Time to Take the Wheel: Why Buses in Wales Need to Be Nationalised!

Before we had a car at the end of 2020, we relied heavily on buses to get about. Back then, they weren’t perfect - timekeeping was questionable at best - but at least they showed up, most of the time. You could get where you needed to go, maybe with a bit of a wait, but it was doable. Since then though? The service has nose-dived. Now it’s like a game of public transport roulette, and most of the time, you lose.

We went on a night out a couple of weeks ago - a rare event these days - and thought we’d be sensible, leave the car at home, and take the bus. Only to discover the last bus home was just after 20:30. Seriously? 8:30pm is now considered “late” enough to stop running buses? I remember when I used to work in Cardiff, I’d catch a bus at around 22:15 - maybe later - and it’d get me to my stop before carrying on to Tredegar and eventually back to base. And I’m pretty sure there was another bus after that.

That route is run by Stagecoach, and like every other private operator, they’ve been hacking away at services with the subtlety of an axe murderer. And they always have a reason, don’t they? “Not profitable”, “driver shortages”, “low demand”. Yet demand seems to mysteriously return every time they throw on a few more services during rugby or events - funny, that. Profit is clearly the only driver they care about, which is a massive problem for the people who rely on these buses for work, school, medical appointments, and just living a normal life.

And here’s the thing - this is all happening while the government is practically bullying people back into work. Job centres handing out sanctions like sweets, pushing the narrative that there’s work everywhere if you’re willing. But if you live in the valleys, or anywhere that isn’t a major city, and you don’t drive, what exactly are your options? There aren’t many jobs up the mountain, and if you can’t rely on a bus or train, you’re stuck.

Let’s be clear trains don’t go everywhere. They’re great when they show up, but try getting to somewhere like Tredegar, Dowlais Top, or half of Blaenau Gwent on a train. Good luck. Buses fill in those gaps - or at least, they used to.

That’s why I think Transport for Wales (TfW) needs to step in. TfW has its flaws -  what doesn’t?  but it’s publicly owned, answerable to the Welsh Government, and not driven purely by profit margins. That’s what we need right now: someone to run buses as a public service, not a cash cow.

Let TfW take over routes from companies like Stagecoach. Give us a joined-up, consistent network that actually cares about getting people from A to B - and maybe even back again later the same day. Imagine that!

Now before anyone labels me a card-carrying socialist - I’m not. But I’m not a capitalist either. If there’s such a thing as a social capitalist, maybe that’s me. I believe in working hard, earning your way, but I also believe in giving everyone a fair chance to do that. And public transport is one of the basics. It’s not a luxury, it’s not optional - it’s essential.

We nationalised the trains, and that was a step in the right direction. Now it’s time we did the same with buses. Because relying on Stagecoach or any of the other big players to do the right thing is like expecting a shark to go vegan - it’s just not in their nature.

Let’s take back control. Let’s build a proper bus service in Wales - for the people, not for the shareholders.


TFW Bus (copyright TFW)



TFW fflecsi bus (copyright TFW)


Location: Wales, UK

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