Bus route between Chepstow and Bristol saved

The Severn Express bus route, which operates between Chepstow and Bristol, has been saved by NAT Group.

The original service was operated by First Group and then Stagecoach and ran between Newport and Bristol via Chepstow. It will cease operation on Sunday , due to it making a loss of more than £5.000 a week.

However, today NAT Group announced that it will continue to operate the service on a six-month trial basis between Chepstow and Bristol. The new service will be called the x7 – Trawshafren.

The new service will not serve Newport. The new route will operate on weekdays with the early morning services starting in Magor before passing through Caldicot, Chepstow and Clifton on its way to Malborough Street in Bristol.

The six-month trial will allow NAT to see if there are any improvements needed, such as a revised timetable that may better suit the needs of commuters and students.

The bus company agreed to take over the service in partnership with TrwsCymru and Monmouthshire County Council after residents voiced their concerns.

The service will start from Monday so there are no gaps in service for commuters and key workers.

Users of the service will also benefit from a dedicated app, which will allow pre-booking, live vehicle tracking and advance cashless payments.

The leader of the council’s Labour Group, Cllr Dimitri Batrouni, said: “This is fantastic news. I would like to thank all those involved for finding a way to save this service.

“It is great news for the local area and for commuters.”

The NAT Group’s managing director Adam Keen said: “NAT Group are delighted to be able to provide a continuation of the established Severn Express bus route, providing connections and travel options for cross-border passengers.

“This is a great example of operator, local authority and Welsh Government working together for the good of the travelling public.

“I am sure that with the new technology, the dedicated drivers and the revised timetable, this route now has the very best possible chance of success”.

The cabinet member for infrastructure and neighbourhood services at the county council, Cllr Jane Pratt, said: ““Preserving vital services has and will always be a top priority for Monmouthshire County Council, especially during this difficult time.

“Keeping our towns and cities connected will be extremely important going forward, as we work to get our economy back up and running. I’m pleased we have been able to work with the Welsh Government to find a solution to saving this route.

“The pandemic has given us all a time to reflect on our impact on the environment. Going forward, I would encourage everyone to think about how they can help reduce their impact on climate change and public transport is vital in reducing our reliance on the car and I would encourage much greater use of public transport in the future to support the climate change emergency.”

To view the x7 timetable, visit https://www.natgroup.co.uk/bus-services/cardiff/x7-trawshafren/