Arriva Trains Wales
Encyclopedia
Arriva Trains Wales is a train operating company, owned by Arriva
, that operates urban and inter urban passenger services in Wales
and the Welsh Marches
. Arriva Trains Wales operates services to all railway stations in Wales, including , , and , as well as stations in England such as and .
from the company of the same name
in December 2003. Responsibility for this franchise has been devolved to the Welsh Assembly Government
as a result of the Railways Act 2005
and the Transport (Wales) Act 2006
, and it works closely with Arriva Trains Wales to develop the railway network within Wales. This has included the introduction of direct services between North
and South Wales
, and the reintroduction of passenger services on freight-only portions of the Vale of Glamorgan Line
and Ebbw Vale Line.
It operates on a gauge of 1435 mm, over a route length of 1691 km, with 253 DMU cars and 22 locomotive-hauled passenger coaches.
Its busiest stations are , and in South Wales, and in North Wales.
Arriva Trains Wales operates almost all services in Wales, with the exception of:
// to London Paddington (First Great Western
) to or (First Great Western
)
to and (CrossCountry
)
//Wrexham General to London Euston (Virgin Trains
)
statistics. The latest figures released by the ORR (Office of Rail Regulation) rate punctuality (PPM) at 93.3% for the final quarter of the 2010/11 financial year. Their MAA (Monthly Annual Average) figure up to 31 March 2011 is currently at 93.9%.
However, the Cambrian Main Line is still a poor performer, with anecdotal evidence suggesting punctuality levels as low as 60%.
has agreed a £1.59bn deal to buy Arriva, in a move which marks the transfer from one multi-national to another.
The Welsh Language Act 1993
requires all public bodies to provide services to the public through the medium of Welsh
as well as English. Due to the privatisation of the railways, Arriva is not legally required to provide service in Welsh. Arriva does however conduct some business in Welsh. All stations in Wales where the Welsh and English names differ have both names displayed, with a few minor omissions (only the Welsh spelling Fflint is displayed at Flint railway station
). Arriva does not display Welsh names in the English stations which it manages, such as Chester (Welsh:Caer) or Hereford (Welsh:Henffordd).
Arriva Trains Wales has introduced bilingual display screens and announcements in at least 46 stations, but these do not include some stations such as Bangor
in traditionally Welsh-speaking areas. Long-distance services on Class 175
trains now show both Welsh and English names on their on-train display boards (e.g. Manceinion/Manchester Piccadilly), but the audio announcements are in English only.
In 2004, Arriva introduced a Welsh-language phone line. Its website was named the "Best Website of The Year in the Technology Wales Awards 2004". Arriva report that approximately 4% of their customers use the Welsh website.
Route 1 services are mainline long distance services between South Wales and North Wales/Manchester. (Sometimes known as CrossCountry Wales)
Route 2 services are Express/Stopping services between the Midlands and North/Mid Wales.
Route 3 Services are Express/Stopping services along the North Wales Coast Line to Crewe and Manchester.
Route 4 is a network of commuter lines operating in and around Cardiff.
Route 5 are branch line services serving remote areas of Wales.
South Wales to North Wales and Manchester
Birmingham to Holyhead/Aberystwyth
North Wales Coast Line
Cardiff Commuter, or Valley Lines
Local Stopping Services
terminate at and . Llandudno services run every hour to Manchester Piccadilly
via and . Holyhead services run every hour, to via Chester and , then alternately to or . Request stations west of Llandudno Junction (Conwy
, , , , , , and ) are generally served by alternate trains. These routes are usually served by Class 175 regional express Coradia
units, and Class 158 Express Sprinter
units.
The Conwy Valley Line
is operated by a single train running between Llandudno and , with six return journeys a day. The Ffestiniog Railway
operates connecting services between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Porthmadog
.
Services on the Borderlands Line
run from to on the Wirral Peninsula
, crossing the North Wales Coast Line at . This line connects with main line services at Wrexham General and North Wales Coast line
services at Shotton. Also with electrified lines operated by Merseyrail
at Bidston, and may be converted to electric operation in the future. Operated by Class 150 Sprinter
units.
services consist of trains from to , and every two hours. Services from join this train at or . Services are operated by Class 158 ExpressSprinter
DMUs
, as they are fitted with the necessary equipment for the Radio Electronic Token Block
signalling used on the line.
The single-tracked nature of this line, coupled with the busy terminus at Birmingham New Street meant that delays could result in partial cancellation of services on this line. From December 2008, most services have been extended to the less busy Birmingham International station, giving more flexibility in making up any lost time; this measure was also introduced to help international students at Aberystwyth University gain easier access to an airport. Trial of the ERTMS traffic management system is under way on the Cambrian Line, and this may further alleviate these problems.
The Heart of Wales Line
has services from to Shrewsbury via and four or five times a day. It is marketed by Arriva Trains Wales as a scenic, rural line, with special rover tickets available.
The main servicing depot for Class 158 ExpressSprinter DMUs is also behind Machynlleth Station.
via and the Welsh Marches Line
. Some off-peak services terminate at or originate from Cardiff Central, and continue to or come from every two hours.
Arriva also operates a service every two hours from Cardiff Central to via .
Other branches of the West Wales Line
as served by services from Swansea and Cardiff Central. Trains operate a shuttle service between Swansea and Cardiff Central (known as Swanline), calling at more minor stations than the First Great Western
Intercity services do.
Arriva also operates on the Heart of Wales line between Shrewsbury and Swansea via Llandrindod with four trains per day each direction. Special Royal Welsh Trains extending into South East Wales operate to Builth Road station during the Royal Welsh Show annually in July.
The Valley Lines
network, previously operated as a separate franchise, is a collection of urban lines in Cardiff and the surrounding area, including the South Wales Valleys
and the Vale of Glamorgan
. Arriva Trains Wales also operates a service from to . Stations in the valleys north of Cardiff have experienced strong passenger growth, as a result of which there is now a half-hourly service on the fringes of the network (Pontypridd
-Treherbert
, Abercynon
-Aberdare
, Abercynon
-Merthyr Tydfil
and in the future Bargoed
to Rhymney
). Service frequency growth at the fringes is a significant problem because of often lengthy single-track sections. Between the larger towns and Cardiff these services combine to provide at least a train every 15 minutes, with six trains per hour between Pontypridd
and Cardiff, and four trains per hour between Bargoed and Cardiff. Stations on the Treherbert and Rhymney branch lines have been lengthened to accommodate six-car trains to cope with future growth demand for commuting into and out of the capital.
