Transport for Wales Rail

Last updated

Transport for Wales Rail
  • Transport for Wales / TfW Rail
  • Trafnidiaeth Cymru / TrC Trenau
Transport wales logo18.svg
197001 and 231006 at Cardiff Central, 8th July 2023 (cropped).jpg
A Class 197 and Class 231 at Cardiff Central in July 2023
Overview
Franchise(s) Wales & Borders
Main region(s) Wales
Other region(s)
Stations operated248
Parent company Transport for Wales (for Welsh Government)
Headquarters Pontypridd [1]
Reporting mark AW [nb 1]
Dates of operation7 February 2021 (2021-02-07)
Predecessor KeolisAmey Wales
Other
Website tfw.wales OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Route map
Transport for Wales May 2022 Route Map.svg

Transport for Wales Rail Limited, branded as Transport for Wales and TfW Rail (Welsh : Trafnidiaeth Cymru and 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.

Contents

Transport for Wales Rail manages 248 National Rail stations, [2] [3] including all 223 in Wales, [4] and operates all passenger mainline services wholly within Wales, services along the England–Wales border, and some into England.

History

During May 2018, the Wales & Borders franchise was awarded by Transport for Wales to KeolisAmey Wales. [5] Operations commenced in October 2018; at this point, the franchise was scheduled to run for 15 years. [6] [7]

Within two years, the franchisee had experienced a collapse in revenues and a significant reduction in passenger numbers, which was largely attributable to the economic consequences of COVID-19 pandemic; this trend led to the financial circumstances of the KeolisAmey Wales franchise becoming untenable. In response, during October 2020, the Welsh Government announced that it would be transferring operations of the Wales & Borders franchise from KeolisAmey Wales to an operator of last resort. [8] [9] [10] It was also stated that, despite the early termination of the franchise, KeolisAmey and Transport for Wales would continue a partnership to enact further improvements on the network; specifically, Amey Infrastructure Wales (AIW) would remain involved in the delivery of various key projects, such as upgrading the Core Valley Lines. [11]

On 7 February 2021, the Welsh Government-owned operator Transport for Wales Rail Limited took over running the franchise's services. [12] [13]

Perhaps one of the most prominent undertaking for TfW Rail is the implementation and future operation of the South Wales Metro; this will involve various infrastructure changes, including a brand new depot at Taff's Well, as well as a new fleet of trains built by Stadler Rail. [14] [15] One of the more unusual elements of this programme is the fleet of Class 398 battery-electric tram-trains, which will operate on both on-street tracks and conventional railways. [16]

Since taking on operations, Transport for Wales has introduced numerous changes to ticketing. On 24 January 2021, it launched a pilot scheme involving 90 convenience stores across South Wales to provide a new means of purchasing rail tickets; this scheme operated via a partnership with Payzone and used SilverRail retailing technology. TfW is the first UK-based train operating company to partner with Payzone. [17] During August 2023, this arrangement was extended to North Wales and the Wirral via a partnership between Transport for Wales and numerous local businesses under which train tickets became available for purchase from local retail outlets offering a Payzone facility. [18] That same year, a new ticketing arrangement with Unicard came into effect, enabling Transport for Wales to become the first British train operator outside of London to deploy contactless EMV services. [19]

Funding for Transport for Wales Rail's operations is sourced from both the Welsh and British governments. [20] Cost increases, such as the South Wales Metro's original budget of £738 million having risen to in excess of £1 billion, have been politically controversial. [21] During October 2023, the Welsh government announced that it would provide an additional £125 million for Transport for Wales in response to a revenue shortfall from fares; this funding top-up was a substantial rise at a time of considerably budgetary pressure. [22] [23]

Services

As of December 2023, Transport for Wales Rail operates these regular and daily services Monday to Friday: [24]

