Transport for Wales Rail Services
Keolis Amey Operations (Welsh: Gweithrediadau Keolis Amey)[3], trading as Transport for Wales Rail Services (TfW Rail Services) is a Welsh train operating company owned by Keolis (60%) and Amey (40%) that operates the Wales and Borders franchise.
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Overview | |
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Franchise(s) |
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Main region(s) | Wales |
Other region(s) | |
Stations operated | 247[1] |
Parent company | |
Reporting mark | AW[2] |
Predecessor | Arriva Trains Wales |
Technical | |
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
Other | |
Website |
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The government body Transport for Wales (commercially separate from the train operating company) awarded the contract for the Wales and Borders franchise to Keolis Amey in 2018 which commenced rail operations on 14 October 2018.[4] Keolis Amey uses the brand names Transport for Wales and TfW Rail (Welsh: Trafnidiaeth Cymru[5] and TrC Trenau),[6] which are owned by the Welsh Government, for day-to-day operations.
History

In October 2016 four bids were shortlisted for the next Wales & Borders franchise: Abellio, the incumbent operator Arriva, a Keolis/Amey joint venture, and MTR Corporation.[8][9]
In October 2017, Arriva withdrew from the bidding process, followed in February 2018 by Abellio, after the collapse of its partner Carillion.[10][11][12][13] In May 2018, the franchise was awarded to Keolis Amey Wales Cymru. It commenced on 14 October 2018 and runs for 15 years.[14]
Unlike the previous franchise, which was awarded by the Department for Transport, the new franchise was awarded by Transport for Wales, on behalf of the Welsh Government.[9]
As of January 2020 Keolis Amey has been fined £2.3 million by the Welsh government for poor performance of rail services.[15] The company is also expected to be criticised by the Welsh Language Commissioner later in 2020 for reportedly breaking legislation on Welsh language provision six times since taking over the franchise in 2018.[16] TfW Rail told the BBC that it did not believe any rules had been broken.[16] Complaints included that Welsh was given lesser treatment on self-service machines, websites, and on the mobile app, that correspondence was not issued fully in Welsh, that train tickets were printed only in English, and that station and train announcements were not always made bilingually.[16]
Services
Typical TfW weekday off-peak service is as follows:[17]
North Wales Coast Line | |||
---|---|---|---|
Route | tph | Calling at | Class |
Cardiff Central to Holyhead | 8tpd | Newport, Cwmbran, Pontypool & New Inn, Abergavenny, Hereford, Leominster (3tpd), Ludlow (7tpd), Craven Arms (7tpd), Church Stretton (7tpd), Shrewsbury, Gobowen (7tpd), Chirk (7tpd), Ruabon (7tpd), Wrexham General, Chester, Shotton (4tpd), Flint, Prestatyn (7tpd), Rhyl, Abergele & Pensarn (3tpd), Colwyn Bay, Llandudno Junction, Conwy (3tpd), Penmaenmawr (3tpd), Llanfairfechan (3tpd) Bangor (7tpd), Llanfairpwll (7tpd), Bodorgan (5tpd), Ty Croes (5tpd), Rhosneigr (5tpd) and Valley (5tpd) 0534 from Holyhead and 1716 from Cardiff Central is Premier Service which calls at fewer stops and has 1st class accommodation available with meals included. Only 7 tpd terminate in Holyhead as one turns off at Llandudno Junction and terminates at Llandudno, calling at Deganwy en route. |
175 |
Cardiff Central to Holyhead (Premier Service) | 1tpd | Newport, Cwmbran (Holyhead-bound only), Pontypool (Holyhead-bound only), Abergavenny (Holyhead-bound only), Hereford, Ludlow (Cardiff-bound only), Shrewsbury, Wrexham General, Chester, Flint, Rhyl, Colwyn Bay, Llandudno Junction and Bangor | 67 |
Birmingham International to Holyhead | 0.5 | Birmingham New Street, Smethwick Galton Bridge, Wolverhampton, Telford Central, Wellington, Shrewsbury, Gobowen, Chirk, Ruabon, Wrexham General, Chester, Flint, Prestatyn, Rhyl, Colwyn Bay, Llandudno Junction, Conwy, Penmaenmawr, Llanfairfechan and Bangor | 158 |
