TravelWatch Southwest
About Us

TravelWatch SouthWest is a Community Interest Company. Its officers work closely with regional partners, including public sector bodies, voluntary associations and transport providers. The Company also engaged in consultancy work for regional institutions and advised the South West of England Regional Development Agency on bus strategy and provided general guidance on matters relating to South West rail franchising. Officers also participated in the regional working group convened by the Government Office for the South West on its plans for implementing the extension of the Government’s Concessionary Bus fares’ scheme in 2008.

We organise twice-yearly meetings. Speakers are invited from government agencies, the public transport industry, including bus and train companies, airports and ferry operators. At these events, delegates may enter into the discussion, helping to locate and progress service improvements and to ensure that public transport is given the high profile that it deserves in regional transport policy and funding.

TravelWatch SouthWest was originally the South West Public Transport User's Forum (SWPTUF). In turn, historically SWPTUF was part of the South West RPC - the South West Rail Passenger Committee. With the abolition of the regional RPCs (as a result of the Railways Act 2005) public transport users in the South West were left without representation. At the final general meeting of SWPTUF as it was under the RPC system, it was agreed that the SWPTUF would continue on a standalone basis.