6. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's intention to further expand the TrawsCymru coach service? OAQ52055

We continue to work closely with local authorities to explore opportunities to enhance existing TrawsCymru services and introduce new routes where there are clear strategic benefits from offering new long-distance bus and coach services.

Following the budget agreement, Plaid Cymru secured £400,000 to upgrade the TrawsCymru network from bus to coach, and following that, the new service from Aberystwyth to Cardiff was established last week, securing a more comfortable and swifter service. This is an important step forward in the process of creating public transport services fit for the twenty-first century in our rural communities. So, will the Government commit to looking to enhance and expand this service and offer coach services that would be available to people in my constituency who would wish to travel on a comfortable coach to the capital city and other parts of Wales?

Well, two points: first, regarding the question of whether we’re planning to expand the service, that is true; we are at present working with local authorities to look at new routes, namely Bangor to Chirk and Oswestry, and also from Wrexham to Newtown. But also, what we need to consider is how those services can be used and run. I'm very pleased to see a coach running on the service between Cardiff and Aberystwyth, as one who was very familiar with the former TrawsCambria service. That was a coach, but there was no toilet, if I remember, and so you had to stop in Swansea for some time for people to use the conveniences there. So, what we are considering is how we can expand the service, and then how we can ultimately ensure that the vehicles running on the service are enhanced over the ensuing years.

Has the Welsh Government conducted a cost-benefit analysis of the TrawsCymru service, and can I ask how do passenger numbers compare with other subsidised services? And can I ask what assessment you can make of the pilot on the free weekend bus travel on the TrawsCymru network?   

There is an evaluation that is taking place. What we do know, however, is that passenger numbers are growing. The introduction of free travel has been hugely important in terms of doing that. I have to say that the Member gives the impression, in the way he asked the question, that he is not in favour of the TrawsCymru network. Any network when it first begins will take some time to bed in. We've never had a proper national bus network. Even in the days of the TrawsCambria, Cardiff to Aberystwyth and then on to Bangor existed, after an hour's wait in Aberystwyth for those who then went on to Bangor, but everything else was pretty short-term and unsustainable. We intend to put in place a long-term, sustainable network. We know there are communities now that are having a bus service for the first time in over 40 years, and that's something that I'm sure they will welcome. So, I'm happy with the way that the TrawsCymru network is performing and, of course, the passenger numbers in terms of the growth that we've seen.