The Welsh Assembly and Network Rail
are currently investigating the suitability of electrifying some or all of the Valley Line routes as an addition to the recently announced Great Western electrification. In this event the existing Pacer fleet would be replaced by new or cascaded EMUs.
On 6 February 2008, the Ebbw Valley Railway was partially re-opened to passenger services for the first time in over 40 years. It provides an hourly service to Cardiff Central calling at Ebbw Vale Parkway railway station
, , Newbridge, , , and and Cardiff Central. One year after opening, the line had carried 573,442 passengers, beating all targets set by the Welsh Assembly Government. Services on Saturday run as four-carriage formations instead of the standard two. Extra carriages are also added during school holidays when demand is high. Possible developments on the line also include restoring the service between Ebbw Vale and Newport; the proposal awaits Network Rail and Welsh Assembly Government approval. If implemented it would provide an hourly service between Newport
and Ebbw Vale
.
. Coming north, after calling at (for connections to Mid-Wales) trains for North Wales go to via Wrexham General
, and trains for Manchester go to .
It departs Holyhead in the morning and returns in the afternoon. It features first-class accommodation and a full dining car with travelling chef. Normal standard-class fares are valid for the service. First class attracts a supplement and includes a complementary breakfast on the morning service and a three-course meal on the evening service.
, while a Bristol Temple Meads to Waterloo service is provided by South West Trains
.
and Bicester North on its way to London Marylebone. Two off-peak trains would have operated each day, while a further service would have been added on Saturdays in high summer. Rolling stock would have been Class 158 Sprinters, the same as Wales and Borders
used on the Manchester to London Waterloo/Penzance services in the 1990s and 2000s.
It has been said that if Arriva Trains Wales was granted this service, it could push Wrexham
- London
operator Wrexham & Shropshire out of business, with Wrexham & Shropshire Managing Director, Andy Hamilton, saying "We believe that this proposal - if approved - would push the date of profitability of WSMR by at least a year. As a result of this our owning group would be unable to sustain additional and continuing losses and the WSMR service would cease to exist."
However, the route was rejected by the Office of Rail Regulation in March 2010 due to concerns about the financial viability of the service and the potentially high level of revenue abstraction from other operators.
and Cardiff
, and has occasionally used hired-in locomotives to run extra services for sporting events.
Arriva has expanded its Class 150 fleet, with units cascaded from ScotRail
and National Express East Anglia early in the franchise. On 10 December 2006, eight further Class 150s from First Great Western
were added, these being sets: 150230/236/240/241/242/251/253/254:
In 2006 'heritage' unit 121032 was purchased by Arriva for use on the Cardiff Bay
Shuttle. The unit has been repainted into Arriva colours and was hauled to Wales in June 2006 to enter service in July. The unit finally entered service on 17 August 2006 but was withdrawn two days later due to a major problem with the engine. The unit re-entered service on the Cardiff Bay line on 14 September 2006. More recently the unit has been suffering further problems and once again it has had to be taken out of service. The Cardiff Bay line temporarily ran a class 153, until 1 January 2009 when the Class 121 re-entered service on the Cardiff Bay shuttle.
From November 2007, nine Class 150/2 units transferred from the West Midlands
as the Central Trains
franchise came to an end. London Midland
(the successor to Central Trains) will use Class 170s on Birmingham New Street
to Walsall
and Stafford
services to enable the release of these ten units. As of March 2008, five of these units will be sub-leased to First Great Western
due to recent bad press over a poor service provided by FGW - these units having been refurbished with Arriva-style seating and corporate exterior livery. One unit was returned for use on the half-hourly services for Merthyr. Of these nine, the remaining four were used as strengthening units in the Cardiff Valleys. The five subleased to FGW were reduced to four (Merthyr) then two. Two of the returned 150/2 from FGW were used to cover for 158s while ERTMS was fitted.
From December 2008, a loco-hauled Holyhead to Cardiff service has been operated by Arriva Trains Wales. It is usually formed of a Class 57, 3 Mark 2 coaches and a Mark 3 buffet. The coaches were refreshed at Eastleigh Works and the locos painted at Cardiff Canton. There is now a plan to run a second daytime diagram operating on weekends as well.
All Class 158s are now maintained at their own special depot at Machynlleth TMD (Traction Maintenance Depot).
Arriva
Arriva plc is a multinational public transport company owned by Deutsche Bahn and headquartered in Sunderland, United Kingdom. It has bus, coach, train, tram and waterbus operations in 12 countries across Europe, employs more than 47,500 people and services over 1.5 billion passenger journeys each...
, that operates urban and inter urban passenger services in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and the Welsh Marches
Welsh Marches
The Welsh Marches is a term which, in modern usage, denotes an imprecisely defined area along and around the border between England and Wales in the United Kingdom. The precise meaning of the term has varied at different periods...
. Arriva Trains Wales operates services to all railway stations in Wales, including , , and , as well as stations in England such as and .
Description
The company took over operation of the reorganised Wales and Border railway franchiseRail franchising in Great Britain
Rail franchising in Great Britain was created by the Railways Act 1993. Passenger services are franchised, for a limited period, to train operating companies...
from the company of the same name
Wales and Borders
Wales and Borders is the name of a franchise of train services covering Wales, the Welsh Marches and bordering counties of England.-History:The franchise was initially formed from part of the former Wales and West franchise and the Cardiff Railway Company , together with the lines from Shrewsbury...
in December 2003. Responsibility for this franchise has been devolved to the Welsh Assembly Government
Welsh Assembly Government
The Welsh Government is the devolved government of Wales. It is accountable to the National Assembly for Wales, the legislature which represents the interests of the people of Wales and makes laws for Wales...
as a result of the Railways Act 2005
Railways Act 2005
The Railways Act 2005 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom concerning the regulatory structure for railways in the United Kingdom.- Overview :...
and the Transport (Wales) Act 2006
Transport (Wales) Act 2006
The Transport Act 2006 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was passed in response to a resolution approved by the National Assembly for Wales on 17 March 2004.-Section 12 - Commencement: The Transport (Wales) Act 2006 (c 5) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It...
