| |||
Overview | |||
---|---|---|---|
Franchise(s) | Wales & Borders | ||
Main region(s) | Wales | ||
Other region(s) | |||
Stations operated | 248 | ||
Parent company | Transport for Wales (for Welsh Government) | ||
Headquarters | Pontypridd [1] | ||
Reporting mark | AW [nb 1] | ||
Dates of operation | 7 February 2021– | ||
Predecessor | KeolisAmey Wales | ||
Other | |||
Website | tfw | ||
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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.
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, and services along the England–Wales border, many of which run into or through England.
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 the 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]
As of June 2024 [update] , Transport for Wales Rail operates these regular and daily services Monday to Friday: [24]
This section needs additional citations for verification .(December 2020) |
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.
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. [44] 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 ]
TfW Rail will retain eight Class 153 units to operate services on the Heart of Wales line. [45]
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.
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. [46] 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. [47] The painted bodyshells were shipped to Newport, South Wales, for further assembly and component fit-out at CAF's new UK factory in Llanwern. [48]
Five Class 230 D-Train diesel-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] [49] Originally expected to enter service from May 2022, [50] they began operations on the Borderlands line at the beginning of April 2023. [51] [52] [53]
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. [54] 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. [55] [56] In November 2024, the first of the Class 756 tri-mode trains entered service on the Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare lines. [43]
Family | Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Number | Carriages | Routes operated | Built | In service | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mph | km/h | |||||||||
Tram-trains | ||||||||||
Stadler Citylink | 398 | Tram-train | 62 | 100 | 36 | 3 | Light Rapid Transit Services between Cardiff and Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil | From 2020 [42] | Planned for 2025 | |
On 29 May 2021, TfW Rail permanently withdrew 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. [57] [58]
Between September 2021 and November 2022, all of TfW Rail's two-car Class 170 sets were transferred to East Midlands Railway. [59] [60] 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. [59] [61]
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. [62] In May 2023, Transport for Wales withdrew the last of its Class 769 fleet from service. [63] In February 2023, the first of the Class 175 sets was withdrawn from service partially as a result of multiple fires. [64] The entire Class 175 fleet was withdrawn on 17 October 2023. [65]
Family | Class | Image | Type | Top Speed | Number | Carriages | Routes Operated | Withdrawn | Built | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mph | km/h | ||||||||||
Diesel multiple units | |||||||||||
Sprinter | 150 | DMU | 75 | 120 | 5 | 2 |
| 2022-2024 | 1987 | Stored or scrapped | |
Bombardier Turbostar | 170 | 100 | 161 | 4 | 2 | 2021-2024 | 1999-2002 | Transferred to East Midlands Railway | |||
8 | 3 | ||||||||||
Alstom Coradia | 175 Coradia 1000 | | 100 | 161 | 11 | 2 | Regional services between North, South and West Wales and England | 2023 | 1999–2001 | Stored, unit 175008 converted to 1 car, by donating a driving vehicle to unit 175101 [67] | |
16 | 3 | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
BR Second Generation (Mark 3) | 769 Flex | BMU | 100 | 161 | 8 | 4 |
| 2023 | 2019–2020 [nb 2] | Stored | |
Pacer was the operational name of the British Rail Classes 140, 141, 142, 143 and 144 diesel multiple unit railbuses built between 1980 and 1987. They were inexpensively developed using a passenger body based on the Leyland National bus on top of a chassis based on the HSFV1 research vehicle. The railbuses were intended as a short-term solution to a shortage of rolling stock, with a lifespan of no more than twenty years. As modernised replacements were lacking, the Pacer fleet remained in service on some lines until 2021, 37 years after their 1984 introduction.
Rail transport in Wales began in the early 19th century initially used for industrial purposes and shortly began to be used for commercial purposes. The Beeching cuts had a significant impact on rail transport in Wales, closing a large number of railway stations. Since then some stations have reopened in Wales and following Welsh devolution, the Wales and Borders passenger rail franchise was established in 2001 and the operator was taken into public ownership by the Welsh Government in 2021.
The British Rail Class 175Coradia 1000 is a type of diesel-hydraulic multiple unit (DHMU) passenger train from the Alstom Coradia 1000 family.
The Butetown branch line, also known as the Cardiff Bay Line, is a 1-mile-6-chain (1.7 km) commuter railway line in Cardiff, Wales from Cardiff Bay to Cardiff Queen Street. The service pattern formerly comprised a mixture of shuttle services along the branch and through trains along the Rhymney Line to Caerphilly, or the Coryton Line to Coryton, but after December 2005 was a shuttle service from Queen Street station. However, in May 2024, direct trains to Pontypridd were restored alongside shuttle services. The normal journey time is four minutes.
Keolis is a French transportation company that operates public transport systems all over the world. It manages bus, rapid transit, tram, coach networks, rental bikes, car parks, water taxi, cable car, trolleybus, and funicular services. Based in Paris, France, the company is 70% owned by SNCF and 30% owned by the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec.
The Borderlands line, also known as the Bidston–Wrexham or Wrexham–Bidston line, is a railway line between Bidston on the Wirral Peninsula in England and Wrexham Central in the north-east of Wales. Passenger train services are part of the Wales & Borders franchise and are operated by Transport for Wales Rail. The line connects to the Merseyrail network at Bidston, the North Wales Coast Line at Shotton and the Shrewsbury–Chester line at Wrexham General. Parts of the line in Wales are used by freight trains, serving Deeside Industrial Park and the Hanson Cement works to the south of Buckley.
