A number of changes to local bus services are now in place across the County Borough, to improve upon the foundation level of core journeys that were agreed in the initial response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

During the lockdown period, this foundation level of service was agreed between bus operators and the Council, in order to control the spread of the virus. With travel restrictions in place, this was considered to be sufficient to allow key workers to access their place of employment, and for local residents without a vehicle to access shops to buy essential food and medicine.

With support from Welsh Government’s Bus Emergency Scheme, a number of improvements to local services have started:

Services 64 and 65, Bridgend to Talbot Green (First Cymru) –re-introduced and running hourly.

Service 7, Blackwood to Pontypridd (Harris Coaches) – returned back to running hourly.

Service 106, Ynysybwl to Pontypridd (NAT Group) – reverted back to every 20 minutes and extended to serve Coleg y Cymoedd, Nantgarw, via Catherine Street and the A470.

Service 404, Pontypridd to Bridgend (NAT Group) – increased and back to running hourly.

Service 8, Glyneath to Cwmwman (Stagecoach) – resumed hourly journeys.

Service 60, Aberdare to Pontypridd (Stagecoach) – resumed hourly journeys but re-routed via Canal Road, Cwmbach, between Aberdare and ASDA.

Service 61, Aberdare to Pontypridd (Stagecoach) – now running twice hourly.

Service 120/130, Blaencwm/Blaenrhondda to Pontypridd/Caerphilly (Stagecoach) – extra school journeys added.

Service 132, Maerdy to Cardiff (Stagecoach) – extra school/college journeys added.

Service 133, Wattstown to Llwyncelyn (Stagecoach) – resumed school journeys.

Service 150, Porth to Gilfach Goch (Stagecoach) – extra school journeys added.

Service 172, Aberdare to Bridgend for Porthcawl (Stagecoach) – reverted back to a two-hourly service on Monday to Saturday.

Customers should contact Traveline Cymru for further updates by visiting www.traveline.cymru or by calling 0800 464 0000.

Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation Services, said: “In response to the Coronavirus and the initial lockdown period, the Council worked closely with bus operators to strike the right balance between providing a foundation level of service and reducing the spread of the virus.

“I’m pleased that a series of improvements to this foundation level of service have come into force from this week – with further increases in local services across the County Borough also expected shortly. It is important to remind those accessing public transport that they must wear a suitable three-layer face covering during their journey, as mandated by Welsh Government.”