First Cymru

First Cymru Buses Ltd. (part of First Group) is a provider of public transport bus services in South West Wales. First Cymru was formed from a number of privatised former bus companies, including South Wales Transport. Its headquarters are in Penlan, Swansea. There are also other depots across South and West Wales such as Port Talbot, Pontardawe, Haverfordwest, Llanelli and Carmarthen.

Operations

First Cymru employs about 1000 staff, has a fleet of about 250 buses and carries around 21 million passengers a year. The company operates around 200 bus services in the south Wales area, in and between Haverfordwest, Pembroke, Tenby, Carmarthen, Llanelli, Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot, Pontardawe, Maesteg, Bridgend and Cardiff.

In addition, the company provides a frequent shuttle service from Swansea to the capital, Cardiff. For students of Swansea University, service 82, branded the Bright Orange Bus (abbreviated to BOB), links the University to both the Student Village in one direction and the City Centre in the other. First Cymru operates one Park and Ride service, which is located on Fabian Way (off M4 jct. 42).

The company offers coach hire for airport transfer, school trips, sports events and wedding parties. First Cymru operates the regular National Express 201 service from Swansea bus station to London Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

Bus fleet

First Cymru's current fleet consists mainly of low floor single-deck vehicles for servicing local and regional routes. Most vehicles are painted in First Group's pink, white and blue livery. The dedicated vehicles for Swansea University are however painted bright orange. In the Carmarthen area, there are a number of yellow liveried vehicles for school services.

wansea Metro

In Swansea, a joint venture between the City and County of Swansea and First Cymru to introduce 37-seater articulated buses, referred to as Street Cars, as part of the Swansea Metro bus rapid transit scheme.

wansea Park and Ride

The city has three Park and Ride sites, located at FforestFach (off M4 jct. 47), Landore (off M4 jct. 45) and Fabian Way (off M4 jct. 42), the 502 Fabian Way service is provided by First Cymru as well as the 501 service which operates from Landore which until recently was operated by Veolia Transport Cymru. The 503 service from Fforestfach is still operated by Veolia Transport Cymru.

The services are charged at £2 for all-day secure parking which includes return travel for up to four passengers to the city centre. Both Landore and Fabian Way have achieved the Secure Car Park Award, and tend to grow in popularity each year. The buses tend to have a different colour scheme for each route with the City and County of Swansea emblem.501 have a green colour scheme,The 502 is of a blue colour scheme, and the 503 is of a orange colour scheme.

ee also

*Transport in Wales

References

External links

* [http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/wales/swwales/home/index.php First Cymru]