Take a seat on the new-look Traws Cymru
19 Mar 2012 12:33 PM
The Minister with responsibility for Transport, Carl Sargeant, will be visiting Wrexham based seat manufacturers Esteban UK recently.
The north east Wales business has been awarded the contract to supply modern coach style seats for the latest fleet of Traws Cymru buses that will service the new T4 route linking Newtown, Llandrindod Wells, Builth Wells, Brecon, Merthyr Tydfil, Pontypridd and Cardiff.
The new fleet of buses, which have been carefully designed following consultation with passengers, are part of the £2.2m Welsh Government investment to improve and expand the former TrawsCambria bus network.
Speaking before his visit to Esteban UK the Minister said:
“Developing and encouraging the use of sustainable transport is key to improving connectivity across Wales.”
“This new Traws Cymru service between Newtown and Cardiff is as a result of the Welsh Government listening to what people want and delivering a green service that meets the needs of local communities by providing a key public transport link between major centres.
“Local businesses, such as Esteban, will also benefit from the new Traws Cymru that will in turn secure jobs and provide a much needed boost to the local economy”.
Julian Grzesiczek, Managing Director of Esteban UK, said:
”Working closely with the team at Traws Cymru has been a true partnership to customise and fine tune seats that represent a step change in the values of public transport.”
“Designed and built in Wrexham we have tried to enhance the interior of the vehicle to increase and widen the appeal across the widest cross section of potential passengers.
“This has been an inspiring and refreshing collaboration in quality, function and design, creating employment and emphasising our local skill base.’
This investment has also provided work at Actia UK’s factory in Newtown, Powys.
Actia UK have supplied all of the electrical equipment on the new fleet of Traws Cymru buses which includes a ‘high-tech’ engine management system that monitors CO2 emissions and fuel efficiency in addition to GPS tracking and Close Circuit TV.
In addition to comfortable leather seats complete with extra leg room every new low-floor vehicle will be equipped with air conditioning and additional luggage space.
The T4 route, operating once every two hours in each direction during Monday to Saturdays, is the first to be introduced as part of a network of new TrawsCymru longer distance coach style services across Wales.
The revamped service has been developed following consultation with passengers who requested a faster and direct service between key centres in eastern Powys and Cardiff.
The service, funded by the Welsh Government as part of its commitment in the National Transport Plan for Wales to promote high quality, environmentally friendly public transport services linking communities with key centres across Wales.