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BEWARE
All Bus Stop displays in the Capel Curig area are STILL showing
the 'out of date' Winter Timetable times
*** As all the Sherpa services were completely revised in April 2022,
this means NONE of the times are correct |
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED !!!
No wonder so many people are having to use their
cars, then being forced to park illegally along the roads of the bus
routes through the area when the council fail to show the correct information !!!
Click
here to find "up-to-date" details of the "S1" Sherpa journeys from
Capel Curig to Snowdonia and
here for the "T10" Traws-Cymru journeys to Llyn
Ogwen (for Tryfan) |
website
SHERPA NETWORK
Their website NO LONGER provides any timetables and is now just
a list of "links" to other websites
In the case of the Sherpas, it simply goes to a page on the
Gwynedd CC website displaying an electronic version of the printed leaflet
(complete with the errors listed under the Gwynfor
entry) |
CONNECTIONS (or
rather LACK thereof) AT BETWS-Y-COED
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ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE.....!
Conwy CC - whose job is to co-ordinare bus services in the area -
have agreed to re-advancing of the 1106 weekday "S1" Sherpa SEVERING THE CONNECTION
OFF THE ONLY MID-MORNING BUS from Llandudno due to arrive at Betws-y-Coed
station at 1100
- DESPITE THE SHERPA PREVIOUSLY BEING RETIMED LATER
(off- pattern) FOR THAT VERY REASON
If you are quick, you might just catch the
1103 departure - the next
Sherpa is at 1203 but BEWARE
the ONLY onward connection to Beddgelert
is via Caernarfon and the "S3 Sherpa"
(depart 1322)
If this causes you any inconvenience contact the
CHAIRMAN of Conwy CC PERSONALLY and ask him to do something about it - IF
ENOUGH OF YOU KEEP PESTERING HIM - THEN SOMETHING MIGHT ACTUALLY BE DONE !
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BEWARE
The last direct northbound weekday bus of the day back
to Llandudno departs VERY EARLY at 1505
There are later trains at
1802 and 2049 BUT bus tickets are NOT valid
However there are later "T10" Traws-Cymro bus connections via the
Ogwen Pass and Bangor at 1703 and 1903 for anyone
holding a "1 bws Day Ticket"
- click here for all the
alternative options
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alternatively try
No printed copies
phone:
0800 464 00 00
(between 0700
and 2000 only)
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PLEASE NOTE
Their "Journey Planner" normally requires minimum of five minutes for a connection
at any location - this also applies when there is a 'through journey' - often the case on the alternative
'through' journeys at Bangor when the route number changes en-route
Unfotunately in these cases they automatically advise you to travel an earlier journey and
to hang around - sometimes for hours - for the next one !!! (althouigh "some" - but not all - options have
since been manually updated)
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"the" official public transport website
IMPORTANT
The following is included on their website
"Double check our ‘Short Notice Service Updates’ page for timetable
changes.
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Despite this, they still continue to show an "OUT OF DATE" version of
the remaining "19" service (Conwy Vallwy route) on theor "official" wbsite..........
..........although all reference to the former alternative "T19" service between
Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog via Betws-y-Coed
has at last been completely removed
MOST IMPORTANT - the last 'through' northbound journey is shown
15 minutes later than currently operating - it actually departs at
1505 - NOT 1520 as shown
--- YOU have been warned, so MAKE SURE YOU ARE
NOT CAUGHT OUT !!!!!
You can confirm the "real" latest service from the
operator's (Llew Jones) own website |
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or the official
phone:
01248 722 694
Unlike some other
operators in the area,
they do not produce
their own printed copies
However as a one-off,
TfW has produced a
bi-lingual coloured leaflet for both 2022 and 2023
to identify the original planned changes
>
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Gwynfor have removed all timetables from their
website - instead it now gives a "link" to the
Gwynedd CC website for their latest 'official' information |
That link has been
updated to coincide with the new Sherpa network and timetables which commenced on
Saturday 2nd April 2023
There is now a
much increased summer
"S1" service between Betws-y-Coed and Caernarfon on both
weekdays and Sundays
In addition the basically hourly former local "85" service between
Bangor and Llanberis has been re-branded as the Sherpa "S2" service - with most journeys
extended to/from Pen-y-Pass (this replaces their former Summer Weekend
only "S6" Sherpa service to Pen-y-Pass via the Ogwen valley) which is
partially replaced by the daily "T10"
TrawsCymru service via the Ogwen pass.....
