A new daily coach service linking key towns across north and west Wales will be launched in October.

The Welsh Government says 'TaithCymru' will cut journey times between Bangor and Carmarthen by more than an hour as part of wider plans for a more integrated public transport network.

The Transport for Wales (TfW) service will stop daily at Caernarfon, Porthmadog, Dolgellau, Machynlleth, Aberystwyth and Aberaeron with the inaugural service running on Sunday 25th October.

Deputy transport minister Mark Hooper said the Welsh Government was delivering on its commitment to launch the service within its first 100 days.

He added: "TaithCymru plays a vitally important role in connecting towns and communities, making it a quicker, easier and more reliable way to travel to access work, education, and leisure."

£2 million is being allocated for the first year of TaithCymru's operations, including the purchase of eight new coaches and an online booking system, with each journey expected to last between 4 hours 45 minutes and five hours.

As well as improving access to jobs and key services such as education and healthcare, TaithCymru is designed to work alongside existing local and national bus services in an effort to encourage a shift away from travelling by car.

The Welsh Government says it will also open up sustainable tourism to key destinations such as Eryri, the Llŷn Peninsula and Cardigan Bay.

Lee Robinson, executive director for regional transport at TfW, added: "TaithCymru represents a major step forward in improving connectivity between north and south Wales."

"This new service will provide faster, more convenient and more sustainable journeys, helping people access employment, education, healthcare and leisure opportunities while supporting our wider ambition of creating a truly integrated public transport network for Wales."

"TaithCymru is a great example of what can be achieved when we come together with a shared vision to improve transport for communities across the country."

"The commitment, collaboration and determination shown by teams across Transport for Wales to bring this service to life has been outstanding."

Last week, TfW launched a public consultation on a proposed new public bus network for North Wales, which is set to launch in 2028.