, and it works closely with Arriva Trains Wales to develop the railway network within Wales. This has included the introduction of direct services between North
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
and South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
, and the reintroduction of passenger services on freight-only portions of the Vale of Glamorgan Line
Vale of Glamorgan Line
The Vale of Glamorgan Line is a commuter railway line in South Wales from Cardiff to Bridgend via Barry, Rhoose and Llantwit Major. There are also branch lines to Penarth and Barry Island. As its names suggests, the line runs through the Vale of Glamorgan....
and Ebbw Vale Line.
It operates on a gauge of 1435 mm, over a route length of 1691 km, with 253 DMU cars and 22 locomotive-hauled passenger coaches.
Its busiest stations are , and in South Wales, and in North Wales.
Arriva Trains Wales operates almost all services in Wales, with the exception of:
// to London Paddington (First Great Western
First Great Western
First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup that serves Greater London, the South East, South West and West Midlands regions of England, and South Wales....
) to or (First Great Western
First Great Western
First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup that serves Greater London, the South East, South West and West Midlands regions of England, and South Wales....
)
to and (CrossCountry
CrossCountry
CrossCountry is the brand name of XC Trains Ltd., a British train operating company owned by Arriva...
)
//Wrexham General to London Euston (Virgin Trains
Virgin Trains
Virgin Trains is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. It operates long-distance passenger services on the West Coast Main Line between London, the West Midlands, North West England, North Wales and Scotland...
)
Performance
In October 2006 the company was ranked seventh best (out of 21 companies) with an above average 89.9% of trains 'on time' according to Network RailNetwork Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
statistics. The latest figures released by the ORR (Office of Rail Regulation) rate punctuality (PPM) at 93.3% for the final quarter of the 2010/11 financial year. Their MAA (Monthly Annual Average) figure up to 31 March 2011 is currently at 93.9%.
However, the Cambrian Main Line is still a poor performer, with anecdotal evidence suggesting punctuality levels as low as 60%.
Takeover
Deutsche BahnDeutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn AG is the German national railway company, a private joint stock company . Headquartered in Berlin, it came into existence in 1994 as the successor to the former state railways of Germany, the Deutsche Bundesbahn of West Germany and the Deutsche Reichsbahn of East Germany...
has agreed a £1.59bn deal to buy Arriva, in a move which marks the transfer from one multi-national to another.
Welsh language services
Welsh Language Act 1993
The Welsh Language Act 1993 , is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which put the Welsh language on an equal footing with the English language in Wales with regard to the public sector....
requires all public bodies to provide services to the public through the medium of Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
as well as English. Due to the privatisation of the railways, Arriva is not legally required to provide service in Welsh. Arriva does however conduct some business in Welsh. All stations in Wales where the Welsh and English names differ have both names displayed, with a few minor omissions (only the Welsh spelling Fflint is displayed at Flint railway station
Flint railway station
Flint railway station serves the town of Flint in Flintshire, North Wales. It located on the North Wales Coast Line and is managed by Arriva Trains Wales, who provide most of the passenger trains that call here...
). Arriva does not display Welsh names in the English stations which it manages, such as Chester (Welsh:Caer) or Hereford (Welsh:Henffordd).
Arriva Trains Wales has introduced bilingual display screens and announcements in at least 46 stations, but these do not include some stations such as Bangor
Bangor (Gwynedd) railway station
Bangor railway station in Bangor, Gwynedd is the last mainland station on the London Euston to Holyhead North Wales Coast line. The station is 40 km east of Holyhead....
in traditionally Welsh-speaking areas. Long-distance services on Class 175
British Rail Class 175
The Class 175 Coradia is a type of diesel multiple unit passenger train used in the United Kingdom. The fleet of 27 sets were built from 1999 to 2001 by Alstom at Washwood Heath in Birmingham. They are part of the Coradia family of trains along with the Class 180.The entire fleet is owned by the...
trains now show both Welsh and English names on their on-train display boards (e.g. Manceinion/Manchester Piccadilly), but the audio announcements are in English only.
In 2004, Arriva introduced a Welsh-language phone line. Its website was named the "Best Website of The Year in the Technology Wales Awards 2004". Arriva report that approximately 4% of their customers use the Welsh website.
Services
Arriva Trains Wales main terminus is . A secondary terminus, for trains to North Wales, is . North Wales' busiest station is . A summary of Arriva Trains Wales services is shown below (most stations with only a limited service are not shown):Route 1 services are mainline long distance services between South Wales and North Wales/Manchester. (Sometimes known as CrossCountry Wales)
Route 2 services are Express/Stopping services between the Midlands and North/Mid Wales.
Route 3 Services are Express/Stopping services along the North Wales Coast Line to Crewe and Manchester.
Route 4 is a network of commuter lines operating in and around Cardiff.
Route 5 are branch line services serving remote areas of Wales.
