Mewn datganiad gan Gyngor Sir Ceredigion:

“Mae’r tendrau a dderbyniwyd yn rhan o broses gaffael ar gyfer gweithredu sawl gwasanaeth wedi dangos cynnydd sylweddol mewn costau. Mae hyn wedi arwain at ofyn am gynnydd sylweddol mewn lefelau cymhorthdal ar adeg pan fo cyllid cyhoeddus dan bwysau aruthrol. Mae’r costau uwch yn adlewyrchu’r heriau penodol sy’n effeithio ar y diwydiant bysiau ar hyn o bryd, sy’n cynnwys costau gweithredu sylweddol uwch, diffyg gyrwyr cymwys ar gael, ansicrwydd ynghylch dulliau ariannu yn y dyfodol yn ogystal â gostyngiad yn nifer y teithwyr a newid mewn ymddygiad teithio.

“Mae nifer y teithwyr wedi bod yn gostwng ledled Cymru ac wedi haneru i bob pwrpas yn y cyfnod rhwng 1982, lle cafwyd 181 miliwn o siwrneiau gan deithwyr, a 2019/20 lle cafwyd 91 miliwn o siwrneiau gan deithwyr. Mae pandemig Covid-19 wedi effeithio ar hyn yn sylweddol, a gwelwyd gostyngiad i 26 miliwn o siwrneiau gan deithwyr yn 2020/21, sydd wedi cael effaith bellach ar hyfywedd gwasanaethau bysiau lleol.

“Bydd gwasanaethau 22T (Aberystwyth-Pontarfynach), 27T (Penrhyncoch-Penbontrhydybeddau) a T29 (Cylch Tregaron), sy’n ymateb i’r galw, yn dod i ben ddiwedd Rhagfyr 2022 oherwydd y costau sylweddol o’u darparu a’r lefel isel iawn sy’n eu defnyddio, sy’n cyfateb i lefelau anhyfyw o gymhorthdal cyhoeddus fesul siwrnai teithiwr.

“Bydd newidiadau i amserlenni gwasanaethau 525 (Aberystwyth-Ponterwyd), 526 (Aberystwyth-Penrhyncoch) a 585 (Aberystwyth-Tregaron-Llanbedr Pont Steffan) yn seiliedig ar gynigion gan y gweithredwyr bysiau lleol ac yn adlewyrchu’r hyn y gellir ei gyflawni’n weithredol gyda’r adnoddau sydd ar gael, o ran bysiau a gyrwyr, ar hyn o bryd.

“Mae’r holl gontractau hyn wedi’u dyfarnu ar sail 6 mis er mwyn caniatáu adolygiad ehangach.

According to Ceredigion County Council:

“The tenders received as part of a procurement process for operating several services have shown significant cost increases. This has resulted in substantial increases in subsidy levels being requested at a time when public finances are under tremendous pressure. The higher costs are largely reflective of particular challenges affecting the bus industry currently which includes considerable increased operating costs, lack of qualified and available drivers, uncertainty around future funding mechanisms as well as declining passenger numbers and changing travel behaviours.

“Bus passenger numbers have been in decline across Wales and essentially halved in the period between 1982, where there were 181 million passenger journeys and 2019/20 where there were 91 million passenger journeys. This has been severely compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw a drop to 26 million passenger journeys in 2020/21, that has further impacted on the viability of local bus services.

“The 22T (Aberystwyth-Devil’s Bridge), 27T (Penrhyncoch-Penbontrhydybeddau) and T29 (Tregaron Circular) demand responsive services will stop at the end of December 2022 due to the significant costs associated with providing them and the very low level of usage, which equate to unviable levels of public subsidy per passenger journey.

“There will be changes to the timetables on the 525 (Aberystwyth-Ponterwyd), 526 (Aberystwyth-Penrhyncoch) and 585 (Aberystwyth-Tregaron-Lampeter) services. These timetables are based on proposals provided by the local bus operators and reflect what is operationally deliverable with the resources available, in terms of buses and drivers, at this time.

 
“All these contracts have been awarded on a 6 month basis to allow for a wider review.