Stadler FLIRT is a passenger multiple unit trainset made by Stadler Rail of Switzerland. The baseline design of FLIRT is an electric multiple unit articulated trainset that can come in units of two to twelve cars with two to six motorized axles. The maximum speed is 200 km/h (125 mph). Standard floor height is 57 cm, but 78 cm high floors are also available for platform heights of 76 cm.
The South Wales Metro is an integrated heavy rail, light rail and bus-based public transport services and systems network currently being developed in South East Wales around the hub of Cardiff Central railway station. The first phase was approved for development in October 2013. Works are currently under way, with a new depot under construction at Taff's Well and new trains being built by Stadler Rail in Switzerland. The development will also include the electrification of the core Valley Lines and new stations. All nine lines will be electrified, and the service is expected to be in operation by the end of 2024.
{{Infobox train | background = | name = British Rail Class 230
D-Train | image = TFW 230.jpg | imagealt = | caption = Transport for Wales Class 230 approaching Wrexham General in 2024 | interiorimage = File:Inside-230007-SeeCabDoor-P1780825.jpg | interiorimagealt = | interiorcaption = Interior of a Transport for Wales unit | stocktype = | service = 23 April 2019 – present
The CAF Civity is a family of regional passenger trains which is manufactured by Spanish rolling stock manufacturer Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles. Available as both diesel, electric and battery-electric multiple unit, the Civity was first launched in 2010 and received its first order two years later.
The British Rail Class 755 FLIRT is a class of bi-mode multiple unit passenger train built by Stadler Rail for Greater Anglia. Part of the FLIRT modular train family, the trains first entered service on 29 July 2019 and are used on regional and local services throughout East Anglia, as well as some intercity services between Norwich and London.
The Wales & Borders franchise is a railway franchise for passenger services in the United Kingdom operated since 7 February 2021 by publicly owned operator, Transport for Wales Rail. The franchise covers the majority of rail services in Wales, with some services in the bordering English regions and counties, notably North West England, the West Midlands, and Gloucestershire.
Transport for Wales is a not-for-profit company owned by the Welsh Government and managed at arms length by its appointed board. TfW oversees the Transport for Wales Group consisting of itself and its subsidiaries: Transport for Wales Rail, the train operator of the Wales & Borders railway franchise; Pullman Rail Limited; and TfW Innovation Services Limited, a joint venture between TfW (51%) and former operator KeolisAmey Wales (49%).
The North Wales Metro is a rail and bus transport improvement programme in north Wales. Styled as a "Metro", it is conceptually a multi-modal system with a combination of bus, heavy rail, and light rail services. It was initially focused on linking major settlements and employment areas of the north-east of Wales with the North West of England, with its hubs located in Wrexham, Chester and Deeside, although the programme has since expanded, with proposals extending to Anglesey in the north-west of Wales. The existing Borderlands line forms a core rail component of the network, where projects to increase connections, integrated access, and service frequency between Wrexham, Deeside and Liverpool are centred upon. The proposals were put forward in 2016 as is part of Welsh Labour's plan for north Wales. Labour has pledged to open the system by 2035. The proposals were included in the 2018 Wales & Borders franchise contest. It is the second of the three regional metros proposed by the Welsh Government to go ahead, after the South Wales Metro, and before the Swansea Bay and West Wales Metro. The project is described to be in its initial phases.
Keolis Amey Operations, trading as Transport for Wales Rail Services was a Welsh train operating company owned by Keolis (64%) and Amey (36%) that operated the Wales & Borders franchise between October 2018 and February 2021.
The Vivarail D-Train is a family of multiple units remanufactured by Vivarail for the British rail network. They are converted from London Underground D78 Stock, originally manufactured between 1978 and 1981 by Metro-Cammell. Two versions have been produced: the Class 230 diesel electric multiple unit and the Class 484 electric multiple unit.
The British Rail Class 197 is a class of diesel multiple unit passenger train built by CAF, based on its Civity platform. They are operated by Transport for Wales Rail (TfW), split into 51 two-car units and 26 three-car units.
The British Rail Class 231 is a class of eleven diesel-electric multiple units of the FLIRT family, which have been built for Transport for Wales by Swiss rolling stock manufacturer Stadler Rail. The first units entered service on 18 January 2023.
The British Rail Class 756 FLIRT is a class of tri-mode multiple units built for Transport for Wales Rail by Swiss rolling stock manufacturer Stadler Rail. They are closely related to the Class 755 bi-mode units delivered by Stadler to Greater Anglia between 2018 and 2020, which can be powered either by overhead electric lines or on-board diesel generators. The Class 756 units also carry batteries as an additional source of traction power.
The Class 398 Citylink is a fleet of 36 tram-train multiple units being built for Transport for Wales Rail by Swiss rolling stock manufacturer Stadler Rail.
The introduction of the first hybrid battery-diesel multiple unit
The hybrid trains are capable of operating on diesel or battery traction
Transport for Wales has run its first Class 230 battery-diesel hybrid trainset in passenger service on the Wrexham – Bidston Borderlands Line.
Class 230s are three carriage bi-mode trains using diesel and battery.
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