South Wales to North Wales and Manchester
| Route | Calling at | Main stock | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | to and | Principle Stations along served by all trains are , , , , and . Trains then continue from Shrewsbury with 1tp2h extending to via and , and the 1tph continue to via , and | Coradia British Rail Class 175 The Class 175 Coradia is a type of diesel multiple unit passenger train used in the United Kingdom. The fleet of 27 sets were built from 1999 to 2001 by Alstom at Washwood Heath in Birmingham. They are part of the Coradia family of trains along with the Class 180.The entire fleet is owned by the... |
Birmingham to Holyhead/Aberystwyth
| Route | Calling at | Main stock | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | to and | Principle Stations along served by all trains are , , , , , and . Trains then continue from Shrewsbury with 1tp2h extending to via and , and 1tp2h continues to and | Express Sprinter British Rail Class 158 British Rail Class 158 Express Sprinter is a diesel multiple-unit train, built for British Rail between 1989 and 1992 by BREL at its Derby Works. They were built to replace many locomotive-hauled passenger trains, and allowed cascading of existing Sprinter units to replace elderly 'heritage' DMUs... |
North Wales Coast Line
| Route | Calling at | Main stock | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | to , and to and | , , , , , , , , and then on to or via Warrington. | Coradia British Rail Class 175 The Class 175 Coradia is a type of diesel multiple unit passenger train used in the United Kingdom. The fleet of 27 sets were built from 1999 to 2001 by Alstom at Washwood Heath in Birmingham. They are part of the Coradia family of trains along with the Class 180.The entire fleet is owned by the... |
Cardiff Commuter, or Valley Lines
| Route | Calling at | Main stock | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Cardiff Valley Lines | Trains operate out of and providing busy commuter traffic, incorporating several lines, Butetown Branch Line Butetown Branch Line The Butetown Branch Line, also known as the Cardiff Bay Line, is a commuter railway line in Cardiff, Wales from Cardiff Bay and Cardiff Queen Street... between Queen Street and Cardiff Bay, Cardiff City Line Cardiff City Line The City Line is a commuter railway line in Cardiff that runs from Coryton to Radyr via Cardiff Central. Regular passenger services on this route started in 1987. Passenger trains run from Monday to Saturday. The line is also used as a diversionary route for trains to Merthyr, Aberdare and... to Radyr, Coryton Line Coryton Line The Coryton Line is a commuter railway line in Cardiff from the city centre to Heath, Birchgrove, Rhiwbina, Whitchurch and Coryton.The line is currently operated by Arriva Trains Wales as part of the Valley Lines network. ATW replaced the previous franchise, Wales & Borders Trains in December... , Vale of Glamorgan Line Vale of Glamorgan Line The Vale of Glamorgan Line is a commuter railway line in South Wales from Cardiff to Bridgend via Barry, Rhoose and Llantwit Major. There are also branch lines to Penarth and Barry Island. As its names suggests, the line runs through the Vale of Glamorgan.... to Bridgend, Merthyr Line to both Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare, Rhondda Line Rhondda Line The Rhondda Line is a commuter railway line in South Wales from Cardiff to Treherbert. The line follows the Merthyr Line as far as Pontypridd, where it then diverges to continue along the Rhondda Valley.The places served by the line are listed below:... to Treherbert and the Rhymney line to Rhymney. . |
Pacer British Rail Class 142 The British Rail Class 142 is a class of Pacer diesel multiple units used in the United Kingdom. 96 units were built by BREL in Derby between 1985 and 1987. They were a development of the earlier Class 141 which were introduced in 1984.... and Sprinter British Rail Class 150 The British Rail Class 150 "Sprinter" diesel multiple units were built by BREL from 1984-87. A total of 137 units were built in three main subclasses, replacing many of the earlier first-generation "Heritage" DMUs.- Background :... |
Local Stopping Services
| Route | Calling at | Main stock | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Borderlands Line Borderlands Line The Borderlands Line is the railway line between Wrexham, Wales, and Bidston, Wirral, England.Passenger train services are operated by Arriva Trains Wales between Wrexham Central and Bidston. Trains run every hour Monday to Saturday daytime, every two hours after 18:45 and on Sundays... , Heart of Wales Line Heart of Wales Line The Heart of Wales Line is a railway line running from Craven Arms in Shropshire to Llanelli in South Wales. It runs, as the name suggests, through some of the heartlands of Wales. It serves a number of rural centres en route, including several once fashionable spa towns, including Llandrindod Wells... and Conwy Valley Line Conwy Valley Line The Conwy Valley Line is a railway line in north Wales. It runs from Llandudno via Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog, and was originally part of the London and North Western Railway, being opened in stages to 1879... |
The Borderlands Line runs from to where passengers can change for Merseyrail Merseyrail Merseyrail is a train operating company and commuter rail network in the United Kingdom, centred on Liverpool, Merseyside. The network is predominantly electric with diesel trains running on the City Line. Two City Line branches are currently being electrified on the overhead wire AC system with... services to . The Heart of Wales Line runs from to although most South-bound services originate from and some extend from Swansea to . The Conwy Valley Line runs from through Snowdonia National Park, terminating at |
Sprinter British Rail Class 150 The British Rail Class 150 "Sprinter" diesel multiple units were built by BREL from 1984-87. A total of 137 units were built in three main subclasses, replacing many of the earlier first-generation "Heritage" DMUs.- Background :... and Super Sprinter Rail cars British Rail Class 153 The British Rail Class 153 Super Sprinter is a single car diesel multiple unit converted from British Rail Class 155s.-Description:These units were originally built as two-car Class 155 units by British Leyland from 1987–88, but were converted by Hunslet-Barclay at Kilmarnock from 1991-92... |
North Wales
Services along the North Wales Coast LineNorth Wales Coast Line
The North Wales Coast Line is the railway line from Crewe to Holyhead. Virgin Trains consider their services along it to be a spur of the West Coast Main Line. The first section from Crewe to Chester was built by the Chester and Crewe Railway and absorbed by the Grand Junction Railway shortly...
terminate at and . Llandudno services run every hour to Manchester Piccadilly
Manchester Piccadilly station
Manchester Piccadilly is the principal railway station in Manchester, England. It serves intercity routes to London Euston, Birmingham New Street, South Wales, the south coast of England, Edinburgh and Glasgow Central, and routes throughout northern England...
via and . Holyhead services run every hour, to via Chester and , then alternately to or . Request stations west of Llandudno Junction (Conwy
Conwy railway station
Conwy railway station serves the ancient walled town of Conwy and is located on the Crewe to Holyhead North Wales Coast Line. There are through services to Chester via Colwyn Bay, Rhyl, Prestatyn and Flint in one direction and to Bangor & Holyhead in the other. After arrival at Chester, most trains...
, , , , , , and ) are generally served by alternate trains. These routes are usually served by Class 175 regional express Coradia
British Rail Class 175
The Class 175 Coradia is a type of diesel multiple unit passenger train used in the United Kingdom. The fleet of 27 sets were built from 1999 to 2001 by Alstom at Washwood Heath in Birmingham. They are part of the Coradia family of trains along with the Class 180.The entire fleet is owned by the...
units, and Class 158 Express Sprinter
British Rail Class 158
British Rail Class 158 Express Sprinter is a diesel multiple-unit train, built for British Rail between 1989 and 1992 by BREL at its Derby Works. They were built to replace many locomotive-hauled passenger trains, and allowed cascading of existing Sprinter units to replace elderly 'heritage' DMUs...
units.
