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Swanline is the name of the local rail service from Swansea to Cardiff Central, on the South Wales Main Line.
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Swanline is the name of the local rail service from Swansea to Cardiff Central, on the South Wales Main Line.
The Swanline service was launched in June 1994, following the construction of five new stations at Pyle, Baglan, Briton Ferry, Skewen and Llansamlet on the existing South Wales Main Line. Originally, an hourly service was provided through a partnership between British Rail and local government, with the local authorities securing EU development funding and retaining ownership of the trains needed to operate the service. [1] [2]
During 1997, as part of railway privatisation, responsibility for Swanline services passed from British Rail's Regional Railways sector to South Wales & West Railway, a newly created franchised train operating company. In 1999, the company halved the service to two-hourly, citing poor passenger usage and offering to purchase the rolling stock for use elsewhere. [3] [1]
From 2003 to 2018, the line was operated as part of the Arriva Trains Wales franchise. In 2018, the franchise passed to KeolisAmey Wales and in 2021 to Transport for Wales Rail. A bi-hourly service is provided on Mondays to Saturdays.
The Swanline service itself is regarded as unattractive to users at its current low frequency, with extremely restricted journey to work options for Swansea commuters, but takes up valuable space on the busy section of line between Bridgend and Cardiff.
Signalling renewal work in 2007 introduced a new turnback facility at Port Talbot station, intended primarily for turnbacks from the Cardiff direction, but actually capable of use by services in either direction. Owing to very light Swanline passenger loadings, it has been proposed that a more useful service could be offered by abandoning through-running to Cardiff and instead operating Swanline trains between Swansea and Port Talbot only. This would provide the Swansea Bay area with a more frequent, hourly service using the same resources (two trainsets). [4]
Arriva Trains Wales was a British train operating company owned by Arriva UK Trains that operated the Wales & Borders franchise. It ran urban and inter-urban passenger services to all railway stations in Wales, including Cardiff Central, Cardiff Queen Street, Newport, Swansea, Wrexham General and Holyhead, as well as to certain stations in England such as Hereford, Shrewsbury, Chester, Crewe, Manchester Piccadilly and Birmingham New Street.
Cardiff Central railway station is a major station on the South Wales Main Line, located in the capital of Wales, Cardiff. It is one of the city's two urban rail network hubs, along with Cardiff Queen Street. Opened in 1850 as Cardiff station, it was renamed Cardiff General in 1924, and then Cardiff Central in 1973.
The Welsh Marches line, known historically as the North and West Route, is the railway line running from Newport in south-east Wales to Shrewsbury in the West Midlands region of England by way of Abergavenny, Hereford and Craven Arms and thence to Crewe via Whitchurch. The line thus links the south of Wales to north-west England via the Welsh Marches region, bypassing Birmingham. Through services from south-west Wales, Swansea and Cardiff to Manchester and from Cardiff to Wrexham, Chester, the north coast of Wales and Anglesey constitute the bulk of passenger operations on the route.
Newport railway station is the second-busiest railway station in Wales, situated in Newport city centre. It is 133.5 miles (215 km) from London Paddington on the British railway network.
The Merthyr line is a commuter railway line in South Wales from central Cardiff to Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare. The line is part of the Cardiff urban rail network, known as the Valley Lines.
Bridgend railway station is a main line station serving the town of Bridgend, south Wales. It is located approximately halfway between Cardiff Central and Swansea stations, at the point where the Maesteg Line diverges from the South Wales Main Line; it is also the western terminus of the Vale of Glamorgan Line from Cardiff. It is 165 miles (266 km) measured from London Paddington.
Swansea railway station serves the city of Swansea, Wales. It is 186 miles 7 chains (299 km) measured from London Paddington on the National Rail network.
The South Wales Main Line, originally known as the London, Bristol and South Wales Direct Railway or simply as the Bristol and South Wales Direct Railway, is a branch of the Great Western Main Line in Great Britain. It diverges from the core London-Bristol line at Royal Wootton Bassett beyond Swindon, first calling at Bristol Parkway, after which the line continues through the Severn Tunnel into South Wales.
The West Wales lines are a group of railway lines from Swansea through Carmarthenshire to Pembrokeshire, West Wales. The main part runs from Swansea to Carmarthen and Whitland, where it becomes three branches to Fishguard, Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock.
Transport in Wales is heavily influenced by the country's geography. Wales is predominantly hilly or mountainous, and the main settlements lie on the coasts of north and south Wales, while mid Wales and west Wales are lightly populated. The main transport corridors are east–west routes, many continuing eastwards into England.
Skewen railway station serves the village of Skewen, south Wales. It is located below street level at Station Road in Skewen, 210 miles 26 chains (338 km) from London Paddington. It is a stop on the South Wales Main Line, served by Transport for Wales Swanline regional trains between Swansea and Cardiff, which typically run every two hours. There is no Sunday service.
Port Talbot Parkway railway station is a railway station in Port Talbot, Wales. The station is located at street level near Station Road in Port Talbot town centre.
Baglan railway station is a minor station in the village of Baglan in Neath Port Talbot county borough, south Wales. It is 180 miles (290 km) from London Paddington. It is a stop on the South Wales Main Line, served by Transport for Wales Swanline regional trains between Swansea and Cardiff.
Pyle railway station is a minor station in Pyle in Bridgend county borough, south Wales. The station is located at street level at Beach Road in Pyle, 171.5 miles (276 km) from London Paddington.
Pencoed railway station is a minor station in Pencoed, Bridgend county borough, south Wales. The station is located at street level at The Square in Pencoed, 161.5 miles (260 km) from London Paddington.
Pontyclun railway station is an unstaffed, minor railway station in Pontyclun, in the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales. The station is at street level, on Station Approach, Pontyclun. It is a stop on the South Wales Main Line, served by trains on the Maesteg Line, and occasionally by the Swanline Cardiff to Swansea regional services, as well as one early-morning daily service to Manchester and a late-night daily service to Carmarthen. The station and all trains are operated by Transport for Wales Rail.
Llanelli railway station is the railway station serving the town of Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is located on the West Wales line and the Heart of Wales line 11+1⁄4 miles (18.1 km) west of Swansea by rail. The station and the majority of trains calling are operated by Transport for Wales.
Wrexham General is the main railway station serving the city of Wrexham, north-east Wales, and one of the two serving the city, alongside Wrexham Central. It is currently operated by Transport for Wales, but services are also provided by Avanti West Coast who operate a service to London Euston. Until January 2011 Wrexham & Shropshire also operated from here to London Marylebone.
Pembrey and Burry Port railway station is a railway station on the West Wales line serving Pembrey and Burry Port, in Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is adjacent to Burry Port's main shopping area. Pembrey is situated 1.2 miles (2 km) to the west.
Rail transport in Cardiff has developed to provide connections to many other major cities in the United Kingdom, and to provide an urban rail network for the city and its commuter towns in southeast Wales. Today, there are three train operating companies in Cardiff: Great Western Railway, CrossCountry and Transport for Wales.