Bus stop improvements completed at 100 locations in Cynon Valley

The Council has recently completed a significant investment programme that has delivered improvements across more than 100 local bus stops throughout the Cynon Valley, using funding secured from Welsh Government. 

Support from the Local Transport Fund in 2023/24 secured around £200,000 funding for the programme, focusing on improving bus stops in Aberdare and its surrounding communities – including Mountain Ash, Cwmbach, Abernant, Trecynon, Llwydcoed, Cwmdare, Gadlys, Penywaun and Rhigos. In total, 105 bus stops benefitted, with improvements also made at Aberdare Bus Station.

The programme was delivered in three phases – providing 25 new shelters, 93 flags and 43 poles, while new raised kerbs were installed at 19 locations. ‘No waiting’ signs were placed at 25 locations with road markings renewed at 26 locations. Additional activity included painting three shelters, extra work at nine shelters, and adding two extra shelters onto the original programme.

The images show some of the completed works at three locations – Clive Street in Trecynon (left), near Penderyn Primary School (top right) and outside the Welfare Ground on Merthyr Road in Llwydcoed (bottom right).

Councillor Andrew Morgan OBE, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Investment, said: “These bus stop improvements in the Cynon Valley represent an investment of around £217,000 in local facilities, using important funding from Welsh Government that has been complemented by Council match funding. More than 100 bus stops have received some form of improvement through the programme.

“Much of the work has improved bus shelters or installed brand new ones, to provide better waiting areas for bus users – while other work has focused on the immediate surroundings of the stops, to ensure they remain accessible to all. This investment has followed our Strategic Bus Corridor Improvement Scheme in recent years, which previously improved waiting facilities between Porth, Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch, and from Abercynon to Aberaman.

“Our investment in this area aims to encourage more people to use the bus for their daily journeys as an alternative to driving, to protect the environment and reduce traffic congestion. We’ve also introduced periods of cheaper bus travel in the past year – most recently in the February 2024 half term – and we continue to look at opportunities to repeat this where funding is available.”