The Conwy Valley Line
Conwy Valley Line
The Conwy Valley Line is a railway line in north Wales. It runs from Llandudno via Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog, and was originally part of the London and North Western Railway, being opened in stages to 1879...
is operated by a single train running between Llandudno and , with six return journeys a day. The Ffestiniog Railway
Ffestiniog Railway
The Ffestiniog Railway is a narrow gauge heritage railway, located in Gwynedd, Wales. It is a major tourist attraction located mainly within the Snowdonia National Park....
operates connecting services between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Porthmadog
Porthmadog
Porthmadog , known locally as "Port", and historically rendered into English as Portmadoc, is a small coastal town and community in the Eifionydd area of Gwynedd, in Wales. Prior to the Local Government Act 1972 it was in the administrative county of Caernarfonshire. The town lies east of...
.
Services on the Borderlands Line
Borderlands Line
The Borderlands Line is the railway line between Wrexham, Wales, and Bidston, Wirral, England.Passenger train services are operated by Arriva Trains Wales between Wrexham Central and Bidston. Trains run every hour Monday to Saturday daytime, every two hours after 18:45 and on Sundays...
run from to on the Wirral Peninsula
Wirral Peninsula
Wirral or the Wirral is a peninsula in North West England. It is bounded by three bodies of water: to the west by the River Dee, forming a boundary with Wales, to the east by the River Mersey and to the north by the Irish Sea. Both terms "Wirral" and "the Wirral" are used locally , although the...
, crossing the North Wales Coast Line at . This line connects with main line services at Wrexham General and North Wales Coast line
North Wales Coast Line
The North Wales Coast Line is the railway line from Crewe to Holyhead. Virgin Trains consider their services along it to be a spur of the West Coast Main Line. The first section from Crewe to Chester was built by the Chester and Crewe Railway and absorbed by the Grand Junction Railway shortly...
services at Shotton. Also with electrified lines operated by Merseyrail
Merseyrail
Merseyrail is a train operating company and commuter rail network in the United Kingdom, centred on Liverpool, Merseyside. The network is predominantly electric with diesel trains running on the City Line. Two City Line branches are currently being electrified on the overhead wire AC system with...
at Bidston, and may be converted to electric operation in the future. Operated by Class 150 Sprinter
British Rail Class 150
The British Rail Class 150 "Sprinter" diesel multiple units were built by BREL from 1984-87. A total of 137 units were built in three main subclasses, replacing many of the earlier first-generation "Heritage" DMUs.- Background :...
units.
Mid Wales
Cambrian LineCambrian Line
The Cambrian Line is a railway from Shrewsbury to Welshpool, Aberystwyth and Pwllheli. The railway runs first through the central part of Wales and then along the coast of Cardigan Bay....
services consist of trains from to , and every two hours. Services from join this train at or . Services are operated by Class 158 ExpressSprinter
British Rail Class 158
British Rail Class 158 Express Sprinter is a diesel multiple-unit train, built for British Rail between 1989 and 1992 by BREL at its Derby Works. They were built to replace many locomotive-hauled passenger trains, and allowed cascading of existing Sprinter units to replace elderly 'heritage' DMUs...
DMUs
Diesel multiple unit
A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
, as they are fitted with the necessary equipment for the Radio Electronic Token Block
Radio Electronic Token Block
Radio Electronic Token Block is a system of railway signalling used in the United Kingdom. It is a development of the physical token system for controlling traffic on single lines.- How it works :...
signalling used on the line.
The single-tracked nature of this line, coupled with the busy terminus at Birmingham New Street meant that delays could result in partial cancellation of services on this line. From December 2008, most services have been extended to the less busy Birmingham International station, giving more flexibility in making up any lost time; this measure was also introduced to help international students at Aberystwyth University gain easier access to an airport. Trial of the ERTMS traffic management system is under way on the Cambrian Line, and this may further alleviate these problems.
The Heart of Wales Line
Heart of Wales Line
The Heart of Wales Line is a railway line running from Craven Arms in Shropshire to Llanelli in South Wales. It runs, as the name suggests, through some of the heartlands of Wales. It serves a number of rural centres en route, including several once fashionable spa towns, including Llandrindod Wells...
has services from to Shrewsbury via and four or five times a day. It is marketed by Arriva Trains Wales as a scenic, rural line, with special rover tickets available.
The main servicing depot for Class 158 ExpressSprinter DMUs is also behind Machynlleth Station.
South Wales
As of September 2008, Arriva Trains Wales operates an hourly long-distance services from to Manchester PiccadillyManchester Piccadilly station
Manchester Piccadilly is the principal railway station in Manchester, England. It serves intercity routes to London Euston, Birmingham New Street, South Wales, the south coast of England, Edinburgh and Glasgow Central, and routes throughout northern England...
via and the Welsh Marches Line
Welsh Marches Line
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...
. Some off-peak services terminate at or originate from Cardiff Central, and continue to or come from every two hours.
Arriva also operates a service every two hours from Cardiff Central to via .
Other branches of the West Wales Line
West Wales Line
The West Wales Lines are a group of railway lines from Swansea through Carmarthenshire to Pembrokeshire, West Wales...
as served by services from Swansea and Cardiff Central. Trains operate a shuttle service between Swansea and Cardiff Central (known as Swanline), calling at more minor stations than the First Great Western
First Great Western
First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup that serves Greater London, the South East, South West and West Midlands regions of England, and South Wales....
Intercity services do.
Arriva also operates on the Heart of Wales line between Shrewsbury and Swansea via Llandrindod with four trains per day each direction. Special Royal Welsh Trains extending into South East Wales operate to Builth Road station during the Royal Welsh Show annually in July.
Cardiff and Valleys
Valley Lines
Valleys & Cardiff Local Routes is the busy network of passenger suburban railway services radiating from Cardiff, Wales. It includes lines within the city itself, the Vale of Glamorgan and the South Wales Valleys....
network, previously operated as a separate franchise, is a collection of urban lines in Cardiff and the surrounding area, including the South Wales Valleys
South Wales Valleys
The South Wales Valleys are a number of industrialised valleys in South Wales, stretching from eastern Carmarthenshire in the west to western Monmouthshire in the east and from the Heads of the Valleys in the north to the lower-lying, pastoral country of the Vale of Glamorgan and the coastal plain...
and the Vale of Glamorgan
Vale of Glamorgan
The Vale of Glamorgan is a county borough in Wales; an exceptionally rich agricultural area, it lies in the southern part of Glamorgan, South Wales...
