View source for Newport Bus

{{Short description|Municipal bus operator in Newport, Wales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox bus company
| name             = Newport Bus<br />{{Lang|cy|Bws Casnewydd}}
| logo             = Newport Transport logo.png
| logo_alt         =
| image            = 2024 Yutong U11DD.jpg
| image_caption    = [[Yutong U11DD]] in July 2024
| company_slogan   = Make The Switch
| parent           = [[Newport City Council]]
| founded          = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1901|07|01}}
| commenced        = 
| ceased           = 
| defunct          = 
| headquarters     = Corporation Road, Newport
| locale           = [[Newport, Wales]]
| service_area     = [[South Wales]]   [[ Forest Of Dean]]
| service_type     = Bus
| alliance         = 
| routes           = 73 (including school routes) <ref name="Routes">{{cite web|url=https://www.newportbus.co.uk/services#timetables |title=Routes & Maps |author=<!--Not stated-->|publisher=Newport Bus|access-date=2 December 2022}}</ref>
| stops            = 
| destinations     = [[Cardiff]]<br />[[Chepstow]]<br />[[Monmouth]]<br />[[Newport, Wales|Newport]]<br />[[Cribbs Causeway]]<br />[[Bristol]]<br />[[Lydney]]<br />[[ Cinderford]]
| hubs             = [[Newport bus station]]
| stations         = 
| lounge           = 
| fleet            = 
| ridership        = <!-- Daily ridership --> 
| annual_ridership = 7.6 million<ref name="About">{{cite web|url=https://www.newportbus.co.uk/about |title=About Newport Bus|author=<!--Not stated-->|publisher=Newport Bus|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref>
| fuel_type        = Diesel<br />Electric
| operator         = Newport Transport Limited<ref name="CHEntry">{{cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/01997971|title=Newport Transport Limited|author=<!--Not stated-->|department=[[Companies House]]|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref>
| ceo              = 
|leader_type      = Chair<br />Managing Director
|leader           = Cllr Debbie Harvey<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://democracy.newport.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=62|title=Councillor details - Councillor Debbie Harvey|date=2 March 2022|website=democracy.newport.gov.uk}}</ref><br />Scott Pearson<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newportbus.co.uk/media/a-christmas-message|title=A Christmas Message|date=20 December 2019|publisher=Newport Bus|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref>
| website          = {{URL |https://www.newportbus.co.uk/}}
}}

'''Newport Bus''' (the operating name of Newport Transport Limited) is the main provider of [[Bus transport in the United Kingdom|bus services]] in the city of [[Newport, Wales]]. A [[limited company]] whose shares are wholly owned by [[Newport City Council]], it is one of the few remaining [[Municipal bus company|municipal bus companies]] in the United Kingdom.

== History ==
In 1901, the Newport Corporation took over the town's horse-drawn bus service, establishing a municipal bus operation.<ref name="Commercial-1">{{cite magazine |last=Millier|first=Noel|date=5 September 1981|title=Newport plays the Scania variations|url=http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/5th-september-1981/27/newport-plays-the-scania-variations|magazine=[[Commercial Motor]]|pages=27–29|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref>

Motorbus services began in April 1924,<ref>{{cite magazine|date=3 April 1928|title=Cardiff and Newport as Bus Centres|url=http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/3rd-april-1928/63/cardiff-and-newport-as-bus-centres|magazine=[[Commercial Motor]]|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref> although the corporation was prohibited from running services beyond [[Rogerstone]] and [[Langstone, Newport|Langstone]] without the assent of local councils by the Newport Corporation Act 1925.<ref name="Commercial-1" /><ref>{{cite magazine|date=4 August 1925|title=Bus Developments in South Wales|url=http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/4th-august-1925/23/bus-developments-in-south-wales|magazine=[[Commercial Motor]]|access-date=28 April 2020|quote=These [extra-boundary] services are to be established under the newly obtained powers of the authority under which the assent of the local councils concerned in the routes had to be obtained.}}</ref> This prohibition was removed in 1981, allowing then-Newport Borough Council to operate more extensive services.<ref name="Commercial-1" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1981/694/contents/made |title=The Newport (Revocation of Restrictions) Order 1981|author=<!--Not stated-->|publisher=[[Legislation.gov.uk]]|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref>

By 1985, the Borough Transport Department held responsibility for the town's bus services.<ref name="1987accounts">{{cite report|author=Newport Transport Limited |title=Newport Transport Limited, Directors Report on the Accounts for the Period 10th March 1986 to 31st March 1987|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/01997971/filing-history/OTk1Nzk1MDFhZGlxemtjeA/document?format=pdf&download=0|publisher=[[Companies House]] |access-date=28 April 2020|format=PDF}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newporttransport.co.uk/|title=About Newport Transport|publisher=Newport Transport|access-date=28 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031205234958/http://www.newporttransport.co.uk/|archive-date=5 December 2003}}</ref> Following passage of the [[Transport Act 1985]], which [[Bus deregulation in Great Britain|deregulated]] the UK bus network and required local councils to transfer the functions of their bus operations to commercial entities, a stand-alone company [[Private company limited by shares|limited by shares]] was incorporated on 10 March 1986.<ref name="CHEntry" /> Initially named Newport Buses Ltd, the company was renamed Newport Transport Ltd on 9 October 1986,<ref name="CHEntry" /> before formally taking over operation of bus services in Newport from the Borough Transport Department on 26 October 1986.<ref name="1987accounts" />