Manchester Airport to Llandudno | 1 | East Didsbury, Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Oxford Road, Newton-le-Willows, Earlestown, Warrington Bank Quay, Runcorn East, Frodsham, Helsby, Chester, Shotton, Flint, Prestatyn, Rhyl, Abergele & Pensarn, Colwyn Bay, Llandudno Junction and Deganwy 6 inter-peak trains each day begin/end at the airport, 1 early morning and 2 late evening trains do too, not calling at East Didsbury. Other trains begin at Manchester Piccadilly. | 158, 175 |
Crewe to Chester | 1 | shuttle | 150, 158 |
Chester to Liverpool Lime Street | 1 | Helsby, Frodsham, Runcorn, Liverpool South Parkway | |
South Wales – Manchester | |||
Route | tph | Calling at | Class |
Milford Haven to Manchester Piccadilly | 0.5 | Johnston, Haverfordwest, Clarbeston Road, Clunderwen, Whitland, Carmarthen, Pembrey & Burry Port, Llanelli, Gowerton, Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot Parkway, Bridgend, Cardiff Central, Newport, Cwmbran, Abergavenny, Hereford, Leominster, Ludlow, Shrewsbury, Crewe, Wilmslow, Stockport | 175 |
Carmarthen to Manchester Piccadilly | 0.5 | Ferryside, Kidwelly, Pembury & Burry Port, Llanelli, Gowerton, Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot Parkway, Bridgend, Pencoed, Llanharan, Pontyclun, Cardiff Central, Newport, Cwmbran, Abergavenny, Hereford, Leominster, Ludlow, Craven Arms, Church Stretton, Shrewsbury, Whitchurch, Nantwich, Crewe, Wilmslow, Stockport | |
Fishguard Harbour to Manchester Piccadilly | 1tpd | Fishguard and Goodwick, Clarbeston Road, Whitland, Carmarthen, Pembury & Burry Port, Llanelli, Gowerton, Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot Parkway, Bridgend, Pencoed, Llanharan, Pontyclun, Cardiff Central, Newport, Cwmbran, Abergavenny, Hereford, Leominister, Ludlow, Craven Arms, Church Stretton, Shrewsbury, Whitchurch, Nantwich, Crewe, Wilmslow, Stockport | 150 |
Cambrian Line | |||
Route | tph | Calling at | Class |
Birmingham International / Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth | 0.5 / 1 | Birmingham New Street, Smethwick Galton Bridge, Wolverhampton, Telford Central, Wellington, Shrewsbury, Welshpool, Newtown, Caersws, Machynlleth, Dovey Junction and Borth Trains run joined to Pwllheli trains Birmingham – Machynlleth | 158 |
Birmingham International / Shrewsbury to Pwllheli | 0.5 | Birmingham New Street, Smethwick Galton Bridge, Wolverhampton, Telford Central, Wellington, Shrewsbury, Welshpool, Newtown, Caersws, Machynlleth, Dovey Junction, Penhelig, Aberdovey, Tywyn, Tonfanau, Llwyngwril, Fairbourne, Morfa Mawddach, Barmouth, Llanaber, Talybont, Dyffryn Ardudwy, Llanbedr, Pensarn, Llandanwg, Harlech, Tygwyn, Talsarnau, Llandecwyn, Penrhyndeudraeth, Minffordd, Porthmadog, Criccieth, Penychain and Abererch Trains run joined to Aberystwyth trains Birmingham – Machynlleth | |
Heart of Wales Line | |||
Route | tpd | Calling at | Class |
Carmarthen to Llandovery | 1 | Gowerton, Llanelli, Bynea, Llangennech, Pontarddulais, Pantyffynnon, Ammanford, Llandybie, Ffairfach, Llandeilo, Llangadog and Llanwrda | 150, 153 |
Llandrindod to Crewe | 1 | Pen-y-Bont, Dolau, Llanbister Road, Llangynllo, Knucklas, Knighton, Bucknell, Hopton Heath, Broome, Craven Arms, Church Stretton, Shrewsbury, Yorton, Wem, Prees, Whitchurch, Wrenbury and Nantwich | |
Swansea to Shrewsbury and Crewe | 4 | Gowerton, Llanelli, Bynea, Llangennech, Pontarddulais, Pantyffynnon, Ammanford, Llandybie, Ffairfach, Llandeilo, Llangadog, Llanwrda, Llandovery, Cynghordy, Sugar Loaf, Llanwrtyd, Llangammarch, Garth, Cilmeri, Builth Road, Llandrindod, Pen-y-Bont, Dolau, Llanbister Road, Llangynllo, Knucklas, Knighton, Bucknell, Hopton Heath, Broome, Craven Arms and Church Stretton 2tpd extend to/from Crewe, calling at Yorton, Wem, Prees, Whitchurch, Wrenbury and Nantwich | |
Shrewsbury to Crewe | 5 | Yorton, Wem, Prees, Whitchurch, Wrenbury and Nantwich creates an every-2-hours service alongside trains beginning further south | |
Conwy Valley Line | |||
Route | tpd | Calling at | Class |
Blaenau Ffestiniog to Llandudno | 6 | Roman Bridge, Dolwyddelan, Pont-y-Pant, Betws-y-Coed, Llanrwst, North Llanrwst, Dolgarrog, Tal-y-Cafn, Glan Conwy, Llandudno Junction and Deganwy | 150 |
Borderlands Line | |||
Route | tph | Calling at | Class |
Wrexham Central to Bidston | 1 | Wrexham General, Gwersyllt, Cefn-y-Bedd, Caergwrle, Hope, Penyffordd, Buckley, Hawarden, Shotton, Hawarden Bridge, Neston, Heswall and Upton | 150 |
West Wales Locals | |||
Route | tph | Calling at | Class |