.....details of the alternative new connections at
Capel Curig can be found
here
The level of service on the new "S3" Sherpa service has increased between
Beddgelert and Caernarfon (with most journeys extended to either Llanrug
or Dinorwig) replacing part of the former local "S4" and "83" services
Also the service on both the former "S97" and part "S4"
services become the re-branded "S4 Sherpa from Pen-y-Pass to Porthmadog
and the number of journeys increased (with much improved "10 "minute"
connections off the "S1" from both Betws-y-Coed and
Caernarfon/Llanberis)
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website
BEWARE
The previous 1106 "S1" Sherpa journey from Betws-y-Coed to Caernarfon
has been advanced to 1135 meaning it is no longer recognised
by the TravelineCymru "Journey Planner" as a connection off the
mid-morning bus due 1100
When the bus is 'spot-on-time, is is sometimes possible to catch the
1103 "S1" Sherpa BUT ONLY IF YOU ARE QUICK - otherwise wait for the next 1203 "S1 journey
Alternatively use the mid-morning
train due 1055 to
connect, BUT note most bus tickets (eg the "1bws" are NOT valid)
To be fair to Gwynfor
Coaches, this very "silly" situtation is because Transport for Wales have dictated
that the Sherpa buses are contracted to operate at the times specified by them
They (TfW) seem to have completely ignored the Conwy Valley train
connections even though they also specify AND operate those too !!!!!
If this causes you inconvenience or addition
expense, COMPLAIN to Transport for
Wales at Cardiff - not the poor operator who is only acting as
instructed by the transport department of the Welsh Government |
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PLEASE NOTE
Some 'day-to-day' information can be found
here
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or the official
The "twice-yearly" printed copies were understandably suspended
during the Covid pandemic
but TfW appear to have conveniently "forgotten" to print any since that was officially
over !
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The former Arriva Wales booklets for the North Wales and Cambrian Coasts have simply been reprinted
with a new cover
To find a "Transport for Wales" journey you must look for a train still showing AW (for Arriva Wales !)
- surprisingly this is still the case with the revised timetables !!!
Alternatively use their own 'journey planner' to confirm times providing you already know
when and where you want to go !!!
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train website
All local train services throughout Wales are currently operated
by "Transport for Wales"
- this includes the connecting
Conwy Valley line and
the Cambrian Coast line
In addition, a limited number of InterCity services between
North Wales and London continue to be operated by Avanti
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UPDATE
Initially There were are no major changes to the times previously
advertised to commence in December 2019
However to give the 'appearance' of "speeding up" the trains along the North Wales Coast,
several journeys have had important intermediate stops removed - much to the annoyance of the locals
who previously used them
.......... an "own goal" is probably the politest way to describe what they have
done !!!!!
In consequence most connections between the North Wales Resort
stations and the Conwy Valley Line (and v.v.) have increased CONSIDERABLY - clearly no-one at the
Cardiff HQ 'appears' to care about this totally unnecessary inconvenience |
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or the official
limited printed copies
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This company - part of the transport department of the Welsh Government
- operate a network of long distance coach journeys across the whole of Wales.....
BUT the former "T19" route which
provided connections into the "S1" Sherpa from Llandudno at Betws-y-Coed
also onward connections to Porthmadog from Blaenau Ffestiniog HAS BEEN
WITHDRAWM without any replacement
use the limited
Conwy Valley trains instead |
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website
TRAWS-CYMRU OPERATORS
This company has sub-contracted.....