In the 1980s, Newport Transport was the largest operator of [[Scania AB|Scanias]] in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=20 September 1986|title=Newport sticks with Scanias|page=20|url=http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/20th-september-1986/20/newport-sticks-with-scanias|magazine=[[Commercial Motor]]|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref> It also operated [[Dodge 50 Series#Renault 50|Renault 50]] [[midibus]]es.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=7 January 1988|title=Renault order well received|url=http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/7th-january-1988/17/renault-order-well-received|magazine=[[Commercial Motor]]|page=17|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref>

The bus operation was rebranded from Newport Transport to Newport Bus in 2011.{{citation needed|reason=Newport Bus branding can been seen in photos dated 2009 and earlier.|date=April 2020}}

After receiving a £1 million grant from the [[Office of Low Emission Vehicles]] in February 2019,<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Electric buses for Cardiff and Caerphilly win funding|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-47146844|work=[[BBC News]]|date=6 February 2020|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref> the company placed an order for 15 fully-electric, zero-emission [[Yutong E12]] buses. The first demonstrator vehicle, funded by the grant, began operating in August 2019,<ref>{{cite news|last=Bird|first=Nelli|date=19 August 2019|title=Electric buses: Wales' first to hit the roads in Newport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-49374665|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref> with the remaining vehicles entering service in 2020,<ref>{{cite press release|date=5 June 2019|title=Announcing our own fleet of zero emission fully electric buses |url=https://www.newportbus.co.uk/media/announcing-our-own-fleet-of-zero-emission-fully-electric-buses|publisher=Newport Transport|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=Newport Transport orders electric Yutong fleet|url=https://cbwmagazine.com/newport-transport-orders-electric-yutong-fleet/|work=[[Coach & Bus Week]]|date=29 May 2019|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref> the first electric buses to operate in Wales.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Burkitt|first=Sean|date=8 October 2020|title=First electric buses in Wales to launch next week in Newport|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/first-electric-buses-wales-launch-19068003|access-date=6 September 2022|website=WalesOnline|language=en}}</ref> Following additional funding of £2.8 million from the UK [[Department for Transport]] (DfT) and commercial partnerships, a further 16 Yutong vehicles were ordered in April 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Searle|first=Joshua|date=17 April 2021|title=New fully-electric buses set to hit streets of Newport|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/19236389.new-fully-electric-buses-set-hit-streets-newport/|access-date=6 September 2022|website=South Wales Argus|language=en}}</ref>

On 1 March 2020, the company introduced the [[Ticketer]] [[contactless payment]] system on all its routes, a system used by [[Cardiff Bus]] since 2018, enabling payment by card and [[Near-field communication|NFC]]-enabled devices, as well as recognition of [[QR code]]s from paper day/week tickets.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/18260923.newport-bus-launch-contactless-fare-payment-sunday/|title=Newport Bus to launch contactless fare payment from Sunday|website=South Wales Argus|date=25 February 2020 |language=en|access-date=15 March 2020}}</ref><ref name="2020mission">{{Cite web|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/18219267.make-switch-zero-emissions-newport-bus/|title=Make the switch to zero emissions with Newport Bus|website=[[South Wales Argus]]|date=12 February 2020 |language=en|access-date=15 March 2020}}</ref> The company also aims to provide ticket sales and journey tracking though a mobile app in the first half of 2020, to be followed by real-time bus information.<ref name="2020mission" /> However, Newport Bus does not currently allow "tap-on, tap-off" payment, unlike Cardiff Bus and [[Stagecoach South Wales]]; contactless payments are accepted for printed tickets, but there is no cap system.

On 18 May 2020, in partnership with [[Transport for Wales]] (TfW), and its parent local council, Newport Bus transferred some of its routes to [[Fflecsi]], a [[demand responsive transport]] service in the city, in which Newport Bus continues to operate the service but is commanded by TfW.<ref>{{Cite web|year=2021|title=Fflecsi Service|url=https://www.newportbus.co.uk/fleccsi-service|access-date=12 June 2021|website=[[Newport Transport|Newport Bus]]}}</ref> The scheme is to end on 25 September 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Thomas|first=Nicolas|date=12 August 2022|title=Newport Fflecsi bus scheme ending after trial scheme|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/20626949.newport-fflecsi-bus-scheme-ending-trial-scheme/|access-date=6 September 2022|website=South Wales Argus|language=en}}</ref>

