer their timetables and prices on their websites. Your local council may run some services itself and publish a free map and route guide to local services. Many local bus companies also have special leisure deals and ‘season tickets’ allowing you to pay once for more than one ride.

Also some provide transport for concerts and other events. See local operators for details of this and also to see a listing of the future events.

Long distance buses and coaches
The biggest provider of long distance bus and coach trips is National Express. Usually if you are going long distance by coach it will be with National Express but it’s worth checking out at your local coach station if there are any alternative services to your destination, particularly if it is popular. National Express runs services to 1200 destinations throughout England, Scotland and Wales, including all the major towns and cities as well as many smaller towns and villages. It also runs specialised services – like direct links to airports (‘Airlink’ services), relatively cheap overnight stopovers at a hotel near an airport and continental services run by Eurolines which is part of National Express.

National Express
You need to buy a ticket before you get on the bus. Although you can buy tickets on the day if tickets are still available, if the coach is already full you won’t get on! So buying advance is a good idea. If you buy a ticket 7 days in advance (an APEX ticket) you can get a discount of up to 30 per cent. Be aware that tickets are more expensive on Fridays and can be more expensive around the Christmas period.

One of the best ways to cut the price of your fare is by buying a Young Person’s National Express Coach Card. Cards currently (July 2009) cost £10 and last 12 months. They are available to people aged 16-26 and students in full-time education. The card gives around 30 per cent discount so one long journey a year or a few small ones and it can pay for itself.

Eurolines
Eurolines, part of the National Express group, offers relatively cheap deals to continental cities such as Amsterdam, Paris and Brussels.

Mega Bus
Mega Bus offers coach travel from Cardiff and Newport to London and Bristol. Prices start from just £1.

Other bus and coach services run leisure and holiday breaks like day trips to the seaside, trips to France, ‘mystery tours’ and trips to places of interest.

Links and contact details

Name: Traveline Cymru
Web: www.traveline-cymru.info
Email:
Tel: 0871 200 2233
Info: Loads of info about public transport services in Wales.

Name: DirectGov – UK Journey Planner
Web:
www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/PlanningYourJourney/DG_10036717
Email:
Tel:
Info: How to get from A to B anywhere in the UK!

Name: Cardiff Bus
Web: www.cardiffbus.com
Email:
Tel:
Info: The website has the timetable, ticket prices and info on special deals.

Name: Newport Bus
Web: www.newporttransport.co.uk
Email:
Tel:
Info: Newport Bus runs popular urban, interurban and commuter buses into Newport and Cardiff as well as local services in and around Newport.

Name: National Express
Web: www.nationalexpress.com
Email:
Tel: +44 (0) 8717 818181
Info: Offering an extensive range of pickups and destinations around Wales, Scotland and England.

Name: Mega Bus
Web: www.megabus.com
Email:
Tel:
Info: Offering coach travel from Cardiff and Newport to Bristol and London.

Name: Eurolines
Web: www.eurolines.co.uk
Email:
Tel: 08717 818181
Info: Eurolines groups together 32 independent coach companies, working together to operate Europe’s largest regular coach service network offering you over 500 destinations across Europe.

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