. Arriva Trains Wales also operates a service from to . Stations in the valleys north of Cardiff have experienced strong passenger growth, as a result of which there is now a half-hourly service on the fringes of the network (Pontypridd
Pontypridd
Pontypridd is both a community and a principal town of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales and is situated 12 miles/19 km north of the Welsh capital city of Cardiff...
-Treherbert
Treherbert
Treherbert is a village and community situated at the head of the Rhondda Fawr valley in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. Treherbert is a former industrial coal mining village which was at its economic peak between 1850 and 1920...
, Abercynon
Abercynon
Abercynon is a small village in the Cynon Valley in Mid Glamorgan, Wales. The unitary authority is now known as Rhondda Cynon Taff. It is composed of the village of Abercynon itself,Carnetown,Glancynon,Park View and Pontcynon. However, in recent years the sign to show motorists they are entering...
-Aberdare
Aberdare
Aberdare is an industrial town in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Dare and Cynon. The population at the census was 31,705...
, Abercynon
Abercynon
Abercynon is a small village in the Cynon Valley in Mid Glamorgan, Wales. The unitary authority is now known as Rhondda Cynon Taff. It is composed of the village of Abercynon itself,Carnetown,Glancynon,Park View and Pontcynon. However, in recent years the sign to show motorists they are entering...
-Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of...
and in the future Bargoed
Bargoed
Bargoed is a town in the Rhymney Valley, Wales, one of the South Wales Valleys. It lies on the Rhymney River in the county borough of Caerphilly and straddles ancient boundary of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire. 'Greater Bargoed', as defined by the local authority Caerphilly County Borough Council,...
to Rhymney
Rhymney
Rhymney is a town and a community located in the county borough of Caerphilly in south-east Wales, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire. Along with the villages of Pontlottyn, Fochriw, Abertysswg, Deri and New Tredegar, Rhymney is designated as the 'Upper Rhymney Valley' by the local...
). Service frequency growth at the fringes is a significant problem because of often lengthy single-track sections. Between the larger towns and Cardiff these services combine to provide at least a train every 15 minutes, with six trains per hour between Pontypridd
Pontypridd railway station
Pontypridd railway station serves the town of Pontypridd in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. It is located on the Merthyr and Rhondda lines and is the main line station for the town.Until the 1930s, Pontypridd had another two stations...
and Cardiff, and four trains per hour between Bargoed and Cardiff. Stations on the Treherbert and Rhymney branch lines have been lengthened to accommodate six-car trains to cope with future growth demand for commuting into and out of the capital.
The Welsh Assembly and Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
are currently investigating the suitability of electrifying some or all of the Valley Line routes as an addition to the recently announced Great Western electrification. In this event the existing Pacer fleet would be replaced by new or cascaded EMUs.
On 6 February 2008, the Ebbw Valley Railway was partially re-opened to passenger services for the first time in over 40 years. It provides an hourly service to Cardiff Central calling at Ebbw Vale Parkway railway station
Ebbw Vale Parkway railway station
Ebbw Vale Parkway railway station is the current terminus of the Ebbw Valley Railway. The station opened on 6 February 2008 when services to and from Cardiff Central commenced after 46 years of being a freight-only line...
, , Newbridge, , , and and Cardiff Central. One year after opening, the line had carried 573,442 passengers, beating all targets set by the Welsh Assembly Government. Services on Saturday run as four-carriage formations instead of the standard two. Extra carriages are also added during school holidays when demand is high. Possible developments on the line also include restoring the service between Ebbw Vale and Newport; the proposal awaits Network Rail and Welsh Assembly Government approval. If implemented it would provide an hourly service between Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
and Ebbw Vale
Ebbw Vale
Ebbw Vale is a town at the head of the valley formed by the Ebbw Fawr tributary of the Ebbw River, south Wales. It is the largest town and the administrative centre of Blaenau Gwent county borough...
.
Marches and Border
Services between and Newport form part of other services already mentioned, such as to , or to Manchester PiccadillyManchester Piccadilly station
Manchester Piccadilly is the principal railway station in Manchester, England. It serves intercity routes to London Euston, Birmingham New Street, South Wales, the south coast of England, Edinburgh and Glasgow Central, and routes throughout northern England...
. Coming north, after calling at (for connections to Mid-Wales) trains for North Wales go to via Wrexham General
Wrexham General railway station
Wrexham General railway station is a main line railway station and the main railway station serving Wrexham, north-east Wales. It is currently operated by Arriva Trains Wales, but services are also provided by Virgin Trains who operate a service to London Euston...
, and trains for Manchester go to .
North-South Wales Premier Service
A weekday Premier Service between Holyhead and Cardiff was introduced on 15 December 2008. The service is run under contract to the Welsh Government. Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone Railway and Grand Central Railway Company Limited expressed an interest in operating the service, but the contract was awarded to Arriva Trains Wales. At the time of the launch it was known as Y Gerallt Gymro (Gerald of Wales) but today it is known as the Premier Service.It departs Holyhead in the morning and returns in the afternoon. It features first-class accommodation and a full dining car with travelling chef. Normal standard-class fares are valid for the service. First class attracts a supplement and includes a complementary breakfast on the morning service and a three-course meal on the evening service.
Special services
For special events such as football or rugby matches, Arriva is known to operate additional services to the venue. Wales and Borders had arranged in the past a stopping service to . Numerous other services have been operated. Arriva usually operates shuttle services to Newport on match days. Some of these services were operated using locos and hauled stock - usually on loan.Past services
Arriva Trains Wales used to operate services from Manchester Piccadilly, Pembroke Dock, Carmarthen and Swansea to London Waterloo, Brighton, Portsmouth Harbour, Plymouth and Penzance via Cardiff, Bristol and Westbury. Services south of Cardiff are now operated by First Great WesternFirst Great Western
First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup that serves Greater London, the South East, South West and West Midlands regions of England, and South Wales....
, while a Bristol Temple Meads to Waterloo service is provided by South West Trains
South West Trains
South West Trains is a British train operating company providing, under franchise, passenger rail services, mostly out of Waterloo station, to the southwest of London in the suburbs and in the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, and Wiltshire and on the Isle of Wight...
.