== Services ==
Newport Bus operates a network of services from [[Newport bus station]] throughout the city; services extend as far as [[Chepstow]] in the east, including three local services within Chepstow, [[Monmouth]] in the north, and [[Cardiff]] in the west.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newportbus.co.uk/Journey-Planner|title=Journey Planner - Route Timetable 2020 |author=<!--Not stated--> |publisher=Newport Bus |access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref> Route 30 to Cardiff is operated in partnership with [[Cardiff Bus]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cardiffbus.com/services/CB/30?date=2022-09-06&direction=outbound|title=30 Cardiff to Newport |author=<!--Not stated--> |publisher=Cardiff Bus |access-date=6 September 2022}}</ref>

As of 4 January 2021, Newport Bus operates TrawsCymru route T7 from Chepstow to Bristol via Cribbs Causeway.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.newportbus.co.uk/traws-hafren-t7-route| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201229223831/https://www.newportbus.co.uk/traws-hafren-t7-route| archive-date = 29 December 2020| title = Traws Hafren T7 Route}}</ref>

{{as of|2020}}, discussions are ongoing with TfW for the network to form part of the [[South Wales Metro]] rail and bus project.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/business-news/answers-big-metro-questions-how-10526272|title=The South Wales Metro project explained|last=Barry|first=Sion|date=7 December 2015|website=walesonline|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802192543/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/business-news/south-wales-metro-explained-new-10526272|archive-date=2 August 2019|url-status=live|access-date=2 August 2019}}</ref>

The company operates Fflecsi services in two zones (1 and 26) centred on [[Rogerstone]] and [[St Julians, Newport|St. Julian's]] respectively (overlapping in the [[Newport city centre|city centre]]), which replaced solely operated Newport Bus routes 1, 1B, 11A and 11C in Zone 1, and 26A and 26C in Zone 2. The service is a [[Pilot experiment|trial project]], but was extended beyond the initial time frame<ref>{{Cite web|last=O'Neill|first=Ryan|date=4 September 2020|title=Newport Bus is not axing its fflecsi bus service after all|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/fflecsi-newport-bus-transport-wales-18873758|access-date=12 June 2021|website=WalesOnline|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Newport|url=https://www.fflecsi.wales/locations/newport/|access-date=11 June 2021|website=Transport For Wales|language=en-GB}}</ref> for a further year following funding by TfW. The Fflecsi scheme is to end after 25 September 2022 and Newport Bus has introduced or amended other routes from 4 September 2022 as a replacement.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Moody|first=Tom|date=31 August 2022|title=Newport Bus changes as Fflecsi bus trial comes to an end|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/20846300.newport-bus-changes-fflecsi-bus-trial-comes-end/|access-date=6 September 2022|website=South Wales Argus|language=en}}</ref>

Newport Bus operates four tendered services in the [[Forest of Dean District]] on behalf of [[Gloucestershire County Council]]. These are: 72 (Chepstow - Lydney - Cinderford - Mitcheldean); C4 (Chepstow - Sedbury - Beachley); 710 (Cinderford town circular); 711 (Buckshaft - Cinderford - The Pludds).<ref>{{cite web |title=Timetables - Newport Bus |url=https://www.newportbus.co.uk/services |website=Newport Bus |publisher=Newport Transport Limited |access-date=2025-05-15}}</ref>

The company also offers various commercial transport services.

== Livery ==
The original pre-war livery of maroon was changed to green and cream in the 1940s<ref>{{cite book|last1=Thomas|first1=DB|last2=Thomas|first2=EA|title=Trams and Buses of Newport 1845 to 1981|year=1982|publisher=Starling Press |isbn=0903434482}}</ref> and remained the same until August 2009, when it was replaced with a livery of dark green and white with lime green and grey logos at the rear. From 2018, a new livery of all-over green was introduced.

== Gallery ==
<gallery widths="220px">
File:Newport Bus Station - geograph.org.uk - 1781614.jpg|[[Metro-Scania]] at [[Newport bus station]] in 1976
File:NEWPORT TRANSPORT - Flickr - secret coach park (10).jpg|Scania OmniCity at Newport bus station May 2013
File:Newport Bus in Cardiff Central station.JPG|[[Scania OmniCity]] at [[Cardiff Central bus station]] in May 2014
</gallery>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category-inline|Newport Transport}}
*[http://newportbus.co.uk/ Newport Bus website]
*[http://www.showbus.co.uk/gallery/wales/newport.htm Showbus gallery]

{{Bus companies in Wales}}
{{South Wales Metro}}
{{Transport in Newport}}
{{City of Newport}}
{{Transport in Caerphilly County Borough}}
{{Transport in Torfaen}}

{{authority control}}

{{Coord|51|35|12.515|N|2|58|57.83|W|display=title}}

[[Category:Bus operators in Wales]]
[[Category:Bus operators in Bristol]]
[[Category:Companies based in Newport, Wales]]
[[Category:Companies owned by municipalities of Wales]]
[[Category:Transport companies established in 1901]]
[[Category:Transport in Caerphilly County Borough]]
[[Category:Transport in Newport, Wales]]
[[Category:Transport in Torfaen]]
[[Category:1901 establishments in Wales]]