Information provided by Powys County Council:
"Residents in Pen-y-Cae and Ystradgynlais can take advantage of a new type of public bus service.
The 'Tawe Taxibus Service' offers a public bus service which runs exclusively on demand. Customers pre-book their journeys by telephoning a free-phone number with the bus collecting and delivering them to the bus stops required.
By providing a service only when required, the taxibus service aims to be more efficient and convenient for users. The savings that will be made from the bus only being used when required will allow the service to be accessed from 9am until late in the evening. In addition, it will also provide essential public transport to the local health centre, the supermarket and to Glanryhd Hospital.
The service is available to all with no pre-registration required. To make use of the bus, call 0808 2020 144 just two hours ahead of the scheduled time you wish to travel. Powys County Council concessionary passes are accepted in full.
The taxibus service was developed through partnership between Powys County Council, the local transport forum, and private enterprise.
County Councillor Gwilym Evans, Board Member with responsibility for Transport, said: "We are delighted to launch the service which will offer users a more convenient and cost-effective alternative to existing public transport arrangements."
"We hope it will contribute to the continued improvement of access in the area and will encourage greater use of public transport."
The bus has been provided by Powys County Council and will be operated by Robs Mini Bus Hire of Ystradgynlais."
Information provided by Powys County Council
your comments
Edgar Locke, Worthing, West Sussex
I do not drive due to a disability, but that does not limit my sense of adventure! I regularly visit relatives in Builth Wells, Mid Wales. I rely on the Heart of Wales railway line and local buses. The buses are now much better than they were but not as good as they are in rural Germany and Austria.
Mon Aug 6 09:08:54 2007
Michael Owen from Urmston Manchester
Greetings and best wishes for the taxibus! These services are widely operated in Belgium, often under the name BELBUS, but their disadvantage is that you need to preregister at least 24 hours before travelling. Less frequently found, and in Germany, is an AST, a service used after mid-evening best described as an on-demand minibus service with phone request as little as one hour before travel, but limited to the usual route of the frequent bus service. In Vorarlberg Austria a timetabled "on request" service operates around Bregenz with "midibuses" - fixed route but operating to pick up pre-registered passengers. The differences between countries are subtle but important! Sometimes they operate up to one kilometer off the "fixed" route by request, sometimes they deliver goods, ie shopping; one service operated in Northumbria tried having a refrigerated compartment for a complex bus-cum-supermarket-delivery operation. Other services in West Yorkshire permit the driver to respond by mobile phone to requests made less than an hour before journey commencement, and after departure from initial point! It works, but intending passengers must hang on whilst the driver pulls into the side of the road first.Every success!
Wed Jun 6 09:32:56 2007
Kim Anh from Viet Nam
I have just usued taxi and bus. And I realise that the convinience between taxi and bus is very different. In my opinion, going by taxi is more safe than going by bus. On the other hand, the price of taxi is more expensive than bus. I think you should adjust how to suit in customers pocket.
Mon Sep 18 12:30:42 2006
Jorge Santos from Lisbon, Portugal
Hello.
I work at a Bus transport Operator in the North and east Lisbon suburbs and I was searching for experiences in this area – Taxibus. I was wondering if you could send me some information about your experience.
Wed Nov 30 13:16:23 2005
What do you think of the idea? Have you used Ystrad's taxi-bus? Do you know of other similar services? Add your comments here:
A bus service with a difference was launched in the Ystradgynlais area in July 2005. Just like a taxi, you phone this one in advance to book your journey. 
