A new long distance bus service linking Brecon and Newtown has been launched, Powys County Council has announced. The new 'Traws Cambria' bus, Service 704 is offering a two-hourly service linking Brecon, Builth Wells, Llandrindod Wells and Newtown. Launched on Monday (January 9), the new service is funded by Powys County Council and the Welsh Assembly Government with the aim of improving public transport in the County. The new bus service is operated by Stagecoach and connects with Sixty-Sixty, Service X43, to Abergavenny, Merthyr Tydfil and Cardiff. Through tickets are available to and from Cardiff and Abergavenny and a new 'Traws Day Rider', valid on this and other Traws Cambria routes, will be developed as the network grows. Managing Director at Stagecoach in South Wales, John Gould, said: "We are delighted to have been awarded the operating tender for this new Traws Cambria service. This new link between Powys' key market towns forms an integral component of the Traws Cambria network and is yet another fine example of partnership working between bus operators in Wales, the Welsh Assembly Government and the local authorities." The bus service uses three low floor 'state of the art' buses that have been designed with passengers' comfort in mind, offering high quality seating and legroom, air conditioning and double-glazing. Audio-visual display equipment has also been installed which automatically announces the current location and the next bus stop. The bus service will use all current bus stops along the route but temporary bus stopping arrangements have been introduced outside the Watton Mount, Brecon. Following consultation with the Town Council and Brecon Beacons National Park a new interchange and waiting facilities is to be constructed early in 2006 at the Heol Gouesnou Car Park site, next to Morrisons Supermarket. The site is within easy walking distance of the town centre. Bus services will continue to serve the Bulwark to set down and pick up passengers. Other sites had been considered for the location of the interchange but were ruled out due to their impact on public parking and pedestrian safety including the Bulwark and Tourist Information Centre.