Funding for Bus services was discussed in the House of Commons recently on Wednesday 25th June 2025 when the local MP, Catherine Fookes, took the opportunity to highlight the 65 bus as an example of a bus route essential to the local rural communities, praising the work of the F65B as an incredible community group working to save and promote the service. The 65 was mentioned several times during the debate.

MP Catherine Fookes said in Parliament: “Buses are a lifeline for so many of us here in Monmouthshire - including the No. 65, which connects Monmouth and Chepstow. In Parliament, I’m raising the need for greater investment in our local bus services. Reliable and affordable public transport is essential for rural communities all across the UK!

You can watch the debate here.

Friends of the 65 Bus are pleased to celebrate seven years since they began raising awareness of the route and encouraging new passengers to not only support the 65 but use local bus transport.

The group, F65B, continue to work with Newport Bus to promote and encourage use of local bus services. The extra buses operated by Newport Bus for the Devauden Festival were popular and successful. On Saturday 6th September travel on the 65 and 69 services will be free as part of the Wye Valley Landscape’s National Day of Climate Action…..hop on and enjoy the ride.

Newport Bus now operates the number 65 bus service between Chepstow and Monmouth, taking over from Monmouthshire County Council. The service runs along the Wye Valley high road through various villages of Itton, Devauden, Llanishen, Trellech, The Narth, Penallt and Lydart. The bus is popular with visitors – the route offers stunning views across to the Black Mountains and the Brecon Beacons.

The new timetable, which started on April 1, 2024, includes some service changes and is available on the Newport Bus website.