AN ABERYSTWYTH bus company is hoping its latest project will help boost public transport links for locals and tourists.

Mid Wales Travel is teaming up with Megabus to provide services between Aberystwyth and Birmingham­.

Owner Mel Evans said: “We are trying to get Megabus involved in Aberystwyth to allow people in the area to travel across the UK.

“It has opened up routes to Cornwall, Edinburgh, Bristol, Manchester, Liverpool and Norwich. We are trying to tap into their network.

“The bus will stop at many of the same routes as the train, including Newtown, Welshpool, Shrewsbury, Telford and Wolverhampton.”

Meanwhile, the TrawsCymru bus network has seen a huge increase in passengers across the network since the Welsh Government launched its free weekend bus travel pilot in July, figures have shown.

The TrawsCymru T5 service from Aberystwyth, calling at New Quay, Cardigan and Fishguard en route to Haverfordwest, was used by 555 passengers on Sunday, 9 July, compared with 146 the previous year – an increase of 280 per cent.

The same service drew 389 passengers on 20 August compared with 126 in 2016 – an increase of 209 per cent.

And the TrawsCymru T1 from Aberystwyth, calling at Lampeter and Carmarthen, was used by 437 passengers on Sunday, 13 August compared with 169, 12 months previously – an increase of 159 per cent.

See this week’s south editions for the full story, in shops and online on Wednesday