Pembroke Dock to Swansea | 0.5 | Pembroke, Lamphey, Manorbier, Penally, Tenby, Saundersfoot, Kilgetty, Narberth, Whitland, Carmarthen, Pembrey & Burry Port, and Llanelli | 150, 153, 158 |
Fishguard Harbour to Swansea | 0.25 | irregular service usually calling at Fishguard and Goodwick, Clarbeston Road, Whitland and Llanelli | |
Swanline | |||
Route | tph | Calling at | Class |
Swansea to Cardiff Central | 0.5 | Llansamlet, Skewen, Neath, Briton Ferry, Baglan, Port Talbot Parkway, Pyle, Bridgend, Pencoed and Pontyclun | 150, 153, 158 |
West Wales-Gloucestershire Line | |||
Route | tph | Calling at | Class |
Maesteg to Cheltenham Spa | 1 (Alternates with the Fishguard Harbour to Gloucester Service) | Maesteg (Ewenny Road), Garth, Tondu, Sarn, Wildmill, Bridgend, Pencoed, Llanharan, Pontyclun, Cardiff Central, Newport, Severn Tunnel Junction, Caldicot, Chepstow, Lydney and Gloucester Some trains terminate at Cardiff Central, rather than Cheltenham Spa | 150, 153, 158, 170, 175 |
Fishguard Harbour to Gloucester | 4tpd | Fishguard and Goodwick, Clarbeston Road, Clunderwen, Whitland, Carmarthen, Ferryside, Kidwelly, Pembrey and Burry Port, Llanelli, Gowerton, Swansea railway station, Neath, Port Talbot Parkway, Bridgend, Pencoed, Llanharan, Pontyclun, Cardiff Central, Newport, Severn Tunnel Junction, Caldicot, Chepstow and Lydney
Some trains terminate at Cardiff Central, rather than Gloucester |
150, 158 |
Ebbw Valley Railway | |||
Route | tph | Calling at | Class |
Bridgend/Cardiff Central to Ebbw Vale Town | 1 | Pencoed, Pontyclun, Cardiff Central, Pye Corner, Rogerstone, Risca & Pontymister, Cross Keys, Newbridge, Llanhilleth and Ebbw Vale Parkway | 150, 153, 158, 170, 175 |
Rhymney Line | |||
Route | tph | Calling at | Class |
Penarth/Cardiff Central to Bargoed/Rhymney | 4 | Dingle Road, Grangetown, Cardiff Central, Cardiff Queen Street, Heath High Level, Llanishen, Lisvane & Thornhill, Caerphilly, Aber, Energlyn & Churchill Park (2tph), Llanbradach, Ystrad Mynach, Hengoed, Pengam, Gilfach Fargoed (1tph), Bargoed, Brithdir (1tph), Tir-Phil (1tph) and Pontlottyn (1tph) | 142, 143, 150 |
Merthyr & Vale of Glamorgan Lines | |||
Route | tph | Calling at | Class |
Bridgend to Aberdare | 1 | Llantwit Major, Rhoose Cardiff International Airport, Barry, Barry Docks, Cadoxton, Dinas Powys, Eastbrook, Cogan, Grangetown, Cardiff Central, Cardiff Queen Street, Cathays, Llandaf, Radyr, Taffs Well, Trefforest, Pontypridd, Abercynon, Penrhiwceiber, Mountain Ash, Fernhill and Cwmbach | 142, 143, 150 |
Barry Island to Aberdare | 1 | Barry, Barry Docks, Cadoxton, Dinas Powys, Eastbrook, Cogan, Grangetown, Cardiff Central, Cardiff Queen Street, Cathays, Llandaf, Radyr, Taffs Well, Trefforest, Pontypridd, Abercynon, Penrhiwceiber, Mountain Ash, Fernhill and Cwmbach | |
Barry Island to Merthyr Tydfil | 2 | Barry, Barry Docks, Cadoxton, Dinas Powys, Eastbrook, Cogan, Grangetown, Cardiff Central, Cardiff Queen Street, Cathays, Llandaf, Radyr, Taffs Well, Trefforest Estate, Trefforest, Pontypridd, Abercynon, Quakers Yard, Merthyr Vale, Troed-y-rhiw and Pentre-bach | |
Rhondda Line | |||
Route | tph | Calling at | Class |
Cardiff Central to Treherbert | 2 | Cardiff Queen Street, Cathays, Llandaf, Radyr, Taffs Well, Trefforest, Pontypridd, Trehafod, Porth, Dinas Rhondda, Tonypandy, Llwynypia, Ystrad Rhondda, Ton Pentre, Treorchy and Ynyswen | 142, 143, 150 |
City & Coryton Lines | |||
Route | tph | Calling at | Class |
Radyr to Coryton | 2 | Danescourt, Fairwater, Waun-gron Park, Ninian Park, Cardiff Central, Cardiff Queen Street, Heath Low Level, Ty Glas, Birchgrove, Rhiwbina and Whitchurch | 142, 143, 153 |
Butetown Branch Line | |||
Route | tph | Calling at | Class |
Cardiff Bay to Cardiff Queen Street | 5 | shuttle | 142, 143, 150, 153 |
Planned improvements
There are plans to improve services between 2018 and 2033 as part of the new franchise:[18][19]
North Wales and North West England[20]
- A new hourly Liverpool Lime Street to Chester service was introduced in May 2019, with limited services extended to Wrexham General.[21]
- Class 230 D-Trains are scheduled for introduction on services on the Borderlands, Conwy Valley and Crewe-Chester lines during 2019. The operator had indicated an introduction date of Summer 2019, but this has been pushed back awaiting delivery of the stock from manufacturer Vivarail.
