Disconnected Valleys

For residents of Rhondda and Ogmore, getting from A to B is more than just a daily routine – it’s a test of patience, cost, and convenience. Our valleys, shaped by history and industry, are breathtaking, but they are also barriers. Whether it’s pothole-ridden roads, slow and expensive bus services, or a lack of direct transport links, too many people find themselves cut off from opportunities. A functioning transport system should bring communities together, not hold them back—but right now, it’s doing the latter.

Trains That Never Arrive and Buses That Cost Too Much

For those living in the Rhondda Fawr, there is at least one lifeline: a train service up and down the valley, connecting to Cardiff. But for residents of the Rhondda Fach, Ogmore Valley, and Garw Valley, the only way out is by road—often on winding, unreliable bus routes that take far longer than they should. Transport for Wales has long promised to double train services on the Treherbert line from two to four per hour, but those promises have been delayed again and again. Meanwhile, those living at the top of the valleys face an unfair reality: it can take just as long to travel a few miles down the valley as it does to reach Cardiff.

Bus Prices: Paying London Rates for a Valleys Service

And then there’s the cost. Currently residents are paying London rates for a Valleys service. Bus fares in Rhondda and Ogmore are shockingly high. Stagecoach South Wales recently scrapped return tickets, forcing regular passengers to pay even more. Some integrated ticketing schemes, like the Rhondda Fach Connector, offer limited relief, but for too many people, daily travel is an expensive struggle. Public transport should be an affordable, practical alternative to driving, not a financial drain on those who rely on it most.

Broken Roads, Bottlenecks, and Potholes

Even for those with cars, the road network is fraught with problems. Many streets were built in an era before widespread car ownership, and now, on-street parking clogs already narrow roads, slowing traffic to a crawl. Mountain roads – the essential arteries connecting our valleys -are riddled with potholes, making journeys slower, costlier, and more dangerous. Poor road maintenance doesn’t just frustrate drivers; it affects buses too, causing delays and detours that further disconnect communities. While improving these roads is a priority, progress is slow, and residents are left to navigate daily frustration.