James Evans MS has warned that the Welsh Government’s Bus Services (Wales) Bill risks failing the very people who rely on buses most, with accessibility, rural services, and small operators left disadvantaged.

The Bill sets out a new franchising model for Welsh bus services.

Mr Evans is concerned there is only one mention of accessibility on the face of the Bill, and there are no strong enforceable guarantees, something disability groups warn could leave many users excluded. Groups including Guide Dogs have raised concerns about the lack of audio/visual announcements, dangerous bus stop designs, and the failure to embed accessibility into contracts.

Llyr Gruffydd MS said in response to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport Ken Skates MS’ statement that the effective delivery of franchising depends on Transport for Wales (TfW) having the right people and the right skills in place.

Mr Evans also warned that rural communities like Brecon and Radnorshire are overlooked in the Bill. Despite one-third of the Welsh population living in rural areas, he says the legislation contains no definition of what a good rural bus network should look like.

The Bill also comes just weeks after changes to the T4 Newtown to Cardiff route, which saw the direct link to the Welsh capital axed and local stops at Bronllys and Talgarth removed.

The area has also lost its direct bus service to the capital Cardiff. With changes now required onto the X4 service at Merthyr Bus Station, and longer journey times between Merthyr and Cardiff, this now means it takes around two and a half hours to travel the 50 miles to Cardiff, with no service between Merthyr and Brecon on the X4 on Sundays. Mr Evans said these changes show exactly how vulnerable rural routes are, and why the Bill must provide real guarantees for communities outside the cities.

Recent contractual changes on the T4, T14 and X43 routes mean that local businesses are now operating these services, providing jobs and supporting the Mid-Wales economy. While Mr Evans is very pleased local companies like Celtic Travel, Williams Coaches, and Sargeants have been awarded contracts to operate, he believes TfW have let the residents of Mid Wales down by removing the direct service to Cardiff and removing some stops and the early/late services.

Mr Evans said: “Buses are a lifeline for many people across Mid Wales, particularly the elderly, disabled passengers, and those without cars. While I support the need to upgrade services, these changes must work for everyone.

“Right now, accessibility is treated as an afterthought, and rural communities like ours are once again being ignored. So-called ‘improvements’ in services like the T4 have turned out to be just the opposite, with direct services being lost, loss of stops and some timetabled routes cancelled.

“This Bill should have been the moment to fix the problems in our bus network, but it fails to address congestion, risks shutting out small and family-run operators, and leaves disabled passengers without the guarantees they need. That is simply unacceptable.

“Accessibility must be written into the heart of this legislation, not treated as an optional extra. Rural passengers must not be punished yet again by a Welsh Labour Government obsessed with city-centre priorities. Our bus services must be reliable, fair, and accessible for all.”