- Twelve refurbished Mark 4 carriages for the Holyhead to Cardiff Central Premier Service by the end of 2019, to replace the Mark 3 carriages. The first Mark 4 sets were released by LNER in July 2019 following the introduction of Azuma services and were released to Transport for Wales by 2020.[22]
- Increase Wrexham Central to Bidston services to 2tph by December 2021, as part of the North Wales Metro.
- Introduction of a new hourly Liverpool to Llandudno and Shrewsbury service, and a new two-hourly Liverpool to Cardiff Central service from December 2022.
- Introduction of a direct Manchester Airport to Bangor service from December 2022.
- Introduce the new fleet of Civity diesel multiple units (DMUs) to the North Wales Coast line and other North Wales routes during 2022.
- Invest in Shotton and Wrexham General stations from April 2024, and in Chester station by 2028.
- Invest to co-fund new station buildings at Blaenau Ffestiniog.
- Introduce new Community Rail Partnerships on the North Wales Coast Line and the Crewe to Hereford line.
South West and Mid Wales and the Borders[23][24]
- Refurbished Class 170 Turbostar two-car DMUs on services to West Wales, Ebbw Vale and Maesteg from 2019, and the Heart of Wales line from 2022, to replace Class 153 Super Sprinters.
- Open a new station at Bow Street in March 2020.[25]
- An additional service every day on the Heart of Wales line from December 2022.
- A consistent 1 tph on the Cambrian line from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth from December 2022.
- New Civity DMUs on the Cambrian line during 2022, to replace the Class 158 Express Sprinters.
- Introduce new two and three-car new diesel multiple units for the Milford Haven to Manchester Piccadilly service by 2023, to replace the Class 175 Coradias.
- A first-class service between Swansea and Manchester from December 2024.
- Additional summer Sunday services from May 2023 between Tywyn and Pwllheli – including a new 1 tph express service between major centres by 2025.
- Invest in Carmarthen and Machynlleth stations in 2021, and Llanelli station in 2025.
- Introduce a new Community Rail Partnership for the West Wales line.
South East Wales[19]
- Ticket machines were introduced at all South Wales Metro stations in 2019.
- Class 769 Flex bi-mode multiple units (BMMUs) were delivered to Cardiff Canton Depot in Summer 2019,[26] and are scheduled to run on the Valley Lines by the end of 2019.
- Replace all Class 142 and 143 Pacers by December 2019.
- 4tph between Cardiff Central and Bridgend (direct, Monday to Saturday) from December 2019.
- Introduce pay-as-you-go for users of smart cards by April 2020.
- Increasing capacity of trains on early morning services to Cardiff Central from 2-car services to 4-car services.
- A new 1 train per hour (tph) Ebbw Vale Town to Newport service from May 2021.
- 4tph between Treherbert, Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Cardiff from December 2022, operated by Citylink tram-trains.
- 6tph between Cardiff Queen Street and Cardiff Bay from December 2022.
- Hourly Cheltenham Spa to Cardiff Central services from December 2022.
- Introduce new FLIRT diesel-electric multiple units (DEMUs) on the Ebbw Vale and Maesteg lines during 2022.
- Introduce new FLIRT tri-mode multiple units (TMMUs) between Penarth, Barry and Bridgend to Rhymney and Coryton during 2023.
- 2tph between Cardiff and Bridgend via the Vale of Glamorgan Line from December 2023.
- 4tph throughout on the Rhymney line from December 2023.
- Introduce Citylink tram-trains to the City Line during 2023.
- Eliminate diesel use on the Central Metro lines (north of Cardiff Queen Street) by 2024.
- Open new stations at Cardiff Parkway in February 2020, Crwys Road, Loudoun Square and Cardiff Bay by December 2023, Treforest Estate by December 2025, and Gabalfa by 2028.
- Invest in Merthyr Tydfil from April 2020, Abergavenny from April 2023, and Cardiff Central and Chepstow from April 2025.
- Develop a fleet maintenance depot at Taffs Well and a dedicated Infrastructure Management depot in the Valleys.