Rejected services
Arriva announced its intention to reinstate a direct Aberystwyth to London service serving all stations to Birmingham International and additionally calling at Leamington SpaLeamington Spa
Royal Leamington Spa, commonly known as Leamington Spa or Leamington or Leam to locals, is a spa town in central Warwickshire, England. Formerly known as Leamington Priors, its expansion began following the popularisation of the medicinal qualities of its water by Dr Kerr in 1784, and by Dr Lambe...
and Bicester North on its way to London Marylebone. Two off-peak trains would have operated each day, while a further service would have been added on Saturdays in high summer. Rolling stock would have been Class 158 Sprinters, the same as Wales and Borders
Wales and Borders
Wales and Borders is the name of a franchise of train services covering Wales, the Welsh Marches and bordering counties of England.-History:The franchise was initially formed from part of the former Wales and West franchise and the Cardiff Railway Company , together with the lines from Shrewsbury...
used on the Manchester to London Waterloo/Penzance services in the 1990s and 2000s.
It has been said that if Arriva Trains Wales was granted this service, it could push Wrexham
Wrexham General railway station
Wrexham General railway station is a main line railway station and the main railway station serving Wrexham, north-east Wales. It is currently operated by Arriva Trains Wales, but services are also provided by Virgin Trains who operate a service to London Euston...
- London
Marylebone station
Marylebone station , also known as London Marylebone, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex. It stands midway between the mainline stations at Euston and Paddington, about 1 mile from each...
operator Wrexham & Shropshire out of business, with Wrexham & Shropshire Managing Director, Andy Hamilton, saying "We believe that this proposal - if approved - would push the date of profitability of WSMR by at least a year. As a result of this our owning group would be unable to sustain additional and continuing losses and the WSMR service would cease to exist."
However, the route was rejected by the Office of Rail Regulation in March 2010 due to concerns about the financial viability of the service and the potentially high level of revenue abstraction from other operators.
Managed by other companies
(Virgin West Coast)- Birmingham New StreetBirmingham New Street StationBirmingham New Street is the main railway station serving Birmingham, England, located in the city centre. It is an important hub for the British railway system, being served by a number of important long-distance and cross-country lines, including the Birmingham loop of the West Coast Main Line,...
(Network Rail) - CreweCrewe railway stationCrewe railway station was completed in 1837 and is one of the most historic railway stations in the world. Built in fields near to Crewe Hall, it originally served the village of Crewe with a population of just 70 residents...
(Virgin West Coast) - Manchester AirportManchester Airport railway stationManchester Airport railway station is the railway station that serves Manchester Airport and is built into the airport's terminal buildings. The station was opened together with the second airport terminal in 1993.- Description:...
(First Transpennine Express) - Manchester PiccadillyManchester Piccadilly stationManchester Piccadilly is the principal railway station in Manchester, England. It serves intercity routes to London Euston, Birmingham New Street, South Wales, the south coast of England, Edinburgh and Glasgow Central, and routes throughout northern England...
(Network Rail) (Northern Rail) (Virgin West Coast) (London Midland) - Warrington Bank Quay (Virgin West Coast) (Northern Rail) (Virgin West Coast) (Virgin West Coast) (Merseyrail)
Rolling stock
As of March 2008, Arriva Trains Wales operates a fleet of 123 diesel multiple units. It also owns some Mark 2 coaching stock, used for its locomotive-hauled express services between HolyheadHolyhead
Holyhead is the largest town in the county of Anglesey in the North Wales. It is also a major port adjacent to the Irish Sea serving Ireland....
and Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, and has occasionally used hired-in locomotives to run extra services for sporting events.
| Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Number | Routes operated | Unit numbers | Built | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mph | km/h | |||||||
| Class 57/3 British Rail Class 57 The Class 57 diesel locomotives were introduced by Brush Traction between 1997-2004. They are rebuilds, with reconditioned EMD engines, of former Class 47 locomotives, originally introduced in 1964-5.- Description :... |
 |
Diesel locomotive Diesel locomotive A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel... |
95 | 152 | 4 | North - South premier service | 57313/314/315/316 | 1997–2004 |
| Class 121 Bubble car British Rail Class 121 Sixteen Class 121 single-car driving motor vehicles were built from 1960, numbered 55020–55035. These were supplemented by ten trailer vehicles, numbered 56280–56289 . They had a top speed of 70 mph, with slam-doors, and vacuum brakes... |
 |
Diesel multiple unit Diesel multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:... |
70 | 112 | 1 | Butetown Branch Line Butetown Branch Line The Butetown Branch Line, also known as the Cardiff Bay Line, is a commuter railway line in Cardiff, Wales from Cardiff Bay and Cardiff Queen Street... |
121032 | 1958–1960 |
| Class 142 Pacer British Rail Class 142 The British Rail Class 142 is a class of Pacer diesel multiple units used in the United Kingdom. 96 units were built by BREL in Derby between 1985 and 1987. They were a development of the earlier Class 141 which were introduced in 1984.... |
 |
Diesel multiple unit Diesel multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:... |
75 | 120 | 15 | Valleys & Cardiff Local Routes South Wales local services |
142002 / 006 / 010 / 069 / 072 - 077 / 080 - 083 / 085 | 1985 |
| Class 143 Pacer British Rail Class 143 The British Rail Class 143 is a diesel multiple unit, part of the Pacer family of trains introduced between 1985 and 1986. They originally worked in the North-East of England but were later transferred to Wales and South-West England.... |
 |
Diesel multiple unit Diesel multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:... |
75 | 120 | 15 | Valleys & Cardiff Local Routes South Wales local services |
143601 /602 / 604 - 610 / 614 / 616 / 622 - 625 (615 was scrapped following a fire) | 1985 |
| Class 150/2 Sprinter British Rail Class 150 The British Rail Class 150 "Sprinter" diesel multiple units were built by BREL from 1984-87. A total of 137 units were built in three main subclasses, replacing many of the earlier first-generation "Heritage" DMUs.- Background :... |
Diesel multiple unit Diesel multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:... |
75 | 120 | 31 | Valleys & Cardiff Local Routes Non-express and suburban services across the Arriva Trains Wales network |
