Old bus service brought back but will no longer stop at two key sites

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An agreement has been made between Bridgend County Borough Council and First Cymru Buses Ltd

A vital bus route has been reinstated (Image: South Wales Evening Post)

Key bus routes throughout villages in Bridgend have been reinstated

Bus services will resume operating through Pen-y-Fai, Kenfig Pool and Mawdlam from Monday, February 23, following an agreement between Bridgend County Borough Council and First Cymru Buses Ltd
Services through Pen-y-Fai will be reinstated as part of the existing Number 71 route, which operates between Bridgend and Cymmer via Maesteg
The Number 71 service will divert through Pen-y-Fai on both inbound and outbound journeys at no additional cost, running hourly from Monday to Saturday between approximately 7.44am and 6.17pm
However, as a caveat to the reinstatement, Service Number 71 will no longer operate directly to McArthurGlen Designer Outlet or the Princess of Wales Hospital, with those destinations continuing to be served instead by Service Number 70 on its existing route
Passengers travelling on Service Number 71 who wish to reach McArthurGlen Designer Outlet or the Princess of Wales Hospital and who are using a day ticket, free concessionary travel bus pass, or the Tap On Tap Off facility will be able to transfer to another service at Bridgend Bus Station, or remain on the bus as it departs as Service Number 70
Passengers who have purchased a single or return ticket will need to remain on the bus or pay an additional fare to travel onwards to McArthurGlen Designer Outlet or the Princess of Wales Hospital, which may result in extra cost
The same ticketing and transfer arrangements will apply for return journeys to Maesteg, with passengers travelling on Service Number 70 back to Bridgend Bus Station before the service changes to Number 71 for the onward journey
Services through Kenfig Pool and Mawdlam will also be reinstated under a new service, Number 63B, which will operate as part of the existing Number 63 route between Bridgend and Porthcawl
Service Number 63B will run hourly from Monday to Saturday via Mawdlam and Kenfig Pool between approximately 9.41am and 3.39pm, with the caveat that operating hours are limited and any additional journeys will be dependent on future funding availability
Councillor Neelo Farr, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economic Development and Housing, welcomed the reinstatement, stating that the return of services is important for communities that rely on public transport to access employment, education, healthcare and other essential services
Cllr Farr added that the outcome reflects the importance of partnership working and thanked residents, ward members, council officers and First Cymru Buses Ltd for their continued engagement, while reaffirming that improving connectivity across the county borough remains a key priority
For further information, residents can contact the BCBC Public Transport Unit on 01656 642591 or email publictransport@bridgend.gov.uk. First Cymru Buses will publish the new timetable closer to the start date

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