Stagecoach South Wales

In January 1991 Western Travel[14] purchased the eastern division of National Welsh Omnibus Services with 180 buses and depots in Brynmawr, Chepstow, Crosskeys, Cwmbran and Ross on Wye. The operation was renamed Red & White,[1] the area's services having traded as Red & White Services until 1978. In 1992 Western Travel purchased Cynon Valley Transport which operated services in the Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil areas was purchased with 46 buses.

In February 1992 a 10% shareholding in Rhondda Buses[10] was purchased. Following the December 1991 collapse of National Welsh Omnibus Services, Rhondda Buses was formed to purchase the Caerphilly and Porth depots from the administrators. Rhondda Buses was owned by a consortium of British Bus, Potteries Motor Traction, Stevensons of Uttoxeter and Julian Peddle. In order to quell competition from neighbouring Red & White, Western Travel were sold a 10% share.[15] Services were operated under the Rhondda fleetname from the Porth depot and Caerphilly Busways from the Caerphilly depot. Rhondda had expanded by purchasing the services of Parfitts Motor Services of Rhymney Bridge, who operated in the Merthyr Tydfil (competing with Stagecoach Red & White) and upper Rhymney valley area.

In November 1993 Western Travel was sold to Stagecoach.[16] Red & White was rebranded as Stagecoach Red & White.

In December 1997 Stagecoach bought out the other Rhondda Buses consortium members which were now Arriva, FirstBus and Julian Peddle. Rhondda services were operated under the Stagecoach Rhondda fleetname, whilst the Caerphilly and Rhymney Valley services were incorporated into Stagecoach Red & White.

Alexander ALX200 in Newport bus station

Optare Versa on the 151 to Blackwood Interchange. The 151 was previously operated alongside Glyn Williams until Stagecoach purchased them.

In February 2000 all operations were rebranded as Stagecoach in South Wales. The Ross on Wye based services were rebranded as Stagecoach in Wye & Dean and transferred to neighbouring Stagecoach West. In September 2000 the services of Phil Anslow Travel were purchased with 28 minibuses, giving Stagecoach a greater presence in the Eastern Valleys.[17]

In November 2004 Stagecoach in South Wales purchased the remaining part of Phil Anslow Travel[18] with six minibuses and 15 coaches.[19] The bus services were integrated into Stagecoach in South Wales, whilst the coaching business became Red & White Coaches.[20] Subsequently Red & White Coaches failed to remain profitable and ceased in April 2006.

In February 2006 Stagecoach purchased Eastern Valleys independent operator Crosskeys Coach Hire[4] who traded as Glyn Williams Travel.[21] Glyn Williams' operating area was within that of Stagecoach in South Wales and many of their trunk services had been operated jointly with Stagecoach.

In 2008 the outstation at Bulwark, Chepstow was closed.[22]

In January 2010 Caerphilly County Borough Council sold its 33 bus Islwyn Borough Transport[6] subsidiary to Stagecoach.[23][24][25][26]

Volvo B10M travelling through Risca. One of many old buses that were previously used within the Wales division.

Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC seen in Cardiff, one of Stagecoach's many 'gold' standard vehicles

As at April 2014, the fleet consisted of 367 buses and coaches.[27] The fleet once consisted of step-entranced Dennis Darts, Volvo B10Ms and Volvo Olympians but now over time it consists mainly of single deckers, and rare double deckers (excluding double deckers for school services). In 2019, Stagecoach in South Wales began using their first double deckers since the early 2000's. The double deckers used were Alexander ALX400 which are used on School services.

Stagecoach in South Wales operate the most 'gold' standard vehicles in the entire Stagecoach division. These are Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC (used on routes 26, 151 and 132), Alexander Dennis Enviro300 (used on route X24), Alexander Dennis Enviro400 (used on route X3 at peak times) and Optare Solo SR (used on Cwmbran local services).

Stagecoach in South Wales also operate TrawsCymru routes - them being the T4 and T14. They operate MCV Evora on these routes.

The fleet today consists of:

• Wright StreetLite
• Optare Solo
• Optare Solo SR
• Dennis Dart
• Alexander Dennis Enviro200
• Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC
• Alexander Dennis Enviro300
• Alexander Dennis Enviro400
• MCV Evora

As at April 2013, Stagecoach South Wales operated eight depots in Aberdare, Blackwood, Brecon, Brynmawr, Caerphilly, Cwmbran, Merthyr Tydfil and Porth.[28]

In April 2014 Stagecoach announced the intended closure of the Brynmawr depot along with a reduction of services.[29] The depot closed on 21 July 2014 and became an outstation of the divisions Head Office.

• Bus transport in Cardiff

• Company website