A number of bus services in Denbighshire are provided on a 'commercial' basis. In other words, under the Transport Act (1985), bus companies are free to operate services which they consider to be commercially viable. This means that the bus company's costs of running the service are covered by the fares they collect from passengers on the route.
The bus company decides which type of vehicle to provide, which route to follow and which stops to serve, how frequent the service will run and how much to charge in fares, and the County Council has no direct influence on them.
The bus company does not need to seek authority to start, alter or withdraw part or all of such services, nor is there any authority to oblige them to run services or sections of service, which they believe to be unprofitable.
Where the costs of operating a bus service are not covered by the fares collected from passengers, the Council can offer limited subsidies to bus companies to provide transport services, which would otherwise not run.
Procurement and Monitoring of Council Supported Local Bus Services
The Passenger Transport team has responsibility for procurement and monitoring of financially supported local bus services under the Transport Acts (1985 & 2000).
These are normally services that are not met by the commercial bus network, but are considered by the Local Authority to be socially necessary journeys.
In Denbighshire, the Council provides funding to support the operation of additional bus services across the County, which can be divided into two groups.
Stand alone bus services
These are additional bus services that do not mirror services provided commercially by local bus operators. The 'stand alone services' provided by Denbighshire County Council are:
- 1 - Ruthin - Llanbedr DC - Llanferres - Loggerheads - Mold (- Chester)
- 1A - Ruthin - Llanbedr DC - Llanarmon-y-Ial - Llanferres - Loggerheads - Mold
- 2 - Ruthin - Llanbedr DC - Llanarmon-y-Ial - Graianrhyd - Eryrys - Maeshafn - Mold
- 6 - Denbigh Town Service
- 6 - Denbigh - Henllan - Llannefydd
- 10 - Rhyl/Prestatyn - Rhuallt - Tremeirchion - Denbigh
- 45/46 - Ysbyty Glan Clwyd - Bodelwyddan - Towyn - Kinmel Bay - Rhyl
- 47 - Rhyl - Highfield Park - Brynhedydd
- 62 - Denbigh - Saron - Prion - Nantglyn - Groes - Bylchau - Llansannan
- 70 - Ruthin - Cyffylliog - Clocaenog - Clawddnewydd - Derwen - Melin-y-Wig - Ruthin
- 73 - Ruthin Local Service (serving TESCO)
- 76 - Denbigh - Llandyrnog - Ruthin - Graigfechan - Pentrecelyn
- 77 - Ruthin - Llanelidan - Rhydymeudwy - Ruthin
- 91/95 - Melin-y-Wig - Betws GG - Llangollen ( - Wrexham)
- 98 - Llangollen - Rhewl - Pentredwr - Llangollen
Monitoring of all subsidised bus services to ensure value for money and efficiency of the services is a key element of a coordinated public transport approach.
Additional services on commercial bus operators routes
The Council also financially supports the provision of additional journeys on many commercial routes throughout the County.
These journeys tend to be in the early mornings, evenings and on Sundays and Public Holidays, as they are socially necessary routes that are not considered commercially viable by the bus companies.
Most daytime bus services within Denbighshire are operated commercially, meaning they receive no financial support from the Local Authority.