North Wales to South Wales
RoutetpdCalling at
Holyhead to Cardiff Central 8
Marches, West Wales, Crewe–Shrewsbury Lines and Swanline
RoutetphCalling at
Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central 1
Swansea to Fishguard Harbour 4tpd
Cardiff Central to Milford Haven 1tp2h
  • 5 trains per day Cardiff-bound extend to Manchester Piccadilly, calling at Newport, Cwmbran, Pontypool and New Inn (2tpd), Abergavenny, Hereford, Leominster, Ludlow, Craven Arms, Church Stretton, Shrewsbury, Nantwich, Crewe, Wilmslow, and Stockport.
Swansea to Pembroke Dock 1tp2h
Cardiff Central to Swansea 1
Crewe to Shrewsbury 1tp2h
Cambrian Line
RoutetphCalling at
Birmingham International to Aberystwyth 1tp2h
Machynlleth to Pwllheli 1tp2h
Heart of Wales line
RoutetpdCalling at
Shrewsbury to Swansea 5
North Wales Coast Line
RoutetphCalling at
Birmingham International to Holyhead 1tp2h
Conwy Valley line
RoutetpdCalling at
Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog 6
Borderlands line
RoutetphCalling at
Bidston to Wrexham Central 43
Llandudno–Manchester, Chester–Crewe, and Liverpool–Wrexham
RoutetphCalling at
Llandudno to Manchester Airport 1
Chester to Crewe 1Shuttle service
Liverpool Lime Street to Chester 1
Maesteg–Cheltenham
RoutetphCalling at
Maesteg to Cheltenham Spa 1
Ebbw Valley Railway
RoutetphCalling at
Ebbw Vale Town to Cardiff Central 1
Ebbw Vale Town to Newport 1
Rhondda line
RoutetphCalling at
Cardiff Central to Treherbert 2
Merthyr, Rhymney, and Vale of Glamorgan Lines
RoutetphCalling at
Barry Island to Aberdare 2
Barry Island to Merthyr Tydfil 1
Bridgend to Merthyr Tydfil 1
Penarth to Bargoed 2
Penarth to Rhymney 2
Coryton and Cardiff City lines
RoutetphCalling at
Radyr to Coryton 2
Butetown branch line
RoutetphCalling at
Cardiff Queen Street to Cardiff Bay 5Shuttle service

Rolling stock

Overview

Transport for Wales Rail inherited KeolisAmey Wales's fleet, which consisted 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. [25] [26]

During its first years of operation, TfW Rail enacted multiple fleet changes. This was largely driven by pre-existing procurement arrangements that had been arranged by KeolisAmey Wales; at one point, it was intended for the majority of TfW Rail's inherited rolling stock, along with additional temporary vehicles, to be replaced by 2023 (with the exception of the Class 67 locomotives). [27] Under these plans, the Class 197 and 231 diesel multiple units, Class 756 tri-mode multiple units and Class 398 tram-trains were set to replace the Class 150, Class 153, and Class 158 fleets.

Current fleet

FamilyClass [25] ImageType [25] Top speedNumber [25] Carriages [25] Routes operated [25] Built
mph [25] km/h
Locomotive-hauled stock
Alstom locomotive 67 Caerdydd Canolog - TfW 67029 tren i Caergybi.JPG Loco 1252006-1999–2000
InterCity 225 Mark 4 TfW Mark 4 TSO 12315.JPG Coach 14022537 [28] 4 or 519891992
Driving Van Trailer Caerdydd Canolog - TfW 82226 tren i Caergybi.JPG Control car 8 [28] 1
Diesel multiple unit
Sprinter 150 150217 at CDF.jpg DMU 7512034 [30] 21987
153 Super Sprinter 153926 Ninian Park.jpg 26119871988
Class 153 Transport for Wales Diagram.png
158 Express Sprinter TFW 158835 (51170871886).jpg 9014524219891992
Class 158 in the Transport for Wales livery.png
CAF Civity 197 [31] -2023-02-02 Transport for Wales Class 197 at Liverpool South Parkway.jpg 100161512Primary medium and long-distance service stock From 2020
263
TfW Class 197 2 Car.png

TfW Class 197 3 Car.png

Diesel-electric multiple unit
Stadler FLIRT 231 Class 231 Lisvane.jpg DEMU 9014511420202022
TfW Class 231.png
Bi-mode multiple unit
Vivarail D-Train 230 [34] TfW 230 on test July 2020.jpg BMU 6097532019–2020
Class 230 TfW.png

Newly introduced / future fleet

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. [35] 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. [36]

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. [37] They are however faster, with more powerful engines and more efficient transmissions for better acceleration, as well as a higher top speed than the Class 158. 51 units are two-cars in length and 26 are three-cars in length. [26]

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. [38] The painted bodyshells were shipped to Newport, South Wales, for further assembly and component fit-out at CAF's new UK factory in Llanwern. [39]

