Gower Explorer
Encyclopedia
The Gower Explorer is a bus service, previously operated by Veolia Transport Cymru
and now First Cymru
, which provides services to Gowerton
, Horton, Llangennith, Llanmadoc, Llanrhidian, Oxwich, Penclawdd
, Port Eynon
, Reynoldston and Rhossili
.
The service was launched in 2004 after a £575,500 transport grant from the Welsh Assembly Government
. Swansea Council used this grant to buy a fleet of six buses - four larger ones for the main routes and two small ones for the peninsula's tricky narrow lanes. Two east-west trunk routes and a linking north-south shuttle serve almost every village in the Gower, a prime tourist area west of Swansea.
In June 2010, Swansea Council announced withdrawal of bus subsidies to save £200,000 and the Gower Explorer will run on a commercial basis from July 19th 2010. Evening services will be severely curtailed and Sunday service on the northern trunk route will be withdrawn.
Transport award in 2006.
Veolia Transport Cymru
Veolia Transport Cymru is a division of the Veolia Transport group , part of the French multinational Veolia Environnement. Formed by the purchase of a number of smaller independent coach and bus firms, the company has its headquarters in Parc Nantgarw, mid way between Cardiff and...
and now First Cymru
First Cymru
First Cymru Buses Ltd. is a provider of public transport bus services in South Wales. First Cymru was formed from a number of privatised former bus companies, including South Wales Transport. Its headquarters are in Penlan, Swansea...
, which provides services to Gowerton
Gowerton
The village of Gowerton is situated about 4 miles north west of Swansea city centre, Wales. Gowerton is often known as the gateway to Gower. Gowerton's original name was Ffosfelin...
, Horton, Llangennith, Llanmadoc, Llanrhidian, Oxwich, Penclawdd
Penclawdd
Penclawdd is a village which is situated in the north of the Gower Peninsula in Swansea, Wales. Penclawdd is most famous for its local cockle industry which goes back for many years to Roman times. It falls within the Penclawdd electoral ward. It is one of the larger villages on the Gower Peninsula...
, Port Eynon
Port Eynon
Port Eynon is a village and community in the city and county of Swansea, Wales. The community has its own elected community council...
, Reynoldston and Rhossili
Rhossili
Rhossili is a small village and community on the southwestern tip of the Gower Peninsula near Swansea in Wales. Since the 1970s it has fallen within the boundaries of Swansea. It is within an area designated as the first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the United Kingdom...
.
The service was launched in 2004 after a £575,500 transport grant from the Welsh Assembly Government
Welsh Assembly Government
The Welsh Government is the devolved government of Wales. It is accountable to the National Assembly for Wales, the legislature which represents the interests of the people of Wales and makes laws for Wales...
. Swansea Council used this grant to buy a fleet of six buses - four larger ones for the main routes and two small ones for the peninsula's tricky narrow lanes. Two east-west trunk routes and a linking north-south shuttle serve almost every village in the Gower, a prime tourist area west of Swansea.
In June 2010, Swansea Council announced withdrawal of bus subsidies to save £200,000 and the Gower Explorer will run on a commercial basis from July 19th 2010. Evening services will be severely curtailed and Sunday service on the northern trunk route will be withdrawn.
Awards
The success of the Gower Explorer, most notably a rise in passengers on the southern route of 18.4%, while north Gower has seen a 16.5% increase, saw the service receive a prestigious GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
Transport award in 2006.