Transport for Wales Rail
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Transport for Wales Rail Limited, branded as Transport for Wales and TfW Rail (Welsh: Trafnidiaeth Cymru and Welsh: TrC Trenau), is a Welsh publicly owned train operating company, a subsidiary of Transport for Wales (TfW), a Welsh Government-owned company. It commenced operations of the day to day services of the Wales & Borders franchise on 7 February 2021, as an operator of last resort, succeeding KeolisAmey Wales.[1][2] Transport for Wales Rail manages 248 National Rail stations,[3][4] including all 223 in Wales,[5] and operates all passenger mainline services wholly within Wales, and services from Wales, Chester, and Shrewsbury to Liverpool, Manchester, Manchester Airport, Crewe, Birmingham, Bidston and Cheltenham.
History
In May 2018, the Wales & Borders franchise was awarded by Transport for Wales to KeolisAmey Wales.[6] Scheduled to run for 15 years, it commenced in October 2018.[7][8]
Following a collapse in revenues, and a significant reduction in passenger numbers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the original franchise had become financially unviable. On 7 February 2021, Transport for Wales Rail Limited, the Welsh Government's operator of last resort, succeeded KeolisAmey Wales as operator of the Wales & Borders franchise. KeolisAmey and Transport for Wales will continue a partnership on further improvements on the network, with Amey Infrastructure Wales (AIW) continuing to have an involvement in the delivering of some key projects such as the Core Valley Lines.[9][10][11][12]
Services
As of December 2022[update], Transport for Wales Rail operates these regular and daily services Monday to Friday:[13]
North Wales to South Wales | ||
---|---|---|
Route | tpd | Calling at |
Holyhead to Cardiff Central | 8 | <templatestyles src="Cslist/styles.css" />
|
Marches, West Wales, Crewe–Shrewsbury Lines and Swanline | ||
Route | tph | Calling at |
Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central | 1 | <templatestyles src="Cslist/styles.css" />
|
Swansea to Fishguard Harbour | 4tpd | <templatestyles src="Cslist/styles.css" /> |
Cardiff Central to Milford Haven | 1tp2h | <templatestyles src="Cslist/styles.css" />
|
Swansea to Pembroke Dock | 1tp2h | <templatestyles src="Cslist/styles.css" /> |
Cardiff Central to Swansea | 1 | <templatestyles src="Cslist/styles.css" /> |
Crewe to Shrewsbury | 1tp2h | <templatestyles src="Cslist/styles.css" /> |
Cambrian Line | ||
Route | tph | Calling at |
Birmingham International to Aberystwyth | 1tp2h | <templatestyles src="Cslist/styles.css" /> |
Machynlleth to Pwllheli | 1tp2h | <templatestyles src="Cslist/styles.css" />
|
Heart of Wales line | ||
Route | tpd | Calling at |
Shrewsbury to Swansea | 5 | <templatestyles src="Cslist/styles.css" />
|
North Wales Coast Line | ||
Route | tph | Calling at |
Birmingham International to Holyhead | 1tp2h | <templatestyles src="Cslist/styles.css" />
|
Conwy Valley line | ||
Route | tpd | Calling at |
Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog | 6 | <templatestyles src="Cslist/styles.css" /> |
Borderlands line | ||
Route | tph | Calling at |
Bidston to Wrexham Central | 1 | <templatestyles src="Cslist/styles.css" /> |
Llandudno–Manchester, Chester–Crewe, and Liverpool–Wrexham | ||
Route | tph | Calling at |
Llandudno to Manchester Airport | 1 | <templatestyles src="Cslist/styles.css" /> |
Chester to Crewe | 1 | Shuttle service |
Liverpool Lime Street to Wrexham General | 1tp2h | <templatestyles src="Cslist/styles.css" /> |
Maesteg–Cheltenham | ||
Route | tph | Calling at |
Maesteg to Cheltenham Spa | 1 | <templatestyles src="Cslist/styles.css" /> |
Ebbw Valley Railway | ||
Route | tph | Calling at |
Ebbw Vale Town to Cardiff Central | 1 | <templatestyles src="Cslist/styles.css" /> |
Crosskeys to Newport | 1 | <templatestyles src="Cslist/styles.css" /> |
Rhondda line | ||
Route | tph | Calling at |
Cardiff Central to Treherbert | 2 | <templatestyles src="Cslist/styles.css" /> |
Merthyr, Rhymney, and Vale of Glamorgan Lines | ||
Route | tph | Calling at |
Barry Island to Aberdare | 2 | <templatestyles src="Cslist/styles.css" /> |
Barry Island to Merthyr Tydfil | 1 | <templatestyles src="Cslist/styles.css" /> |
Bridgend to Merthyr Tydfil | 1 | <templatestyles src="Cslist/styles.css" />
|
Penarth to Bargoed | 2 | <templatestyles src="Cslist/styles.css" /> |
Penarth to Rhymney | 2 | <templatestyles src="Cslist/styles.css" /> |
Coryton and Cardiff City lines | ||
Route | tph | Calling at |
Radyr to Coryton | 2 | <templatestyles src="Cslist/styles.css" /> |
Butetown branch line | ||
Route | tph | Calling at |
Cardiff Queen Street to Cardiff Bay | 5 | Shuttle service |
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Rolling stock
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Transport for Wales Rail inherited from KeolisAmey Wales a fleet of Class 143, 150, 153, 158, 170 and 175 diesel multiple units, Class 230 diesel-battery-electric multiple units, Class 769 bi-mode multiple units and Mark 4 and DVT sets with an allocation of Class 67 locomotives.[14][15]
Class 143 Pacers, which were not compliant with persons with reduced mobility legislation (PRM), were withdrawn on 29 May 2021 when their PRM dispensation ended.[16]
Class 170 units are to move to East Midlands Railway,[17] with two-car units already transferred and the three-car units to follow in Spring 2023.[18]
Class 197 and 231 diesel multiple units, Class 756 tri-mode multiple units and Class 398 tram-trains will replace the Class 150, 153, 158, 175 and 769 units by 2023.
