TfW launches fflecsi bus booking facility at libraries across Blaenau Gwent

Credit: Transport for Wales

Transport for Wales (TfW), in partnership with Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council and fflecsi technology provider Via, has announced the launch of a new online booking facility at a number of local libraries across Blaenau Gwent. The new service will allow passengers to get help to book a ride on fflecsi.

Staff have been trained to use the online system and can now make bookings on behalf of passengers who may not have a mobile phone or smart device and therefore have no way to book fflecsi whilst they are away from home.

 “The fflecsi service in Blaenau Gwent has been running for almost 10 months and as this is a pilot service, we have been able to listen to local concerns and by using the data that fflecsi provides, we can identify and adapt the service to better suit the needs of passengers,” said James Price, CEO of TFW. “This latest development is the first third party booking location for fflecsi and we’ll be introducing it in other pilots across Wales in the coming months.”

Since its launch, the Blaenau Gwent fflecsi scheme has completed over 30,000 rides, with a current average of nearly 1000 rides per week. It has more than 250 regular active riders including new-to-bus passengers accessing destinations not previously served by buses, such as Rassau Industrial Estate and Llanhilleth Station. The average walk distance to be picked up is only 55m, which makes the service highly accessible for riders with reduced mobility. Approximately 80 per cent of all booking requests are made via the fflecsi app.

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Christian Reed, Head of Commercial at Stagecoach South Wales, said: “It’s been great to provide our customers with a flexible bus service that works when they need it to. fflecsi runs six days a week around the Blaenau Gwent travel zone and it couldn’t be easier to book a journey through the app, by phone and now at a number of local libraries.”

fflecsi services can now be booked at the following libraries: Brynmawr, Abertillery, Tredegar, Blaina, Cwm and Llanhilleth Miners’ Institute.

The scheme is now operating in 11 areas across Wales, delivering around 4500 rides each week and each of the pilots are being evaluated to help TfW find the best solution for public transport in both rural and urban areas.