Neath Port Talbot Council has arranged for two free to all shuttle vehicles to act as a temporary last-minute solution to the axing by a local transport company of two vital bus services.
A number of bus routes are being cancelled or reduced across Wales due to the uncertainty around the Welsh Government’s continued funding of bus services and the reduction in passenger numbers following COVID.
South Wales Transport informed the council that as from Saturday, July 22nd, 2023 it was ceasing Bus Service 202: Neath to Port Talbot and Port Talbot to Neath and Bus Service 204: Neath to Caewathan and Caewathan to Neath.
As a result, the council held a series of discussions with local bus operators and has now organised a free to all shuttle vehicle operated by Forge Travel to replace Bus Service 202 and for another free to all shuttle vehicle operated by Select Coaches to replace Bus Service 204.
These will operate from MONDAY to FRIDAY only (starting on Monday 24th July to Friday 1st September). (See below for pick up times)
The Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, Cllr Steve Hunt, explained: “Together with Chief Executive Karen Jones and other council representatives I attended a packed public meeting in Briton Ferry on the evening of Friday, July 14th to find what this would mean to our residents.
“A number of them were in tears as they told us of their fears about not being able to attend hospital appointments, not being able to visit friends, get to work or go shopping – residents, learners and businesses will all be severely disadvantaged.
“We worked hard to come up with the temporary alternatives in a short space of time and we will continue to work with local transport companies in search of a permanent solution.
“I have spoken publicly about the need for more certainty from the Welsh Government about its continued funding of public bus services and will continue to lobby for this while being grateful for the funding for this temporary arrangement from Welsh Government.”
Bus Service 202 Replacement
(To avoid long delays between pick up and your service 87 connection, please stick to the times below as the shuttle will only operate on a two hourly basis)
From Neath to Port Talbot the pick-up locations and times are as follows:
Briton Ferry Old Road 08:50 10:50 12:50 14:50 16:50
Old Road Melyn Park 08:51 10:51 12:51 14:51 16:51
Lodge Cross Crown Inn. (change here for service 87 for onward travel to Port Talbot via the hospital) 08:55 10:55 12:55 14:55 16:55
Service 87 to Neath Port Talbot hospital departs 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00
Shelone Terrace 09:07 11:07 13:07 15:07 17:07
Heol Morfa (parc Newydd) 09:08 11:08 13:08 15:08 17:08
Glan Y Mor Street 09:11 11:11 13:11 15:11 17:11
Llansawel Primary School 09:15 11:15 13:15 15:15 17:15
Briton Ferry Old Post Office (change here for service 87 for onward travel to Port Talbot via the hospital) 09:17 11:17 13:17 15:17 17:17
Service 87 to hospital departs 09:22 11:22 13:22 15:22 17:22
Mayberry Road Shops 09:20 11:20 13:20 15:20 17:20
Baglan Library 09:22 11:22 13:22 15:22 17:22
Blaenbaglan Primary 09:25 11:25 13:25 15:25 17:25
Baglan Spar 09:27 11:27 13:27 15:27 17:27
Baglan Railway Station 09:28 11:28 13:28 15:28 17:28
Village Road 09:29 11:29 13:29 15:29 17:29
Morrisons Baglan 09:31 11:31 13:31 15:31 17:31
Arrive at hospital (change here for service 87 for onward travel to Port Talbot) 09:34 11:34 13:34 15:34 17:34
Service 87 departs to Port Talbot 09:42 11:42 13:42 15:44 17:44
From Port Talbot to Neath the pick-up locations and times are as follows:
Service 87 arrives at hospital from Port Talbot (change here for the shuttle vehicle for return journey) 09:47 11:47 13:47 15:47 17:47
Neath and Port Talbot Hospital 09:48 11:48 13:48 15:48 17:48
Morrisons Baglan 09:51 11:51 13:51 15:51 17:51
Village Road 09:53 11:53 13:53 15:53 17:53
Baglan Railway Station 09:54 11:54 13:54 15:54 17:54
Baglan Spar 09:55 11:55 13:55 15:55 17:55
Blaenbaglan Primary 09:57 11:57 13:57 15:57 17:57
Baglan Library 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00
Mayberry Road Shops 10:02 12:02 14:02 16:02 18:02
Briton Ferry opposite Old Post Office. 10:05 12:05 14:05 16:05 18:05
Service 87 Departs Old Post Office to Neath, 10:06 12:06 14:06 16:06 18:06
Or 10:26 12:26 14:26 16:26 18:26
Briton ferry Old Post Office 10:06 12:06 14:06 16:06 18:06
Llansawel Primary School 10:08 12:08 14:08 16:08 18:08
Glan Y Mor Street 10:12 12:12 14:12 16:12 18:12
Heol Morfa (parc Newydd) 10:15 12:15 14:15 16:15 18:15
Shelone Terrace 10:16 12:16 14:16 16:16 18:16
Arrive Lodge Cross (Ynys Maerdy Rd) (change here for service 87 for onward travel to Neath) 10:17 12:17 14:17 16:17 18:17
Service 87 Departs Lodge Cross (Neath Rd) to Neath 10:28 12:28 14:28 16:28 18:31
Lodge Cross (Ynys Maerdy Rd) 10:18 12:18 14:18 16:18 18:18
Old Road Melyn Park 10:22 12:22 14:22 16:22 18:22
Briton Ferry Old Road 10:23 12:23 14:23 16:23 18:23
Castle Bingo (change here for service 87 for onward travel to Neath) 10:24 12:24 14:24 16:24 18:24
Service 87 Departs Castle Bingo to Neath 10:29 12:29 14:29 16:29 18:32
Bus Service 204 Replacement
To avoid long delays between pick up and your service 4 connection, please stick to the times below as the shuttle will only operate at certain times.
From Caewathan to Neath the pick-up locations and times are as follows:
Caewathan Community Centre 08:30 10:30 12:30 14:30
Burrows Road, Rock & Fountain 08:35 10:35 12:35 14:35
Neath Abbey (change here for service 4 for onward travel to Neath) 08:40 10:40 12:40 14:40
From Neath to Caewathan the pick-up locations and times are as follows:
Service 4 arrives at Neath Abbey from Neath (change here for the shuttle vehicle for return journey) 09:25 11:25 15:25 16:25
Burrows Road, Rock & Fountain 09:30 11:30 15:30 16:30
Caewathan Community Centre 09:35 11:35 15:35 16:35
