Fourteen new Wrightbus double-deck diesel buses have recently entered service across the TrawsCymru network, and for passengers in some of Wales's more rural corners, that's a bigger deal than it might sound. TrawsCymru is TfW's longer distance bus network, funded by the Welsh Government specifically to link communities the trains can't, with timetables designed to connect into the wider rail network rather than compete with it.
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A newer double deck fleet on routes like these tends to mean fewer breakdowns, better reliability in winter and a more comfortable ride on what can be long cross-country journeys. It's a pattern this blog has tracked before, TrawsCymru already runs
electric Wrightbus vehicles on the T1 and continues to expand routes such as
the T4 operated by Celtic Travel, so the new double deckers build on ground already laid.
Zero Emission on the Way
Looking further ahead, Wrightbus has also secured a contract to supply six single-deck zero-emission electric buses, due for delivery in 2027. For passengers that means quieter, cleaner journeys are coming to more of the network over time, adding to Wrightbus's global operational fleet of more than 3,000 vehicles already in service worldwide.
Behind the Scenes
To shape what those next-generation vehicles will actually look and feel like for passengers, representatives from TfW visited Wrightbus's headquarters in Northern Ireland to meet the company's specification team.
The visit included a tour of the factory in Ballymena, giving the TfW team a look at the manufacturing process behind Wrightbus's buses and a chance to weigh up the design and specification options that ultimately shape the passenger experience, things like seating layout, accessibility features and interior finish.
A Manufacturer with Pedigree
It's worth knowing who's building the buses you're travelling on.
Wrightbus is celebrating 80 years at the forefront of UK bus manufacturing this year, and the TrawsCymru order lands in the same week it launched business operations in Australia.
Founded in 1946 as Robert Wright & Son Coachbuilders, the company pioneered aluminium framing and low-floor technology, the sort of accessibility innovation passengers now take for granted every time they step onto a bus without climbing stairs.
It went on to build the iconic
New Routemaster for London and developed the world's first hydrogen double-deck bus, a line of development it continues with prototypes such as its
zero-emission tri-axle bus.
Today, Wrightbus employs more than 2,300 people across its operations in Northern Ireland, Germany and Malaysia, supporting a further 7,500 jobs throughout its global supply chain, a reminder of just how much stands behind the bus you board each morning.
What They Said
Christian Reynolds, Managing Director of Wrightbus, said:
"It's fantastic to see our buses carrying passengers across Wales, helping to improve connectivity for communities.
"We're equally delighted to be building on that success with a further order of six electric buses. Welcoming the TfW team to our factory in Ballymena was a great opportunity to demonstrate the expertise and innovation that goes into every Wrightbus vehicle and to begin shaping the next generation of buses for Wales.
"As we celebrate our 80th anniversary, we're proud that buses designed and built in Northern Ireland and supporting a supply chain from all corners of the continent are continuing to play such an important role in the future of public transport across the UK."
The new Wrightbus buses form part of TfW's investment in expanding the TrawsCymru network, improving long-distance public transport links between towns and rural communities while supporting the Welsh Government's ambition to create a greener and more accessible transport network.
Lee Robinson, Executive Director for Regional Transport and Integration at TfW, said:
"The success of the TrawsCymru network highlights the important role buses play in connecting communities, particularly in rural parts of Wales, while providing sustainable transport options for passengers.
"These new Wrightbus vehicles are part of our investment to modernise the fleet across the network, helping to improve the customer experience and strengthen the T Network by making journeys between bus and rail simpler and easier.
"As we work with local authorities across Mid Wales ahead of franchising, investments like this are helping us build towards a fully integrated, fully franchised bus network for Wales."
What This Means for Passengers
The six electric single deckers due in 2027 will mark the next step in TrawsCymru's shift towards zero-emission running, following on from the network's earlier electric T1 vehicles.
Beyond the new buses themselves, it also comes as TfW works with local authorities across Mid Wales on plans for a fully franchised bus network, the kind of shift that tends to bring more say over routes, frequencies and fares back to the people who actually plan the network passengers use, rather than leaving those decisions to the commercial market.
Full details of TrawsCymru's routes and network can be found on the
Transport for Wales website.
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