TravelWatch SouthWest is the new name of the South West Public Transport User's Forum (SWPTUF). 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. The new SWPTUF has now fledged and was registered as a Community Interest Company (CIC) on 22nd August 2005. A CIC is a new type of company incorporated under the Companies Act 2004 and applies to a not-for-profit organisation pursuing a community benefit. Indeed SWPTUF is among the very first of the Community Interest Companies under the government's new Social Enterprise legislatiion.

Chris Irwin chairs TravelWatch SouthWest.