AN AWARD winning rural bus service tailored to meet the needs of its passengers is going from strength to strength.

Since taking to the road four years ago, Bwcabus has carried nearly 65,000 passenger journeys, covered over 458,000 miles and has over 2,000 registered users.

It operates in response to pre-booked journey requests from 7am – 7pm, Monday to Saturday. The service enables people to travel between local towns and villages within north Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion.

Passenger Alison Pimbblet of Cribyn said: “Bwcabus has become an essential service to me and my family. Its flexibility has allowed me to work and its affordability has aided my teenage daughter to attend college and meet up with friends.”

Bwcabus can assist with access healthcare, local services, employment, and training or visiting family and friends.

The scheme is supported by Carmarthenshire Community Challenge.

Carmarthenshire executive board member for sustainability, Cllr Pam Palmer said: “Bwcabus not only improves access for rural communities by providing a vital link to those without other means, but also helps reduce congestion on the roads, and reduce our carbon footprints and travel effects on the environment.”

The rural scheme also operates a number of fixed routes that do not need to be pre-booked on a ‘Hail and Ride’ basis. Passengers just turn up and catch a bus as they would for a regular bus service.

Bwcabus service is operated by Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion Local Authorities, in partnership with University of South Wales and Traveline Cymru, funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government.