2013-01-14 — /travelprnews.com/ — Greyhound coach services, which currently operate between Swansea and Cardiff, are to be extended from 11 March to provide a direct luxury coach service to and from Swansea, Cardiff, Newport and Bristol Airport.
Having worked closely with Bristol Airport on the plans, the development of the new route will see up to an hourly Greyhound UK service launched between Swansea and Bristol Airport from Monday 11 March (up to two hourly service on weekends). In launching it, the company is not only responding to customer requests but is also increasing travel options for people in South and West Wales. Specifically the extension of the service will enable people in South Wales who wish to travel further than Cardiff ie onwards to Bristol City Centre and Bristol Airport, to do so with more ease. The new service to Bristol Airport will operate as a limited stop service, calling at Cardiff Bus Station, Newport Railway Station, University of the West of England (Frenchay Campus), Bristol Bus Station and Bristol Airport in addition to its current route between Swansea and Cardiff. End to end journey time from Swansea Bus Station to Bristol Airport will be just two hours and 45 minutes in the off peak (three hours during the morning peak period), while from Cardiff (Bus Station) journeys will take just one hour and 40 minutes.
The Greyhound UK coaches will drop off on the terminal forecourt, just metres away from the check in hall, and will make it much easier to get to and from Bristol Airport from South Wales without having to worry about changing between different modes of transport.
Talking about the development, Marc Reddy, Regional Commercial and Business Growth Director for First in the South West and Wales, says: “The extension of this service is significant. We believe there is real potential for growth here, both from people in Wales who want to be able to access Bristol city centre and Bristol Airport more easily, but also from people and businesses in North Bristol, who for instance will benefit from a direct coach link from the University of the West of England (Frenchay Campus) to Bristol Airport. We anticipate the news will be particularly welcomed by those at UWE, the MOD site in Abbeywood and at Airbus and Rolls Royce, who will no doubt find the new service useful. We believe that the new service will also compliment the existing Airport Flyer service, which we currently operate on behalf of the airport, giving people additional choices over how they get to and from the airport.”
Robert Sinclair, Chief Executive Officer at Bristol Airport, adds: “We are delighted First has taken this step to enhance connectivity for people and businesses in Wales. This is an exciting new addition to the public transport options available for passengers in an important part of our catchment area.
“The new Greyhound UK service will enable people in South and West Wales to access the extensive range of destinations available from Bristol Airport, including recently announced bmi regional flights to Hamburg and Frankfurt. The Greyhound service provides a convenient alternative to much longer journeys to Gatwick or Heathrow. Inbound visitors will also benefit, making it easier to reach venues such as the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and Swansea’s Liberty Stadium for those attending sporting fixtures or concerts.”
The new Swansea – Bristol Airport Greyhound UK service will start on Monday 11 March. Tickets for the coach, which will be priced from £10, will be available to book in advance via the Greyhound UK website (www.greyhounduk.com) from 28 January 2013.
For more information about Greyhound UK Service or to book advance tickets for the service from 28 January, log onto: www.greyhounduk.com. Tickets can also be booked by phone, from 28 January, by calling 0900 096 0000 (calls are charged at 49p per minute from BT landlines at all times. Calls from mobiles will be higher. Lines are open from 9am to 5pm weekdays).