Lloyds Coaches to operate the "T2" connections
with the Sherpa at Porthmadog and Caernarfon
Llew Jones to operate the "T22" connections
with the Sherpa at Porthmadog and Caernarfon
K and P to operate the "T10" connections
with the Sherpa at Betws-y-Coed and
Capel Curig
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or the official
phone:
01492 640 320
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STOP PRESS
Llew Jones has WITHDRAWN all their
former "3b" journeys from Blaenau Ffestiniog and replaced them with a new
"T22" service operated by all-electric buses
Unfortunately whilst these provide good connctions at
Porthmaoog,
this has resulted in longer waits at Blaenau Ffestioiog for anyone trying to
connect using the Conwy Valley train service
now that they have WITHDRAWN all their former "T19" bus journeys
Click here
for details of the journeys which connect with the Sherpa
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website
This company operates the weekday and Sunday "19" bus
journeys along the Conwy Valley between Betws-y-coed and Llandudno on;y - BUT MOST
"JUST MISS"
THE ONWARD "S1" SHERPA
In addition they operate the
Sunday "link"
between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Porthmadog - an 'alternative' to the now VERY
LIMITED Sunday Sherpa "S4" journeys which during the winter also require an hour's
wait at Beddgelert
Note specially the LAST direct return weekday journeys back to Llandudno
from Monday 2nd September 2024 became Betws-y-Coed depart at
1505 on Mondays to Saturdays (via the west side of the Conwy
valley) -----
IGNORE the incorrect electronic display at
or the official Traveline Cymru website - neither of which have been updated to include
these changes February
Some 'day-to-day' information can also be found
here
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or the official
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(new link - with extra information)
Click on map to enlarge
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website
A weekdays only Demand Response - "flexi service" operated by
Alpine Travel
has been introduced in the 'greater' Llanrwst-Betws-y-Coed area (see map on
the left for details of the area)
Remember you MUST prebook through "flecsi" stating when and where you want to travel -
if you plan to connect into or out of a Sherpa (or any other bus/train)
journey, make sure you clearly say so when you
"book"
This is particularly important if you want to use it to "link"
with the "S1" Sherpa where Llew Jones no longer provides a suitable
timetabled journey between Llanrwst and Betws-y-Coed
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or the official
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printed copies sometimes
available on the bus immediately
after any major change
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website
This company previously operated the Sunday "S97" Sherpas
but now only operate some connecting journeys to/from Snowdonia
via Llandudno/Llandudno Junction, Conwy, Bangor or Caernarfon
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or the official
No longer any printed copies
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| A NEW limited Sunday
"G23" service from Barmouth to Porthmadog
connecting with the "S4" Sherpa
commences on
18th February 2024
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website
This company operates connecting journeys from
Caernarfon, Barmouth, Harlech and Dolgellau
PLEASE NOTE
Some day-to-day information can now also be found
here
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or the official
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phone:
07860 573 305
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website
This company operates services via the Ogwen
Valley for Tryfan which connect from Caernarfon and Corwen with the "S1"
Sherpa at Capel Curig
for Snowdon and Betws-y-Coed as well as the limited bus and
train services from Llandudno via the
Conwy Valley
Extra journeys are planned for the summer
PLEASE NOTE
Some day-to-day information can now also be found
here
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or the official
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phone:
01248 600 098
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website (still under construction)
IGNORE their "timetables"
link which currently goes to a partially OUT OF DATE external website
which also erroneously "suggests" they operate many routes (currently
covered by different operators)
PLEASE NOTE
Some day-to-day information can now also be found
here
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or the official
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No printed copies
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website
although this company no longer operates Sunday connecting
timetabled services from Blaenau Ffestiniog and Caernarfon
- it still operates the weekday local service in Blaenau Ffestiniog
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their former website is no longer
active
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although this company no longer operates connecting
timetabled services from Caernarfon
- it still operates private hire coaches and school buses in the area
PLEASE NOTE
Some day-to-day information can now also be found
here
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yet another official
website giving
incorrect information ! |
the links on this website are all out of date
in addition the "S6"
Sherpa no longer serves Bangor or Betws-y-Coed
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A new "official" website including individual Sherpa timetables,
maps and suggested locations to visit
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Their Summer timetables for the Sherpas have now been
updates to match those on the Gwynedd CC bus pages - albeit presented in a different format
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.....but do check ANY of the above official websites
have been fully updated,
as some are considerably old and (at least partially) out-of-date !!!!
Known errors in official publications are included above
(these 'warning' are there to try to help avoid you being "caught out")
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on 7th February 2025