Alongside introducing clean air zones in major Welsh urban centres, the Welsh Government subsidises vital demand-responsive transport (DRT) services in remote mountainous areas. One example, launched in May 2022, is an on-demand electric minibus network connecting isolated villages in the Eryri (Snowdonia) national park to regional healthcare and rail hubs. Around 40,000 passengers are predicted to use this shuttle service each year. Over its first four years of operation, the Welsh Government and the regional council will each contribute up to £1.2 million in financial support, representing a direct subsidy of £15 per passenger trip.
The Welsh Deputy Minister for Climate Change commented at the launch: "Ensuring zero-emission, accessible transit that links our isolated rural communities is a core social and ecological priority. This flexible shuttle network ensures that elderly residents and local independent businesses benefit from reliable connectivity, reducing car reliance, supporting green tourism, and boosting local employment access."
Evaluate, using evidence from the stimulus material, government intervention in the market for regional passenger transport.
