Public Transport

Public Transport in Herefordshire is provided by commercial bus and train operating companies. Bus services are either fully-commercial or, where commercial operation is not viable, are operated under contract to the council. Train services are operated under a franchise from central government.

Timetables are available to view or download from the Bus Timetables  or Train timetables pages of the site.

If you do not know which timetable you need to make your journey, or if you are travelling outside Herefordshire please use the links to the Journey Planning sites provided on the Bus Timetables page.

If you have any difficulty in getting the information you need from this site, or if you have any comments or suggestions on how it can be improved please contact the Public Transport Manager via the address details shown in the box on the right hand side of the page.

Bus Services

For the latest news on changes to bus and train services please go to the Public Transport News page.

Or subscribe to our Public Transport News Email service by sending an email to public.transport@herefordshire.gov.uk with the word "news" in the message title. You will receive notification of forthcoming changes to bus and train timetables in advance of publication of our area timetable books and updates.

For bus times please go to the Bus Timetables pages.

Most bus services, called "commercial" bus services, are planned and provided by bus companies, which are solely responsible for the routes, times and fares charged. "Contracted" bus services are run by bus companies to service specifications set out by Herefordshire Council, which also pays the companies the difference between the operating cost and the income from fares on these services. Contracted services are only provided where no suitable commercial service exists.

The Council is also trying to make it easier for everyone to use public transport and over the last few years has invested over £4m in payments to bus operators to upgrade their services to operation by modern, low-floor, accessible buses.

The Council is also responsible for ensuring that information on bus services is available throughout its area. We do this by providing the information in a number of formats, including via this website.

We also operate a concessionary travel scheme that provides free bus travel for older people and those with disabilities.

Coach Services

National Express coaches serve Hereford, Ledbury, Pontrilas and Ross-on-Wye. For destinations, times and fares please go to the National Express website via the link in the External Links box below.

Rail Services

For train times on services within Herefordshire please go to the Train Timetables page.

Rail services are the responsibility of central government, through the Department of Transport, (or, in Wales and the Borders, the Welsh Assembly Government) which  franchise a number of Train Operating Companies to provide rail service on their behalf. Although Herefordshire Council cannot directly provide or specify rail services it is represented on a number of bodies which fight for improved rail services.

The Cotswolds & Malverns Transport Partnership consists of representatives from local councils along the Hereford to Oxford railway line, train operating companies and rail user groups. It was instrumental in developing the business case for the re-doubling of parts of the Cotswold line, work on which will be completed in 2010. The Partnership continues to lobby for improved timetables with more and faster trains between Hereford and London and has also produced publicity material to attract travellers to the line.

The West Midlands Regional Rail Forum is made up of representatives from all local authorities with transport responsibilities in the West Midlands region, train operating companies and major employers. It aims to represent the needs of the region for improved rail services to central government and to ensure that the region's voice is heard when decisions on rail investment are made.

The Welsh Assembly Government Cross-Border Forum has been set up to ensure that the needs of English rail passengers on the Cardiff to Manchester route are not overlooked by the WAG when train services on the route are specified. Herefordshire is represented along with the other English authorities along the line.

Copies of minutes of the last meeting of these groups can be found in the Resources Box below.