One of the largest bus operators in the UK today (15 November 2004) launched the first bus enhancement initiative of its kind in Wales to encourage more people to leave their cars at home and travel by bus. 

Working with the Welsh Assembly Government and Caerphilly County Borough Council, Stagecoach Group Plc is undertaking a £1.5 million three-year KickStart scheme on two key routes, connecting Senghenydd and Graig y Rhacca to Caerphilly town centre, the University Hospital of Wales (Heath) and Cardiff. 

Under the terms of this three-way partnership, the Welsh Assembly Government and Caerphilly Borough Council have jointly committed £310,000 to the Caerphilly KickStart project, which aims to be completely self-financing within three years. 

This one-off short-term public investment has been used to purchase 16 new state-of-the-art, easyACCESS low floor buses which will operate a more frequent service of up to every 10 minutes on routes A (from Graig-y-Rhacca) and B (from Senghenydd).  The buses, which will be identified by the justgo... name, will also have the latest "green" environmentally friendly engines, increased capacity and enhanced security. 

This innovative Stagecoach scheme first originated in New Zealand and has already proved successful elsewhere in the UK.  It is anticipated that Caerphilly KickStart will deliver similar results and will be the first of a number of Welsh KickStart schemes.

John Gould, Managing Director of Stagecoach Wales said: “This is a practical, quick win initiative which will deliver a much needed kick start for Welsh bus provision while making a real difference to passengers in Caerphilly.  Having the Welsh Assembly Government and Caerphilly County Borough Council in partnership has enabled us to introduce these improvements much quicker." 

“Our KickStart schemes have already delivered outstanding results elsewhere.  The trial in Perth, Scotland saw a 70 per cent increase in usage on one main route; in New Zealand it delivered approximately 30 per cent passenger growth. Results like this in Caerphilly and other areas of Wales will more than help deliver the Government’s bus growth targets ahead of schedule."

To mark the beginning of the initiative in Wales and the partnership, Andrew Davies, Minister for Economic Development and Transport, Brian Souter, Chief Executive of Stagecoach Group plc and Councillor Harry Andrews, Leader of Caerphilly Borough Council, jointly launched KickStart at Caerphilly Visitor Centre.

Mr Davies said: "I am delighted to support this exciting initiative, and to be providing £260,000 over three years to pump-prime a project which will see 16 new, state-of-the-art accessible buses introduced on two routes in Caerphilly. Our partners - Stagecoach and Caerphilly County Borough Council - are also investing money into the scheme, which will benefit from targeted, high-profile marketing, to promote the services and increase patronage over three years, by which time the scheme should be self-financing."

The new Stagecoach services will increase the frequency from both Graig y Rhacca and Senghenydd to Caerphilly from every 15 minutes to every 10 minutes, daytimes Monday to Saturday. A half-hourly service from Caerphilly to Cardiff is retained, although passengers with mobility problems and/or buggies will particularly benefit from the new low-floor vehicles when they travel to the Heath Hospital or City centre shops. 

Councillor Harry Andrews, Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council added: “The Council recognises the importance of good quality public transport services and facilities and has worked hard to deliver improvements.  The KickStart initiative is an exciting project for Caerphilly, which will revitalise a large part of the town's bus network.  The Council is delighted to have been chosen as the location for the pilot scheme in Wales and will work closely with the other partners to ensure it achieves its maximum potential and lead the way for similar initiatives in the future." 

John Gould concluded: “It’s vital that we continue to promote the introduction of such schemes in the near future as public transport not only has a vital role to play in sustaining the local economy and environment, but also in boosting local communities and social inclusion."