FAQs

It means decisions about bus services in Wales, including routes, timetables, fares, hours of operation and service quality standards would be made by the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales. We’d make these decisions in partnership with local authorities. Private bus operators would then bid for contracts to run services to our specification.

Wales’ bus network isn’t working as it should. Passenger numbers have been falling for many years despite significant public funding.

Many people face too many barriers to bus travel, including poor reliability, tickets being accepted by some operators and not by others, inaccurate information and bus services not linking up with each other - or other forms of transport like trains.

Change is needed to create a bus network that you can be confident to use for work, education or leisure, wherever you live in Wales.

There would be one ticket, allowing you to travel seamlessly on different bus routes, or by bus and train.

There would be one timetable, making it quicker and easier for you to plan your journey.

Buses would be timed to connect with each other and with trains, so you’d spend less time waiting for connections.

Multiple services wouldn’t follow the same route (often arriving at bus stops at the same time), making them more efficient and easier for you to navigate.

Buses would depart at consistent times past each hour, so you’d become familiar with them and wouldn’t always need to refer to the timetable.

Services would have consistent operating hours, providing more certainty if you’re relying on the bus to get you home.

Bus franchising in Wales remains on course to be fully implemented by the end of 2030, delivering a more integrated, reliable and customer-focused bus network across the country.

Development of the secondary legislation that will underpin franchising continues to progress and will provide the foundation for implementation across Wales. To support a successful and sustainable transition, the sequencing of delivery has been refined.

Once the secondary legislation is finalised and approved by the Senedd, franchising will be introduced in South West Wales in 2028, followed by North Wales in 2029, and South East and Mid Wales in 2030.

This phased approach will enable learning from each stage to inform subsequent rollouts, helping to maximise benefits for passengers, operators and communities while maintaining our commitment to full implementation by the end of 2030.

The full Welsh Government proposal for bus franchising can be found here:

Bus Services (Wales) Act 2026

You can share your views and help shape our proposals for bus franchising in Wales at TfW have your say.

You’ll be able to identify changes as these will have an alphanumeric numbering system. For example, the 82 becomes the u82. If the route won’t change, it keeps the same number it has today.

The Proposed Base Network is the network we believe we can deliver under current resources (e.g. funding and available buses and drivers). We won’t be able to improve every bus service straight away. We’re aiming to deliver the best services we can under current constraints.

We’d encourage you to try to complete the online survey as it has detailed information and maps to help you give informed feedback on our proposals.

If this isn't possible, you can visit one of our public drop-in events or contact us at tfw.wales/contact-us. We can help you fill in the survey at the drop-in or over the phone.

Unfortunately, we can only formally record responses received through the survey.

Please visit one of our public drop-in events where our colleagues and representatives from your local authority can chat to you about the Proposed Base Network and answer any questions you have.

If you cannot attend a drop-in, please contact us at tfw.wales/contact-us

Please note, we won't be able to answer questions about your existing bus service. You’ll need to contact your local operator for information on this

You can find ways to contact us here.