Open-Top Bus Service Launches At Barry Island

The Vale of Glamorgan Council’s resort management team were joined today by a number of local traders to welcome Barry Island’s latest addition – an open top bus service. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The new commercial service, to be provided by Harton Coaches, will take visitors to the popular resort between Barry town centre, Barry Waterfront, the Knap, and of course Barry Island. The service will run on weekends and bank holiday Mondays throughout the summer season from Monday 02 May. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Emma Reed, the Head of Visible Services & Transport, said: “The Vale of Glamorgan Council is delighted to welcome this latest commercial venture to Barry Island. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This fun new B99 service will not only add to the many attractions the resort already has to offer, it will also provide yet another public transport link to the Island. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We look forward to working with Harton Coaches, in the way that we do with all public transport providers, to help them further develop and promote their service.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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Mark Harris, Managing Director of Harton Coaches, said: “The opportunity to bring an open top bus service back to Barry Island was one that was simply too good to let slip. The B99 will offer a fun but practical way of travelling to the Island and will offer a very affordable option to families. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Everyone you speak to says that the resort is well on its way to becoming more popular than ever. Hopefully the new service will play a role in bringing more visitors than ever to Barry Island in 2016.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

2015 saw an estimated 360,000 people visit Barry Island, generating a total economic impact of £12.7 million. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​