Welsh Government Urged to Reform Roads and Traffic Signals to Speed Up Bus Travel

The Welsh Government is being called on to introduce wide-ranging changes to road layouts and traffic signal systems across Wales in a bid to tackle congestion that is slowing down bus services.

The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) has presented its new ‘Driving Wales Forward’ manifesto to the Senedd, outlining key priorities to improve bus and coach travel ahead of next May’s election.

Launched at a bus depot in Cwmbran before being delivered by bus to Cardiff Bay, the manifesto challenges politicians to take bold action to improve journey times on Wales’s busiest urban routes.

According to CPT Cymru, average bus speeds have dropped dramatically, with journey times on major urban corridors now 50% slower than 50 years ago. The organisation estimates that increasing average bus speeds by just 10% — to around 13.6mph — could save operators nearly £18 million annually, as well as make services more appealing to passengers.

The trade body projects that such improvements could attract 2.8 million additional passengers on busy urban routes, and over 3 million nationwide.

To achieve this, CPT Cymru is urging the government to introduce more bus lanes, implement traffic light priority systems, and update planning rules so that public transport is prioritised in future infrastructure decisions.

Aaron Hill, Director of CPT Cymru, said:

“Buses are Wales’s most-used form of public transport, carrying nearly 200,000 people every day. But too often they’re stuck in traffic, frustrating passengers and damaging the economy.“Bus speeds have been falling for decades. It’s time to act — and we’re challenging whoever forms the next government to make buses 10% faster over the next parliamentary term.“Buses help people get to work, school, and essential services. Improving them is one of the simplest ways to improve everyday life.”

Martin Gibbon, Chair of CPT Cymru, added that operators are ready to support the shift toward faster, greener, and more reliable transport — but success depends on political commitment.

“Local and national leaders must put buses and coaches at the centre of transport planning,” he said. “Simple, low-cost steps such as dedicated bus lanes and smarter traffic light management can have a huge impact on passengers and the environment.”

The manifesto also calls for funding certainty for operators and councils to enable better service planning, targeted fare support, and greater recognition of the role coaches play in Wales’s public transport network through improved data and analysis.

The Welsh Government has been invited to comment on the proposals.