Family | Class[14] | Image | Type[14] | Top speed | Number[14] | Carriages[14] | Routes operated[14] | Built | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mph[14] | km/h | ||||||||
Locomotive-hauled stock | |||||||||
Premier Service | 67 | ![]() |
Loco | 125 | 200 | 6 | - |
|
1999–2000 |
InterCity 225 | Mark 4 | 150px | Coach | 140 | 225 | 37[19] | 4 or 5 |
|
1989–1992 |
Driving Van Trailer | 150px | Control car | 8[19] | 1 | |||||
Diesel multiple unit | |||||||||
Sprinter | 150 | 150px | DMU | 75 | 120 | 36 | 2 |
|
1987 |
153 Super Sprinter | 150px | 26 | 1 | 1987–1988 | |||||
218x218px | |||||||||
158 Express Sprinter | 150px | 90 | 145 | 24 | 2 |
|
1989–1992 | ||
385x385px | |||||||||
Bombardier Turbostar | 170 | 150px | 100 | 161 | 3 | 3[18] | 1999 | ||
559x559px | |||||||||
Alstom Coradia | 175 Coradia 1000 | 150px 150px |
8[22] | 2 |
|
1999–2001 | |||
14[22] | 3 | ||||||||
428x428px 638x638px |
|||||||||
CAF Civity | 197[23] | 150x150px | 51 | 2 |
|
From 2020 | |||
26 | 3 | ||||||||
435x435px | |||||||||
Diesel-electric multiple unit | |||||||||
Stadler FLIRT | 231 | 150x150px | DEMU | 90 | 145 | 11 | 4 |
|
2020–2022 |
681x681px | |||||||||
Bi-mode multiple unit | |||||||||
Vivarail D-Train | 230[26] | 150x150px | BMU | 60 | 97 | 5 | 3 | 2019–2020 | |
493x493px |
Newly introduced / future fleet
All of Transport for Wales Rail's KeolisAmey Wales-inherited and extra temporary fleet is due to be replaced by 2023 (with the exception of the Class 67 locomotives).[27]
Cascades and refurbishments
Class 67-hauled Mark 4 set
Six Class 67 locomotives have been adapted to work with three sets each comprising four Mark 4 carriages and a Mark 4 Driving Van Trailer, which will replace the Mark 3 stock previously used on locomotive-hauled services.[citation needed] The twelve carriages and three DVTs were able to cascade from London North Eastern Railway, as a result of the introduction of Class 800s and Class 801s on the East Coast Main Line.[citation needed] The Mark 4 coaches have retained the Virgin Trains East Coast livery, but with Transport for Wales labels attached.[citation needed] The Mark 4 Driving Van Trailers will be repainted into the new Transport for Wales livery.[citation needed] Four of the six Class 67 locomotives have been repainted into TfW Rail livery.[citation needed] TfW Rail introduced the Mark 4 sets in June 2021 on Cardiff to Holyhead services, and from December 2022 they will operate services between Swansea and Manchester using trains which had previously been planned to be used on the Blackpool route by Grand Central.[28] The three Mark 4 sets will be retained and will remain on the routes they will work from their date of introduction on TfW Rail services.[citation needed]
Class 153
TfW Rail will retain eight Class 153 units to operate services on the Heart of Wales line.[29]
New trains
For the longer term fleet replacement, 148 brand new trains will be introduced including 77 CAF Civity trains (Class 197), 35 FLIRT trains (Class 231 & Class 756) and 36 Citylink tram-trains (Class 398) have been ordered. The addition of these trains to the fleet, from 2021 to 2024 but mostly in 2022–23, will allow the 109 (total) Class 150, 153 (13 by then), 158, 175 and 769 units to be withdrawn.
