New pandemic procedures introduced on First Cymru buses

Public transport company First Cymru has introduced measures across all of its services designed to help keep passengers safe and limit potential exposure to the Covid-19 coronavirus.

With a reduced capacity of 25 per cent to ensure passengers can remain two metres apart, the company is using a mix of vehicles on several of its busiest routes to ensure that key workers can continue to use public transport to travel to and from work.

Windows will be left open to ensure a constant flow of air, and sashes have been placed on seats to indicate where passengers can sit. Eating and drinking is not allowed, and passengers will need to wash their hands or use sanitiser both before and after using a bus service.

Once a bus has reached its 25 per cent capacity, a ‘FULL’ sign will be seen on the front of the vehicle. It will only call at bus stops to allow passengers to exit, and a ‘one-on, one-off’ process will be in place. In line with Welsh Government advice, people are still advised to work from home where possible and only make essential journeys for items such as food or medicine.

Public transport companies are doing all they can to help key workers travel safely between their homes and work during the pandemic, and I’d like to thank the drivers for their efforts too.

Under a Welsh Government initiative, key workers are able to travel for free, while any fare-paying passengers are being asked to use cashless payments wherever possible in order to limit the risk of exposure and help protect drivers and passengers alike.

Councillor Richard Young, Cabinet Member for Communities

With services such as the 63 between Bridgend and Porthcawl increasing to every 30 minutes, a timetable of the latest bus routes covering Bridgend County Borough has been published at the First Cymru website. Find out more about the latest bus routes on the First Cymru website.

You can also find details and timetables for other local public transport providers at the Easyway website, Peyton Travel website and Stagecoach website.