- Build a Major Events Stabling Line (MESL) and a new station in Llanwern.[27]
Current fleet
TfW Rail inherited a fleet of Class 142, 143, 150, 153, 158 and 175 diesel multiple units and Mark 3 carriages from Arriva Trains Wales, which had been refurbished starting from 2011 and had been fitted with WiFi in 2017. It has since acquired some Class 170 units (from September 2019 to February 2020) and more Class 153 units (in April 2019 and December 2019 to January 2020) from some English operators to work alongside and with the ex-ATW fleet, to add capacity and support new services.
Class 153 Super Sprinters
In April 2019 TfW Rail added 5 153s acquired from Great Western Railway to the 8 it previously had. Four of these entered service the following month, and the fifth returned from works on 5 October 2019 as the first 153 on the whole GB rail network with PRM (Persons with Reduced Mobility) modifications, and entered service on 21 October 2019.
In October 2019, Porterbrook Leasing Company announced that they will lease a further 9 Class 153 units to TfW for use on a short term basis.[28] These comprise 5 153s from Greater Anglia which were delivered in December 2019 and started to enter service in January 2020, and 4 153s from East Midlands Railway which were delivered in January 2020 and started to enter service in February 2020.
Class 170 Turbostars
In September 2019 Transport for Wales took delivery of the first 3 of 12 total Class 170 Turbostar DMUs from Greater Anglia, with 3 more of the units following in November 2019, a further 4 in December 2019 and the last two in January and February 2020 respectively.[29] Driver training had taken place from September 2019, and in April 2020, the last unit to enter service (3-car 170206) finally did so.
On 12 December 2019, 3-car 170202 worked TfW Rail's first Class 170 passenger services (between Bridgend and Ebbw Vale Town via Cardiff Central), and five units (three 3-car and two 2-car) were in passenger service on 16 December 2019. The units had been refurbished under Greater Anglia and are initially being used by TfW Rail cosmetically unchanged (other than the different operator logos), but as they will be retained for the duration of the franchise, it is planned that they will later receive further refurbishment to TfW Rail specification.
As of April 2019, all of TfW Rail's Class 142 and 143 Pacer DMUs, which were intended to be withdrawn and replaced by the 1 January 2020 PRM deadline but will now continue in service until July 2020 under dispensation from law,[28][30] have had advertising vinyls applied, with the messages 'The start of a new journey', 'The journey is almost over for old trains', and 'These trains will terminate soon', stating rolling stock, infrastructure and service improvements. The Mark 3 carriages for the locomotive-hauled trains had Transport for Wales logos applied to the ex-Arriva Trains Wales livery. They were withdrawn in March 2020.[31][32]
Class 150, 153, 158 and 175 DMUs
The rest of TfW Rail's rolling stock (the Class 150, 153, 158 and 175 DMUs), which will be withdrawn and replaced by 2023 (except the 9 "shorter-term" 153s which will be withdrawn by the end of 2020), is in the process of undergoing several changes. These include the application of Transport for Wales livery, and TfW Rail specification interior refurbishment (including new seat moquette, floor coverings and table surfaces, as well as AC and USB power sockets).
In addition, the 150s/153s/158s staying until 2022–23 are receiving PRM-TSI 2020 (Persons with Reduced Mobility – Technical Specifications for Interoperability) modifications (the 175s exceed the RVAR 1998 they were built to and are accepted without modification).
Fleet summary
Trainset | Class | Image | Type | Top Speed | Carriages | Number | Routes Operated | Built | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mph | km/h | ||||||||
Locomotive hauled stock | |||||||||
Premier Service | 67 | ![]() |
Loco | 110 | 177 | – | 3 |
|
1999–2000 |
Diesel multiple units | |||||||||
Pacer | 142 | DMU | 75 | 121 | 2 | 15 |
|
1985–87 | |
143 |
|
1985–86 | |||||||
![]() | |||||||||
Sprinter | 150/2 | 75 | 121 | 2 | 36 |
|
1986–87 | ||
153 Super Sprinter | ![]() |
1 | 22 | 1987–88 | |||||
![]() | |||||||||
158/0 Express Sprinter | 90 | 140 | 2 | 24 |
|
1990–91 | |||
![]() | |||||||||
Bombardier Turbostar | 170/2 | ![]() |
100 | 161 | 2 | 4 |
|
2002 | |
3 | 8 | 1999 | |||||||
![]() |
|||||||||
Alstom Coradia | 175/0 & 175/1 | 100 | 161 | 2 | 11 | Regional services between North West England, North and South Wales | 1999–2001 | ||
3 | 16 | ||||||||
![]() | |||||||||
Train maintenance depots
TfW Rail's current fleet is stored and maintained at the following depots.
- Cardiff Canton: Class 142, Class 143, Class 150, Class 153, Class 170 and Class 769 units, and locomotive-hauled trains. Also a stabling point for 158s and 175s.
