Three Towns Forum
The Local => Ask a Local => Topic started by: Jayrea on June 20, 2011, 06:37:41 am
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Hello.
I'm going to be staying in Colwyn Bay early next month and wanted to know the price of a return ticket on Arriva Buses from Colwyn Bay to Llandudno/Conwy/Rhyl. I've looked on the Arriva North Wales website and although it gives info on types of tickets available there isn't any pricing information. I just wanted to compare prices with the trains to see which mode of transport is cheapest. Thanks in advance.
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As a guide, I think Colwyn Bay to Llandudno Return is about £3.50, with the 12 bus every 12 mins during the day and the 14,15 every 30 mins. Buses from Colwyn Bay to Conwy (14, 15, 27) are a little less frequent but still ok. Going to Rhyl, the 12 bus will take you straight there and runs every 12 mins during daytime weekdays.
If you're staying for a few days, the Arriva Weekly Pass would be a good idea at £17.
Going from Colwyn Bay to Rhyl, the train is much quicker but a pound or two more.
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Other options include a £6 Day Saver or a £17 Weekly Saver which seem to provide good value on the buses.
http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/multi-journey-saver-tickets-in-wales/ (http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/multi-journey-saver-tickets-in-wales/)
Alternatively, you may wish to consider a North Wales Rover for £8 per day for both bus and train.
http://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk/ExploreWales/NorthWalesRover (http://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk/ExploreWales/NorthWalesRover)
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have a look at the traveline website, that might help
http://traveline.info/ (http://traveline.info/)
or Transport Direct
http://www.transportdirect.info/Web2/Home.aspx (http://www.transportdirect.info/Web2/Home.aspx)
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Does anyone know of a bus or coach the runs from the Three Towns area to Chester please? I do not particularly like the drive and with two of us, the train is expensive at around £30, (and that's with one of us using a rail card). Any ideas would be greatfully received. $thanx$
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Try National Express--- they seem to have a route planner.
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Getting a bus from Llandudno to Chester is feasible...but it takes a very long time!
Basically, you get the 12 from Llandudno to Rhyl, then change there for the 11 Rhyl - Chester service. I would imagine the total journey would be close to 3 hours.
Arriva Day Ticket is £6.50.
http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/serviceInformation.aspx?id=17290 (http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/serviceInformation.aspx?id=17290)
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Martin go to the Info. office at the library you can get tickets for Nat. Express there and if you are a pensioner can get a reduction if you buy a special card - like on the railways. There is a London bus goes from the coach park on Mostyn Broadway to London and there's also a Liverpool bus both of which go via Chester. There may well be others. They will tell you times. I went to London and left here at 9 ish and got to London at 5.45!
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DaveR - Thanks for that, it was as I thought, not at all sure a six hour round trip would be all that inviting. Llechwedd - That sounds promising, with regard to London, we had wanted to visit again, it's years since we were last there. Thanks all. $thanx$
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I do not particularly like the drive and with two of us, the train is expensive at around £30, (and that's with one of us using a rail card). Any ideas would be greatfully received. $thanx$
Martin, if you have a senior/disabled railcard then Arriva Trains Wales have an Arriva Club 55 Ticket for £16 return online to Chester.
It is available until 24 March 2013.
In fact, for that price, you can even go to Manchester or Cardiff, if you fancy !!
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I've done the Arriva bus to Chester as Dave R descibes - took 3 hrs and went through paces I'd never heard of!!
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The train journey to London is now down to about 3 hours (depending on change at Chester if necessary) You can pick up some really cheap fares if you book in advance - have a look at nationalrail website.
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I saw this thread before I and the wife went to North Wales last week.
We stayed in Colwyn Bay for a night with a view to going into Llandudno. Usual stuff. Eat and a few drinks. But travel? Ow!
