New Wrexham to Rhyl bus service starts in September

* Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales (left), announces the new route at the National Eisteddfod.

A new bus service connecting communities between Wrexham and Rhyl as part of Network North Wales is set to begin from September.

It will include an hourly bus service between Ruthin and Wrexham, an upgrade from the current two-hourly service, and an hourly service between Wrexham and Rhyl on a Sunday.

Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales joined Transport for Wales (TfW) at the National Eisteddfod in Wrexham to announce the launch of the new TrawsCymru T51.

Replacing the existing 51/X51 services, the new T51 service will begin operating at the end of September this year and will improve connectivity between Rhyl, Denbigh, Ruthin and Wrexham.

It will be operated by Arriva.

On announcing the new service, Ken Skates said: "Network North Wales is about improving public transport and connectivity in this part of Wales to unlock opportunity and potential for the region.

"In May I announced immediate priorities and TfW is delivering on these with the new TrawsCymru bus service  a clear example of that.

"More frequent services, simplified fares, connectivity with other bus services and newer vehicles are all part of this new service."

Adam Marshall (Head of Commercial Arriva Cymru) said: "Network North Wales is an exciting programme for Arriva to be involved with – its ambitious and will deliver significant improvements which will grow the network, increase modal shift and create opportunity for the people of North Wales.

"Arriva are looking forward to joining the Traws Cymru family with the commencement of the T51 service this September. We have worked closely with TfW, local authorities and our customers to shape this service. The result is improved connectivity, higher frequencies, lower fares and fleet investment."

From September 2025:

• hourly buses between Ruthin and Wrexham (an upgrade from the current two-hourly service)
• introduction of hourly service between Wrexham and Rhyl on a Sunday
• simplified fares and digital ticketing options

From March 2026:

• better integration with rail services and other TrawsCymru routes
• new modern, accessible vehicles designed for comfort and sustainability

* Read more about the Network North Wales programme and the T51 service on the Transport for Wales website.

County's e-bin trucks prevent a jumbo jet-sized hole in the atmosphere

* The bin truck known as Crystal Clear out on the road. 

A jumbo jet-sized amount of carbon emissions has been saved thanks to a service’s greener fleet.

Currently around 15% of Denbighshire's waste fleet is electric powered and used on suitable routes for collection work.

This fleet has undergone changes since 2022 to help reduce its and the council’s carbon footprint whilst carrying out collection work across the county.

During early 2023 two Dennis Eagle e-Collect refuse collection lorries were introduced on county's northern routes. The vehicles are able to put in up to 100 miles and do 1,000 bin lifts per single charge.

These lorries provide long term costs savings through lower running costs compared to fossil fuel vehicles and cheaper maintenance due to less parts to maintain on the lorries.

Within the last 18 months five refuse recycling Electra e-Cargo lorries became a part of the fleet. The vehicles provide a range of up to 155 miles, again offering greener lower cost miles and cheaper maintenance. They can also be spotted out on the road as each are named on the front of the cabs, Christal Clean is one you can spot.

Currently the use of the vehicles has produced carbon savings of 409,493kg against the diesel equivalents. To put this into perspective this is the same as a loaded 747 Jumbo or Airbus A380, around 67 fully grown male African elephants or roughly four Flying Scotsmans.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “We have looked hard at our overall fleet to see where we can reduce emissions through electric vehicles by introducing them to replace end of life stock and through funding support.

“Waste is an important service, and these EV lorries are integral to helping reduce carbon emissions their fleet produces on a daily basis.

“Our fleet department is constantly monitoring suitable ways for service delivery to reduce our vehicle carbon footprint and the use of these EVs is a prime example of this which will also help reduce long term costs compared to running fossil fuel vehicles."

 

Landslide repairs to Newbridge Road nearing fulfilment, says report

* The picture of the site used with the story.

Landslide repairs to Newbridge Road are nearing fulfilment, according to a council report.

Having been closed for more than four-and-a-half years remedial work on the B5605 is edging towards “substantial completion," it adds.

* For the full story in North Wales Live go to: https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/landslide-fix-invaluable-road-nearing-32241697

Westheads lads are now heading out across Europe

* The lads riding off into the sunset as they headed across the Netherlands.

After a week of hard pedalling and camping three lads from the Llangollen aiming to ride 10,000 across the world to Thailand in aid of heart research are now on mainland Europe.

Friends Dyfan Hughes, 17, from Llangollen, Louis Dennis, 18, from Garth, and James Thomas,18, from Wrexham aim to cycle the 10,000 miles to Thailand in memory of Tony Edge, the father of a friend who died following a heart attack six months ago.

The intrepid trio, calling themselves the Westheads, pedalled away from Lllangollen Football Club's HQ the Saturday before last at the very start of a mammoth ride which they reckon will take them at least 18 months to complete. 

And they have been posting regular updates on their progress on social media.

* Getting ready to hot the North Sea ferry. 

Their bulletins began on day three of three of their journey with a short video which described how they had run into heavy rain just outside Leicester, Theyy also filled in details of their route, which should take them from their North Sea ferry landing point in the Hook of Holland and out through Germany, along the course of the Danube river, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey and into Georgia.

Later film updates saw them doing sometimes over 50 kms a day as they headed east towards the ferry in Harwich, stopping to buy food and even play a game of footy with some local lads they spotted along the road.

On day seven they recorded how they came ashore in the Netherlands, to buy breakfast, shop for food supplies and admit they were "buzzing with excitement".

They then found themselves some free showers for cyclists and spent their first night ashore sharing a flat with some other Brits.

* llanblogger will bring you further updates on the Westheads as they come in. You can see them yourselves here: https://linktr.ee/westheads   

Workmates plan charity fundraising canoe trip from Llangollen

Two workmates from Cheshire are planning to paddle their two-man Canadian canoe from the head of the Llangollen Canal to the Big Lock pub to raise money for charity.

* For the full story, see the Middlewich Guardian at: Workmates cast off for Llangollen to Middlewich canoe trip | Northwich Guardian 

Having fun at Llangollen's Legendary Faery Festival

People have been having fun at The Legendary Llangollen Faery Festival currently being held at Llangollen Pavilion.

Now the largest faery event in the UK calendar, it offers a range of free activities and events, including wand making, circus skills workshops,  storytelling, acts in the outdoor arena and live music.

Hundreds of traders have come from far and wide to take part in the big fairy market browse jewellery, fey clothes, faery houses, faery dolls and figurines, candles, steampunk curios, carved wood furniture, faery doors and crystals.

This evening (Saturday) from 7.00pm, there's a Grand Faery Ball where anyone over 16 can put on their fairy finery and dance the night away to live music.

The event continues tomorrow (Sunday).  

Contractors start roads grass cutting in the area on Monday

Contractors for Denbighshire County Council will be starting grass cutting on non-principal roads in the Llangollen area week commencing Monday August 11, local county councillor Karen Edwards has been informed by officers.