- Chester (Alstom): Class 175 units (main)
- Machynlleth: Class 158 units (main)
- Holyhead: Stabling point (refuelling and light maintenance) for locomotive-hauled trains and DMUs
- Crewe Carriage Sidings (Arriva TrainCare): Class 150, Class 153 and Class 158 units, and locomotive-hauled trains. Stabling point and light maintenance.
Due to space limitations, Chrysalis Rail currently allows TfW Rail to store any unallocated units or carriages at its Landore TMD in Swansea, even if they are not being worked on. This arrangement has been in place since late 2019.
Past fleet
Train types formerly operated by Transport for Wales Rail Services include:
Class 37-hauled Mark 2 sets
From June 2019 to March 2020, TfW Rail hired two Class 37-hauled Mark 2 sets to temporarily operate rush-hour services between Cardiff and Rhymney to add capacity. From January 2020 they were operating under PRM non-compliance dispensation, but were withdrawn in March due to decreasing reliability and replaced with trains formed of multiple Class 153 railcars coupled together, with many more of those now in the fleet.[28]
Mark 3 sets
In July 2020, all of TfW Rail's Mark 3 stock went off lease and into storage at Long Marston. [34][35]
Class | Image | Type | Top Speed | Number | Routes Operated | Withdrawn | Built | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mph | km/h | |||||||
Locomotive hauled stock | ||||||||
37 | ![]() |
Loco | 80 | 129 | 3 | Rhymney Line | March 2020 | 1960–65 |
Mark 2 | ![]() |
Coach | 100 | 161 | 10 | 1963–75 | ||
Mark 3 | 110 | 177 | 12 |
|
July 2020 | 1975–88 | ||
Driving Van Trailer | ![]() |
Control car | 3 | 1988 | ||||
Future fleet

All of TfW Rail's ATW-inherited and extra temporary fleet is due to be replaced by 2023 (with the exception of the Class 67 locomotives).[36]
Cascades and refurbishments
Class 769 Flex units
Nine Class 769 Flex bi-mode multiple units were due to be delivered by 2019,[37] following conversion from Class 319 electric multiple units which were previously in service with Thameslink, by fitting diesel generators and extra electronic equipment to some previously unused below-solebar space.[38] This work has been delayed for a number of operators who wished to run the Flex units, including Great Western Railway and Northern. The expected delivery date of May was not achieved, and in July 2019 TfW confirmed that regulatory issues with the units were preventing their introduction.[39] As of 16 March 2020, only 4 769s have been delivered, though test runs on the Rhymney Line commenced on the same day. These units are currently expected to enter service sometime in 2020.
Class 67-hauled Mark 4 sets
In addition, at least three Class 67 locomotives have been adapted to work with 12 (4 carriage per trainset) Mark 4 carriages and 3 (1 per trainset) Mark 4 DVTs from London North Eastern Railway, which will replace the Mark 3 stock currently used on locomotive-hauled services. These were able to cascade as a result of the introduction of Class 800s on the East Coast Main Line. Testing and training of these sets commenced on 28 January 2020, and they are expected to enter service by mid-2020. The Mark 4 Coaches will retain the Virgin Trains East Coast livery, but with Transport for Wales labels attached. The Mark 4 Driving Van Trailers will be repainted into the New Transport for Wales livery. The Class 67 locomotives selected have been repainted into TfW livery.
Class 230 D-Trains

The first "new" trains will also join the fleet during 2020 in the form of 5 Class 230 D-Train diesel-battery-electric multiple units, which are being built in England from former London Underground D78 Stock aluminium bodyshells by start-up rolling stock manufacturer Vivarail.[40] The first Class 230 units were delivered to London Northwestern Railway in April 2019, on the Marston Vale Line. The five-month delay for introduction of these services indicated however that the units will also be delayed on the North Wales mainline (they were supposed to be introduced in 2019). On 9 September 2019, a test unit that was reconfigured to the same configuration as the TfW Rail units commenced test runs in the manufacturer's area, and on 10 April 2020, 230006 was the first TfW Rail unit to undergo testing there. The units are currently expected to enter service sometime in 2020.
New rolling stock orders
For the longer term fleet replacement, 148 brand new trains have been ordered.
Class 197 Civitys
A total of 77 Class 197 CAF Civity diesel multiple units have been ordered, which are due to be assembled in Wales at CAF's new UK factory in Llanwern, Newport.[41] These trains will have end gangways. The first Class 197 Driving Motor carriage vehicle bodyshell was assembled, welded and painted in Spain by 12 February 2020; the bodyshells will be shipped to Newport for fitment of all components.
Class 756/231 FLIRTs and Class 398 Citylinks
Also, a total of 35 Stadler FLIRT units have been ordered (consisting of 24 Class 756 tri-modes and 11 Class 231 diesel-electrics) along with 36 Class 398 Stadler Citylink tram-trains.[42] These will be manufactured at the Stadler factory in Szolnok, Hungary and assembled at their plant in Bussnang, Switzerland. The addition of these trains to the fleet, from 2021–24 but mostly in 2022–23, will allow the 109 (total) Class 150, 153 (13 by then), 158, 175 and 769 units to be withdrawn.
