Public transport users to and from the Rhondda Fach can now access a new ‘connector ticket’ covering both their train journey between Cardiff and Porth, and bus journey between Porth and Maerdy. It follows the recent opening of the Porth Bus Interchange, and aims to make local journeys more convenient.
Stagecoach South Wales and Transport for Wales have recently announced the new ‘Rhondda Fach Connector Ticket’ – which is now available to buy on the bus, the train, or at local train stations. The ticket enables commuters to use any valid Stagecoach service to travel between Porth and Rhondda Fach, and also catch the Transport for Wales train on the Cardiff line, south of Porth.
The new ticket is now available as a return or as a weekly ticket – full details, including pricing, were included in a recent announcement by Stagecoach.
Porth Bus Interchange opened at the end of January 2025, and Stagecoach began operating services from there on February 2. The multi-million pound project includes seven bus bays, a new ticket office, a new taxi rank, and information display screens within a modern and first-class building.
The facility was funded via the UK Government Levelling Up Fund, Welsh Government’s Local Transport Fund, the Cardiff Capital Region, and the European Regional Development Fund via the Welsh European Funding Office.
Councillor Andrew Morgan OBE, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Investment, said: “One of the key advantages of the Porth Bus Interchange is bringing together services under one roof, helping to tackle barriers that prevent people from using public transport as part of their everyday journeys – such as having to buy more than one ticket, waiting times between services, and walking between several sites.
“Thanks to Stagecoach and Transport for Wales, the new ‘Rhondda Fach Connector Ticket’ enables commuters to buy a single ticket covering their train journey south of Porth and their bus journey north, towards Rhondda Fach. They can easily switch between train and bus services at the new interchange – with Porth well-placed as a gateway location for this.
“The new facility is a central project within the Council’s Porth Regeneration Strategy, and is ready to take advantage of the more frequent rail services to be delivered via the South Wales Metro. Simplifying travel arrangements, and making them more convenient, is key to encouraging more people to use public transport – and the new connector ticket is a great example of this.”
