A BUS company expanding into Newport is close to completing a new depot near the Transporter Bridge.

New Adventure Travel (NAT), which won the contract to provide school bus transport in the city from September, are almost ready to open the new HQ for the Newport operation in Pill alongside the Southern Distributor Road. 

Managing director Kevyn Jones said: “I want to give Newport a good standard and reliable bus service that everyone can make good use of.” 

A NAT spokesman said they are optimistic that the new depot will be completed by the end of this week and Mr Jones has assured the Argus that this is merely an expansion from their business in Cardiff, not a relocation. 

Mr Jones said with their move into Newport, NAT has generated nearly 39 full-time jobs and 40 part-time jobs for Newport residents overall including bus drivers and admin staff. 

There is the possibility of more if the NAT takes on more bus routes in the future. 

His company will take over the multi-million pound school bus contract from council-owned Newport Transport. 

Mr Jones also announced NAT would step in to run services subsequently axed by Newport Transport because they were not deemed profitable. 

Council-owned Newport Transport took the decision to cancel timetabled buses to Allt-yr-yn, Brynglas and Rogerstone in the aftermath of losing the contract to take children to and from school. 

Cardiff-based New Adventure Travel then said they planned to start an hourly service to both Brynglas and Allt-yr-yn, running from Monday to Saturday from September, alongside a service to Ringland, Alway, the city centre and Duffryn which will run every 15 minutes. 

Mr Jones added all the new routes would be served by “modern low floor wheelchair access buses” to ensure everyone including disabled people could use the buses.