Alongside the brand new fleet, the 170s will be retained for the duration of the franchise but will work different routes (including, but not limited to, West Wales services), with the Mark 4 sets also being retained and remaining on the routes it will work from their date of introduction on TfW Rail services. The 230s will however, move off the Conwy Valley Line services to give the doubled frequency on the Borderlands Line once the Class 197s enter service.
Fleet Summary
Trainset | Class | Image | Type | Top Speed | Carriages | Number | Routes Operated | Built | In Service | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mph | km/h | |||||||||
Locomotive hauled stock | ||||||||||
InterCity 225 | Mark 4 | ![]() |
Coach | 140 | 225 | – | 12 | North to south inter-city service: Holyhead-Cardiff Central[43] | 1989–1992 | 2020 |
Driving Van Trailer | Control car | – | 3 | |||||||
Diesel multiple units | ||||||||||
CAF Civity | 197[44] | DMU | 100 | 161 | 2 | 51 |
|
From 2020 to TBC | 2021–23 | |
3 | 26 | |||||||||
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Diesel-electric multiple units | ||||||||||
Vivarail D-Train | 230[45] | ![]() |
DEMU | 60 | 97 | 3 | 5 |
|
2019–20 | 2020 |
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Stadler FLIRT | 231 | 100 | 161 | 4 | 11 |
|
2021–22 | 2022 | ||
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Bi-mode multiple units | ||||||||||
769/0 & 769/4 Flex | ![]() |
BMU | 100 | 161 | 4 | 9 | Valley Lines | 2017–19 | 2020[nb 1] | |
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Tri-mode multiple units[19] | ||||||||||
Stadler FLIRT | 756 | TMU | 100 | 161 | 3 | 7 | Services between Caerphilly/Coryton to Penarth[46][47] | TBC | 2023 | |
4 | 17 | Services between Rhymney to Barry Island/Bridgend via VoG[46][47] | ||||||||
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Tram-trains | ||||||||||
Stadler Citylink | 398 | Tram-train | TBC | 3 | 36 | Services to Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil[19] | TBC | 2022–23 | ||
Depots
Transport for Wales' fleet are stabled at three depots.
Notes
- Class 319/4 units were initially built between 1987 and 1988
References
- Hoppe, Joe (16 September 2019). "Transport for Wales unveil plan to invest in Welsh stations over 15 years". South Wales Argus. Newport: Newsquest. Retrieved 18 February 2020./
- "Transport for Wales (AW)". Train Operating Companies. National Rail Enquiries. National Rail. 6 February 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- "Keolis Amey Operations/Gweithrediadau Keolis Amey Limited". gov.uk. Companies House. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
Company number: 11389531
- "New £5bn Wales rail franchise starts". BBC News. BBC. 14 October 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
- "Hafan" [Homeoage]. TrC Trenau [TfW Rail] (in Welsh). Transport for Wales Rail Services. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
Darganfod hyd a lled rhwydwaith Trafnidiaeth Cymru. [Find out the full extent of the Transport for Wales network].
- Transport for Wales [@transport_wales] (1 October 2018). "Bydd yr ap TrC Trenau ar gael i'w lawrlwytho maes o lawr ar iOS ac Android. Rydym ni'n gwybod y byddwch angen amser i gael trefn arno, felly bydd yr ap presennol yn dal i weithio tan ddiwedd y flwyddyn. #dechrautaith" [The TfW Rail app will be available for download on iOS and Android. We know you will need time to get it sorted, so the current app will continue to work until the end of the year. #StartingAJourney] (Tweet) (in Welsh). Retrieved 18 February 2020 – via Twitter.
- "Passenger journeys by train operating company – Table 12.12 | ORR Data Portal". dataportal.orr.gov.uk.
- "Rail operator shortlist revealed" (Press release). Welsh Government. 12 October 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
Four bidders have been selected to progress to the next stage in the procurement process to operate rail services in Wales and the Borders from October 2018 as well take forward key aspects of the next stage of Metro.
- "Wales & Borders bidders asked to propose Metro options". Railway Gazette International. Sutton: DVV Media Group. 13 October 2016. ISSN 0373-5346. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
- "Arriva pulls out of Wales & Borders franchise contest". International Railway Journal. Falmouth: Simmons-Boardman Publishing. 30 October 2017. ISSN 0744-5326.
- "Arriva Trains Wales drops out of Welsh rail franchise bid". BBC News. BBC. 30 October 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
The firm that runs most of Wales' rail network has pulled out of the contest to continue running it from 2018. Arriva has said Arriva Trains Wales was "no longer participating in the Wales and Borders competition", adding it had "not been an easy decision".
