South & West Wales - De a Gorllewin Cymru

ftr begins service in Swansea

Swansea's newest form of transport begins the first phase of its introduction, marking the first day of its commercial operation.

Council leaders will join with First Cymru's Managing Director, Tony McNiff, on 1st June to mark the moment the first 'in-service' ftr vehicle takes to the streets of Swansea.

First will begin a phased introduction of the new ftr service (known as ftrmetro) with the whole fleet of vehicles (nine in total) expected to be running by the end of the summer. The decision to start with just one vehicle is deliberate, allowing the company and its partners time to complete a 'technical bedding-in' period before all the vehicles come online.

The first ftr vehicle will operate on Service 4 linking Morriston Hospital - Swansea City Centre - Singleton Hospital. It will run alongside regular service buses while First monitors how the vehicles interact on the new road layout in Swansea, which includes the 'Landore express busway', the mile long roadway which runs parallel to the railway line entering Swansea Railway Station. The company, along with the City and County of Swansea Council, will then use the technical information gathered to 'fine tune' its services before gradually rolling out the full fleet over the next few months. An official launch of the service will then take place in September 2009.

Tony McNiff, Managing Director of First Cymru, says: "It's great to see the first ftrmetro on the road. This has been along time in the planning but it's all coming to fruition. This will be a great day for Swansea. I look forward to the end of the summer when all nine of the vehicles are on the road, carrying passengers to and from the places they want to go."

Chris Holley, Leader of Swansea Council said: "This is a big moment for public transport in Swansea. The first ftr carrying fare-paying passengers today represents a new era for Swansea and for Wales. The Council is committed to playing its part in encouraging local people to use public transport. The improvements we have carried out to our citys road network and bus stops will help facilitate punctual and swift ftr services. But the work will also support other bus and taxi services as well as improve the travelling experience for the thousands of passengers who use public transport in Swansea every day."

Swansea ftrmetro is a £14 million package run in partnership by First Cymru and the City and County of Swansea Council. Infrastructure works to support the vehicles were funded by a Welsh Assemblys Government Transport Grant, while First spent circa £4million purchasing the ftr vehicles as well as upgrading its depot in Swansea to accommodate the larger vehicles.