150208 / 213 / 217 / 227 / 230 - 231 / 235 - 237 / 240 - 242 / 245 / 250 - 260 / 262 / 264 / 267 / 278 - 281 / 283 - 285 | 1983-85 | |
| Class 153 Super Sprinter British Rail Class 153 The British Rail Class 153 Super Sprinter is a single car diesel multiple unit converted from British Rail Class 155s.-Description:These units were originally built as two-car Class 155 units by British Leyland from 1987–88, but were converted by Hunslet-Barclay at Kilmarnock from 1991-92... |
 |
Diesel multiple unit Diesel multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:... |
75 | 120 | 8 | Arriva Trains Wales' routes outside the Valleys & Cardiff Local Routes network | 153303 / 312 / 320 / 323 / 327 / 353 / 362 / 367 | 1987–1988 |
| Class 158 Express Sprinter British Rail Class 158 British Rail Class 158 Express Sprinter is a diesel multiple-unit train, built for British Rail between 1989 and 1992 by BREL at its Derby Works. They were built to replace many locomotive-hauled passenger trains, and allowed cascading of existing Sprinter units to replace elderly 'heritage' DMUs... |
Diesel multiple unit Diesel multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:... |
90 | 145 | 24 | Arriva Trains Wales' long distance and mainline express routes | 158818 - 841 | 1989–1992 | |
| Class 175 Coradia British Rail Class 175 The Class 175 Coradia is a type of diesel multiple unit passenger train used in the United Kingdom. The fleet of 27 sets were built from 1999 to 2001 by Alstom at Washwood Heath in Birmingham. They are part of the Coradia family of trains along with the Class 180.The entire fleet is owned by the... |
Diesel multiple unit Diesel multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:... |
100 | 160 | 27 | Arriva Trains Wales' mainline express routes | 175001 - 011 / 175101 - 116 | 1999–2001 | |
| Mark 2 Coach British Rail Mark 2 The Mark 2 family of railway carriages were British Rail's second design of carriages. They were built by British Rail workshops between 1964 and 1975... |
 |
Passenger Coach | 100 | 160 | 22 | North - South premier service | 5853 / 5869 / 5913 / 5965 / 5971 / 5976 / 6008 / 6013 / 6035 / 6064 / 6066 / 6119 / 6124 / 6137 / 6162 / 6170 / 6183 / 9503 / 9509 / 9521 / 9524 / 9539 / | 1972–1975 |
| Mark 3 Coach British Rail Mark 3 British Rail's third design of standard carriage was designated 'Mark 3' , and was developed primarily for the InterCity 125 High Speed Train... |
 |
Passenger Coach | 125 | 200 | 5 | North - South premier service | 1972–1988 | |
Arriva has expanded its Class 150 fleet, with units cascaded from ScotRail
ScotRail
ScotRail was a brand name used for all Scottish regional and commuter rail services, including some cross-border services, from 1997 to 2004....
and National Express East Anglia early in the franchise. On 10 December 2006, eight further Class 150s from First Great Western
First Great Western
First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup that serves Greater London, the South East, South West and West Midlands regions of England, and South Wales....
were added, these being sets: 150230/236/240/241/242/251/253/254:
- 4 operate on the Borderlands Line (Wrexham Central to Bidston)
- 4 entered service on the restored Ebbw Valley Railway.
In 2006 'heritage' unit 121032 was purchased by Arriva for use on the Cardiff Bay
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff Bay is the area created by the Cardiff Barrage in South Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The regeneration of Cardiff Bay is now widely regarded as one of the most successful regeneration projects in the United Kingdom. The Bay is supplied by two rivers to form a freshwater lake round the...
Shuttle. The unit has been repainted into Arriva colours and was hauled to Wales in June 2006 to enter service in July. The unit finally entered service on 17 August 2006 but was withdrawn two days later due to a major problem with the engine. The unit re-entered service on the Cardiff Bay line on 14 September 2006. More recently the unit has been suffering further problems and once again it has had to be taken out of service. The Cardiff Bay line temporarily ran a class 153, until 1 January 2009 when the Class 121 re-entered service on the Cardiff Bay shuttle.
From November 2007, nine Class 150/2 units transferred from the West Midlands
West Midlands (region)
The West Midlands is an official region of England, covering the western half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. It contains the second most populous British city, Birmingham, and the larger West Midlands conurbation, which includes the city of Wolverhampton and large towns of Dudley,...
as the Central Trains
Central Trains
Central Trains was one of the original 25 train operating companies to emerge from the break-up of British Rail between 1994 and 1997. The company operated local, urban and secondary express services across central England and Mid Wales.-Overview:...
franchise came to an end. London Midland
London Midland
London Midland is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Legally named London and Birmingham Railway Ltd, it is a subsidiary of Govia, and has operated the West Midlands franchise since 11 November 2007....
(the successor to Central Trains) will use Class 170s on Birmingham New Street
Birmingham New Street Station
Birmingham New Street is the main railway station serving Birmingham, England, located in the city centre. It is an important hub for the British railway system, being served by a number of important long-distance and cross-country lines, including the Birmingham loop of the West Coast Main Line,...
to Walsall
Walsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
and Stafford
Stafford
Stafford is the county town of Staffordshire, in the West Midlands region of England. It lies approximately north of Wolverhampton and south of Stoke-on-Trent, adjacent to the M6 motorway Junction 13 to Junction 14...
services to enable the release of these ten units. As of March 2008, five of these units will be sub-leased to First Great Western
First Great Western
First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup that serves Greater London, the South East, South West and West Midlands regions of England, and South Wales....
due to recent bad press over a poor service provided by FGW - these units having been refurbished with Arriva-style seating and corporate exterior livery. One unit was returned for use on the half-hourly services for Merthyr. Of these nine, the remaining four were used as strengthening units in the Cardiff Valleys. The five subleased to FGW were reduced to four (Merthyr) then two. Two of the returned 150/2 from FGW were used to cover for 158s while ERTMS was fitted.
From December 2008, a loco-hauled Holyhead to Cardiff service has been operated by Arriva Trains Wales. It is usually formed of a Class 57, 3 Mark 2 coaches and a Mark 3 buffet. The coaches were refreshed at Eastleigh Works and the locos painted at Cardiff Canton. There is now a plan to run a second daytime diagram operating on weekends as well.
All Class 158s are now maintained at their own special depot at Machynlleth TMD (Traction Maintenance Depot).