Class 197 Civity
A total of 77 Class 197 Civity diesel multiple units were ordered from CAF for long-distance routes. These trains have end gangways, but fewer toilets than the Class 158 and Class 175 DMUs they replace.[30] They are however be quicker, with more powerful engines and more efficient transmissions for better acceleration, as well as a higher top speed than the Class 158. 51 are two-car units and 26 are three-cars.[15]
CAF undertook the fabrication, welding and painting of the Class 197 fleet in their factory in Beasain, Spain. The first Driving Motor carriage vehicle bodyshell had largely passed this stage by 12 February 2020, when it was pictured in the Beasain factory.[31] The painted bodyshells were then be shipped to Newport, South Wales, for further assembly/component-fitment at CAF's new UK factory in Llanwern.[32]
Class 230 D-Train
Five Class 230 D-Train diesel- and battery-electric multiple units[15] were built in England from former London Underground D78 Stock aluminium bodyshells by start-up rolling stock manufacturer Vivarail between 2019 and 2020.[15][33] Originally expected to enter service from May 2022,[34] they began operations on the Borderlands line at the beginning of April 2023.[35][36][37]
Class 756/231 FLIRT and Class 398 Citylink
A total of 35 Stadler FLIRT units have been ordered (consisting of 24 Class 756 tri-modes - 7 three-car & 17 four-car units - and 11 Class 231 diesel-electrics), along with 36 Class 398 Stadler Citylink tram-trains.[38] These will be manufactured at the Stadler factory in Szolnok, Hungary and assembled at their plant in Bussnang, Switzerland.
Future fleet summary
Family | Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Number | Carriages | Routes operated | Built | In service | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mph | km/h | |||||||||
Tri-mode multiple units[39] | ||||||||||
Stadler FLIRT | 756 | 150x150px | TMU | 75 | 120 | 7 | 3 | Services between Caerphilly/Coryton to Penarth[40][41] | From 2020[15] | 2023 |
17 | 4 | Services between Rhymney to Barry Island/Bridgend via Vale of Glamorgan[40][41] | ||||||||
532x532px | ||||||||||
Tram-trains | ||||||||||
Stadler Citylink | 398 | 150x150px | Tram-train | 62 | 100 | 36 | 3 | Services from Cardiff to Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil | From 2020[39] | 2024 |
Past fleet
Between September 2021 and November 2022, all of the two-car Class 170s transferred to East Midlands Railway.[18] In May 2023, Transport for Wales withdrew all of its Class 769 from service after being replaced by Class 231 units.[42] In June 2023, the first of the Class 175s were withdrawn from service after being replaced by Class 197 units.[22]
Family | Class | Image | Type | Top Speed | Carriages | Number | Routes Operated | Withdrawn | Built | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mph | km/h | ||||||||||
Diesel Multiple Units | |||||||||||
Bombardier Turbostar | 170 | 150x150px | DMU | 100 | 161 | 2 | 4 | 2021-2022 | 2002 | Transferred to East Midlands Railway | |
3 | 5 | ||||||||||
589x589px | |||||||||||
Alstom Coradia | 175 Coradia 1000 | 150px 150px |
100 | 161 | 2 | 3 | Regional services between North, South and West Wales and England | 2023 | 1999–2001 | Stored | |
3 | 2 | ||||||||||
589x589px 589x589px |
|||||||||||
BR Second Generation (Mk 3) | 769 Flex | 150px 150px |
BMU | 100 | 161 | 4 | 8 |
|
2023 | 2019–2020[nb 2] | Stored |
589x589px |
Notes
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References
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External links
![]() |
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Preceded by
KeolisAmey Wales (t/a Transport for Wales Rail Services)
|
Operator of Wales & Borders franchise 2021 – |
Incumbent |
Template:South Wales Metro Template:UK TOCs
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- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Keolis/Amey wins £5bn Wales rail contract Archived 2020-11-09 at the Wayback Machine BBC News 23 May 2018
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Written Statement: Future of Rail update Welsh Government 22 October 2020
- ↑ Transport for Wales rail services to be nationalised BBC News 22 October 2020
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- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ "EMR takes stock". Modern Railways. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 "EMR stands down '180s' and '156s'". Rail Magazine. No. 984. 31 May 2023. p. 23.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 TfW acquires former Grand Central Mk4s Rail Express issue 301 June 2021 page 34
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Clinnick, Richard (June 2023). "First Class 175s sent off-lease by TfW". Headline News. Rail Express. No. 325. Horncastle: Mortons Media Group. p. 11. ISSN 1362-234X.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ 39.0 39.1 Trains for Wales under construction Archived 2020-12-04 at the Wayback Machine - Rail Business UK. Retrieved 14 December 2020
- ↑ 40.0 40.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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