The demise of two Welsh independent operators in one case marks the end of a company trading for 101 years and in the other leaves Tredegar without a bus or coach operator based in the town after more than a century.
Closure of Thomas Bros of Llangadog brings to an end a business that began carrying goods in 1916 and soon was transporting passengers on routes to Llandeilo, Llandovery, Swansea and Llanelli.
Operations grew postwar and it acquired other businesses in the area, but all fullsize vehicle purchases after 1980 were of secondhand vehicles and its last new minibus was a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter delivered in 2006. The final additions to the fleet were three Plaxton Paragon-bodied Volvo B12Ms in 2011.
Gary’s of Tredegar ceased trading on 21 July after completing its last school contracts, leaving Tredegar without a bus or coach operator for the first time, it is estimated, in over 100 years. The six-vehicle fleet latterly comprised a mid-1980s Duple 425 integral, four Plaxton-bodied Volvo B10Ms and a Mellor-bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario.