When we did exactly the same, twice before (last year and the year before), we got the train from Colwyn Bay to Llandudno, and back. This was reasonably priced and trains out were no problem. But the last one back to Colwyn Bay from Llandudno is at about 9.45PM, and therefore rather early if you are out on the town. One at 11.00pm would be vastly better and serve many along the north Wales coast IMHO.
So this time we opted for the bus. The timetable stated the last one back from Llandudno was at about 11.10PM, which is more realistic. I looked here for guidance on fares. Perhaps others can read this for totally accurate information. We got the number 12 from central Colwyn Bay and found the following out from the driver:
Me "two returns to Llandudno please".
Driver "sorry. We don't do returns" (!!!!!)
Me "Oh. Two singles please".
Driver " £3.20 each (!!!!)"
Me "Ow! Thats a lot".
Driver "a day saver is £7.95" (Or more than double the single fare).
Me " Its only £4.50 day return on the train"
Driver "that doesn't surprise me".
I end up getting x4 singles that evening. Cost me nearly £13. No returns at all. Two returns on the train would have been £9. I couldn't believe it. The bus should be cheaper. Its a relatively short bus ride. Plus the train is far quicker!
How is that justified? The bus fare is extortionate from Colwyn Bay to Llandudno.
Others beware. The fares were not in the timetable.
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There are far more buses per hour and far more bus stops as well.
Furthermore, not all trains go direct from Llandudno to Colwyn Bay and vice versa.
So the answer is to use a bus for that short journey.
It is much cheaper than a taxi.
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The bus fares are very high, we drive everywhere much cheaper and nicer! It seems that a large percentage of bus passengers have free passes for various reasons and the others have to pay extra!
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The main problem is that there is no competition so they can charge whatever they want,
even the trains are operated by the same group (Arriva)
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The main problem is that there is no competition so they can charge whatever they want,
even the trains are operated by the same group (Arriva)
And there, I feel, is the crux of the issue. A near monopoly situation.
Here in Sheffield, a similar journey on the bus would be @£2. But there is competition. £3.20 for that CB to Llandudno short journey is extortionate. I thought the driver was joking!
In my opinion, a bus should always be a cheaper option than the train (between the same two places), because a train option is superior in virtually every way. More room. Less stops. More direct. No traffic holdups. Quicker. Faster. Pleasanter. More leg room. Plus the view from this train (Conwy castle) is lovely. As long as there is a train to get... in this case there isn't a later one back. I would rather get a train anyday, for these reasons. But I would expext it to cost more.... not less!
The train is more costly to implement, and therefore higher fares are charged, generally. Thats the norm. Beeching's axe fell all those years ago on this basis. Costs. Buses were seen as the cheaper alternative Buses were deregulated as well back in the 1980's. All things considered, I cannot see how it can be justified for the bus fare to be (much) more expensive than the train, between the same two places. Unless of course, price fixing is going on (he says, answering his own question....).
Out of interest. How much is a taxi between Colwyn Bay and Llandudno? Do I need my heart attack pills handy?
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There are far more buses per hour and far more bus stops as well.
Furthermore, not all trains go direct from Llandudno to Colwyn Bay and vice versa.
So the answer is to use a bus for that short journey.
It is much cheaper than a taxi.
But.... the bus is still much more expensive than the train. And that should never be the case IMHO. In fact I think its absurd.
The train stops at Llandudno Junction and Deganwy so it serves a pretty good area. Don't think there are any direct ones between Colwyn Bay and Llandudno.
The bus is very expensive.
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On the basis of those figures, you're quite right. I suspect there are two issues: Llandudno - Colwyn Bay by train serves two stops and thus two areas. The same journey by bus serves several stops and thus they have a captive market. No idea what the taxi fare is, however.
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I find Taith rover tickets good value. Valid on both trains and all buses within local authority areas - you can buy as multiples for as many council areas as you want. They are better value than Arriva buses own rovers as they give more flexibility.
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You'll just have to get older, live in Wales, and then apply for your Bus Pass. It works for me. $walesflag$