- "Abellio ends rail bid after Carillion collapse". BBC News. BBC. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
One of the three remaining bidders for the next Wales and Borders rail franchise has pulled out. Abellio Rail Cymru (ARC) said it had been unable to overcome the collapse of its partner construction company, Carillion. Its exit from the process leaves just MTR and Keolis Amey bidding to run the franchise, which will operate the South Wales Metro.
- "Abellio pulls out of Wales & Borders bidding". International Railway Journal. Falmouth: Simmons-Boardman Publishing. 23 February 2018. ISSN 0744-5326.
- "Wales' rail and metro franchise to be run by Keolis Amey". BBC News. BBC. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
A £5bn contract to run Wales' rail service for the next 15 years has been awarded to two European firms, who will run it jointly. France's Keolis and Spanish-owned Amey's bid triumphed over a rival offer from Hong Kong's MTR commuter railways. It will also drive forward the south Wales Metro in Cardiff and the valleys.
- "Train operator Keolis Amey fined £2.3m for poor performance". Western Mail. 9 January 2020.
- "Transport for Wales 'breaks Welsh language rules'". 7 January 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- Train Times. Transport for Wales Rail.
- "What this means for Mid and South West Wales". tfw.gov.wales. Transport for Wales. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
- "What's Happening In South East Wales". tfw.gov.wales. Transport for Wales. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
overhead electric, battery and diesel
- "What's Happening in North Wales". tfw.gov.wales. Transport for Wales]. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
- "Transport for Wales rebrand gets underway on the Wrexham to Bidston line". deeside.com. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
- Graeme [@That_Train_Guy] (13 July 2019). "Another One Bites the Dust! Ex- @LNER Mark IV coaching stock 'BN29' passing Biggleswade with 66735 'Peterborough United' providing the power as 5Z91 0858 Bounds Green T&R.S.M.D to Worksop Down Yard. The train was running 42 minutes late" (Tweet). Retrieved 18 February 2020 – via Twitter.
- "What's Happening in South West and Mid Wales". tfw.gov.wales. Transport for Wales. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
- "What's Happening in the Borders". tfw.gov.wales. Transport for Wales. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
- "£4m promised for new railway station". BBC News. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
- Llemiles (8 August 2019), English: Former Class 319 Cheriton (unit 319008), destined to be a British Rail Class 769 at Cardiff Canton Depot. Awaiting final modifications before entering service with Transport for Wales Rail Services., retrieved 5 September 2019
- "South Wales Metro". tfw.gov.wales. Transport for Wales. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
- "Extra capacity and improved trains for rail passengers across Wales and the borders". Transport For Wales News. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
- "Extra trains arrive for Transport for Wales". Transport For Wales News. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
- Wilkinson, Peter (4 December 2019). "The Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011 – Transport for Wales Rail Services Class 142s – 2020 accessibility deadline" (PDF). DfT. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- Arriva Mk3s sent for store The Railway Magazine issue 1431 June 2020 page 77
- Time called on WAG Railways Illustrated July 2020 page 16
- "One Year In". tfwrail.wales. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
- Railway Gazette (24 December 2019). "TfW Mark 3s' dispensation end date is June 30th".
- uk_railways (24 July 2020). "47813 taking 11 ex-TfW Mk3s for storage". Instagram.
- "£800m fleet renewal plan for new Welsh franchise". International Railway Journal. Simmons-Boardman. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
- Rail, Trafnidiaeth Cymru Trenau Transport for Wales (2 January 2019). "Hi Stuart, we're due to get 5 additional 153 units arriving from GWR by May, we're also getting class 769 flex trains this year and 3 sets of Mark 4 carriages from LNER. Then in the future, we're having new trains built ^Joy". @tfwrail. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
- "More '769s' on their way to Wales". RAIL Magazine (872). Bauer Media. 13 February 2019.
- Rail, Trafnidiaeth Cymru Trenau Transport for Wales (6 July 2019). "Hi Chris, we already have some class 769 units and they are currently in our depots undergoing maintenance for compliance issues ^Cam". @tfwrail. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
- "New trains will be a boost for North Wales rail passengers". Press Release. Welsh Government. 28 March 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
- "CAF commences design and engineering on DMUs for Wales and Borders franchise". Rail Technology Magazine. Cognitive Publishing. 21 February 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
- "STADLER TO DELIVER 71 NEW TRAINS FOR WALES & BORDERS". Press Release. Stadler Rail AG. 28 February 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
- "What's Happening in North Wales". Transport for Wales. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
- "KeolisAmey reveal new-look Wales trains and services". BBC News. BBC. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
- "Service Improvements" (PDF). Transport for Wales. Welsh Government. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
- "AMs WB Overview Presentation vJP AM" (PDF). KeolisAmey Wales. KeolisAmey Wales. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- "CVL Rolling Stock List" (PDF). Transport for Wales. Transport for Wales. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Transport for Wales. |
Preceded by Arriva Trains Wales |
Operator of Wales & Borders franchise 2018–2033 |
Succeeded by incumbent |