TRAVELINE Cymru has made the switch from a 0871 telephone number to a 0300 number to make it cheaper for customers in Carmarthenshire to access its services.

The Welsh Government’s public transport information service has migrated to 0300 200 22 33, which will cost the same to call as geographic numbers starting 01 or 02.

Calls to 0300 numbers are often included as part of inclusive minutes, discount schemes or bundled packages in the same way as geographic calls, so will be free in many cases.

Handled by its bilingual call centre in North Wales, Traveline Cymru provides journey planning, routing and timetable information for all bus, coach and rail services in Wales via its telephone service.

The call centre, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2015, has handled over 2.8 million calls over the last decade, almost one for every person living in Wales.

Graham Walter, managing director of Traveline Cymru, said: “We have made the switch to a 0300 number as we want customers to be able to access our services at the lowest cost possible.

“0300 numbers were designed by Ofcom to be a companion number to 01 and 02 local area numbers, charged in the same manner. In other words, a call to a 03 number costs exactly the same as a 01 or 02 number. Even from a mobile, the cost is the same and calls can even be free if the caller has an inclusive minutes package."

Edwina Hart, minister for economy, science and transport said: “Traveline Cymru provide an essential link for the people of Wales in the provision of passenger information and the switch to an 0300 telephone number will make its services even more accessible.”