Class 230 D-Train
TfW Rail Class 230 on test prior to delivery TfW 230 on test July 2020.jpg
TfW Rail Class 230 on test prior to delivery

Five Class 230 D-Train diesel- and battery-electric multiple units [26] were built in England from former London Underground D78 Stock aluminium bodyshells by start-up rolling stock manufacturer Vivarail between 2019 and 2020. [26] [40] Originally expected to enter service from May 2022, [41] they began operations on the Borderlands line at the beginning of April 2023. [42] [43] [44]

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. [45] These units will be manufactured at Stadler's factory in Szolnok, Hungary, and assembled at their plant in Bussnang, Switzerland. The Class 398 tram-trains are particularly unusual, being able to operate on both heavy rail and at street-level; accordingly, each three car unit features level boarding and has a maximum passenger capacity of 256. In March 2023, the first of these tram-trains was delivered; testing commenced nine months later. [46] [47]

Future fleet summary

FamilyClassImageTypeTop speedNumberCarriagesRoutes operatedBuiltIn service
mphkm/h
Tri-mode multiple units [48]
Stadler FLIRT 756 TfW 756 102 (52392826112).jpg TMU7512073Services between Caerphilly/Coryton and Penarth [49] [50] From 2020 [26] Planned for 2024 [51]
174Services between Rhymney and Barry Island/Bridgend via Vale of Glamorgan [49] [50]
TfW Class 756 3 Car w-pantograph.png

TfW Class 756 4 Car w-pantograph.png

Tram-trains
Stadler Citylink 398 Depo Ffynnon Taf - TfW 398011 llaes 398010.JPG Tram-train 62100363Services between Cardiff and Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil From 2020 [48] planned for late 2024 [52]

Past fleet

On 29 May 2021, TfW Rail permanently withdraw its fleet of Class 143 Pacers, which were not compliant with persons with reduced mobility legislation (PRM) and their PRM dispensation expired; their duties were taken over by PRM-compliant vehicles. [53] [54]

Between September 2021 and November 2022, all of TfW Rail's two-car Class 170 sets were transferred to East Midlands Railway. [55] [56] Operation of the three-car Class 170 continued through to spring 2023, at which point the last of TfW Rail's three-car units was transferred to the East Midlands. The final 170 transferred on 29 January 2024. [55] [57]

In May 2022, Transport for Wales announced the abrupt withdrawal of two Class 150 trains from service after they were involved with a collision at Craven Arms. [58] In May 2023, Transport for Wales withdrew the last of its Class 769 fleet from service. [59] In February 2023, the first of the Class 175 sets was withdrawn from service partially as a result of multiple fires. [60] The entire Class 175 fleet was withdrawn on 17 October 2023. [61]

FamilyClassImageTypeTop SpeedNumberCarriagesRoutes OperatedWithdrawnBuiltNotes
mphkm/h
Diesel Multiple Units
Sprinter 150 150217 at CDF.jpg DMU 751202220221987Stored after being severely damaged
Bombardier Turbostar 170 Chepstow - TfW 170271 Cheltenham service.JPG
Cyffordd Twnnel Hafren - TfW 170203.JPG
100161422021-20242002Transferred to East Midlands Railway
83
TfW Class 170-2 2 Car.png
Alstom Coradia 175 Coradia 1000 Vehicles in the United Kingdom 451.jpg
Vehicles in the United Kingdom 453.jpg
100161112Regional services between North, South and West Wales and England 202319992001Stored, unit 175008 converted to 1 car, by donating a driving vehicle to unit 175101 [63]
163
TfW Class 175 0.png
TfW Class 175 1.png
BR Second Generation (Mark 3) 769 Flex Grangetown - TfW 769002 tren i Benarth.JPG
Transport for Wales 769 452 (52021515624).jpg
BMU 1001618420232019–2020 [nb 2] Stored
TfW Class 769.png

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References

Notes

    1. Reporting mark inherited from Arriva Trains Wales, the operator of the franchise between 2003 and 2018.
    2. Class 319/4 units were initially built between 1987 and 1988

    Citations

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    Preceded by
    KeolisAmey Wales (t/a Transport for Wales Rail Services)
    Operator of Wales & Borders franchise
    2021 –
    Incumbent