The train operator for Wales and the Welsh borders, owned by the Welsh Government since February 2021. It runs almost every train within Wales and across the border to Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and Cheltenham, from the Valley Lines around Cardiff to the Cambrian Coast and Holyhead. A £800 million fleet of 148 new trains (CAF Class 197s, Stadler Class 231 and 756 FLIRTs and Class 398 tram-trains) is replacing the British Rail-era Sprinters, and the Core Valley Lines, which Transport for Wales owns, have been electrified for the South Wales Metro.
Canton, Cardiff (Transport for Wales's largest depot), Chester (CAF, for the Class 197s), Machynlleth (the ETCS-fitted Class 197s for the Cambrian lines), Taff's Well (the South Wales Metro depot, for the Class 398 tram-trains), Birkenhead (Stadler's Merseyrail depot, for the Class 230s)
Main routes
Cardiff to Swansea and west Wales (Carmarthen, Milford Haven, Pembroke Dock and Fishguard Harbour); Manchester to Cardiff and west Wales by the Marches line through Shrewsbury and Hereford; Holyhead to Cardiff; the North Wales coast from Holyhead and Llandudno to Chester, Crewe, Manchester and Liverpool; Holyhead and Chester to Birmingham through Wrexham and Shrewsbury; the Cambrian lines from Birmingham and Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli; the Heart of Wales line from Swansea to Shrewsbury; the Conwy Valley line to Blaenau Ffestiniog; Wrexham to Bidston; Cardiff to Cheltenham Spa through Gloucester; Maesteg to Cardiff and Ebbw Vale; and the Valley Lines around Cardiff, now the South Wales Metro, to Treherbert, Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhymney, Coryton, Penarth, Barry Island, Bridgend by the Vale of Glamorgan and Cardiff Bay.
Stations managed
248
Operating company
Transport for Wales Rail Ltd, a subsidiary of Transport for Wales, the not-for-profit company wholly owned by the Welsh Government. It took over on 7 February 2021 from KeolisAmey Wales, which had run the Wales and Borders franchise for Transport for Wales since 14 October 2018. Unusually, the Core Valley Lines north of Cardiff belong to Transport for Wales, not Network Rail, and are run for it by Amey Infrastructure Wales.
Llandudno – Liverpool Lime Street 15Manchester Piccadilly – Pembroke Dock 54Manchester Piccadilly – Milford Haven 50Fishguard Harbour – Manchester Piccadilly 49Pwllheli – Birmingham International 37Shrewsbury – Carmarthen 36Holyhead – Birmingham International 35Shrewsbury – Swansea 34Cardiff Central – Holyhead 33Holyhead – Manchester Airport 31Rhymney – Bridgend 28Llandudno – Birmingham New Street 27Manchester Piccadilly – Birmingham International 26Rhymney – Barry Island 26Aberdare – Coryton 23Liverpool Lime Street – Birmingham International 23Llandudno – Manchester Airport 23Aberdare – Caerphilly 21Maesteg – Ebbw Vale Town 21Rhymney – Penarth 21Treherbert – Ninian Park 20Crewe – Birmingham International 19Holyhead – Crewe 19Aberdare – Cardiff Bay 18Coryton – Barry Island 16Cardiff Central – Aberdare 15Bidston – Wrexham Central 15Cardiff Central – Merthyr Tydfil 15Aberystwyth – Birmingham International 14Llandudno – Blaenau Ffestiniog 13Coryton – Penarth 11Llandudno – Crewe 11Pontypridd – Cardiff Bay 9Cardiff Central – Cheltenham Spa 8
Schematic, not to scale. Ringed stations are interchanges. Each strip is one service route with its stops in order. Where fast and stopping trains share a route, the strip shows the one with most stops, and a route whose stops all lie on a longer one is left out. Station order from TfL open data.
Station
Zone
Interchanges
Llandudno
Deganwy
Llandudno Junction
Colwyn Bay
Abergele & Pensarn
Rhyl
Prestatyn
Flint
Shotton
Chester
Helsby
Frodsham
Runcorn
Liverpool South Parkway
Liverpool Lime Street
Manchester Piccadilly
Stockport
Cheadle Hulme
Wilmslow
Alderley Edge
Holmes Chapel
Sandbach
Crewe
Nantwich
Wrenbury
Whitchurch (Shrops)
Prees
Wem
Yorton
Shrewsbury
Church Stretton
Craven Arms
Ludlow
Leominster
Hereford
Abergavenny
Pontypool & New Inn
Cwmbran
Newport (S Wales)
Cardiff Central
Ninian Park
Pontyclun
Llanharan
Pencoed
Bridgend
Pyle
Port Talbot Parkway
Baglan
Briton Ferry
Neath
Skewen
Llansamlet
Swansea
Gowerton
Llanelli
Pembrey & Burry Port
Kidwelly
Ferryside
Carmarthen
Whitland
Narberth
Kilgetty
Saundersfoot
Tenby
Penally
Manorbier
Lamphey
Pembroke
Pembroke Dock
Clunderwen
Clarbeston Road
Haverfordwest
Johnston (Pembrokeshire)
Milford Haven
Fishguard Harbour
Fishguard & Goodwick
Pwllheli
Abererch
Penychain
Criccieth
Porthmadog
Minffordd
Penrhyndeudraeth
Llandecwyn
Talsarnau
Tygwyn
Harlech
Llandanwg
Pensarn (Gwynedd)
Llanbedr
Dyffryn Ardudwy
Talybont
Llanaber
Barmouth
Morfa Mawddach
Fairbourne
Llwyngwril
Tonfanau
Tywyn
Aberdovey
Penhelig
Dovey Junction
Machynlleth
Caersws
Newtown (Powys)
Welshpool
Wellington (Shropshire)
Telford Central
Wolverhampton
Sandwell & Dudley
Birmingham New Street
Birmingham International
Broome
Hopton Heath
Bucknell
Knighton
Knucklas
Llangynllo
Llanbister Road
Dolau
Pen-y-Bont
Llandrindod
Builth Road
Cilmeri
Garth (Powys)
Llangammarch
Llanwrtyd
Sugar Loaf
Cynghordy
Llandovery
Llanwrda
Llangadog
Llandeilo
Ffairfach
Llandybie
Ammanford
Pantyffynnon
Pontarddulais
Llangennech
Bynea
Holyhead
Valley
Rhosneigr
Ty Croes
Bodorgan
Llanfairpwll
Bangor (Gwynedd)
Llanfairfechan
Penmaenmawr
Conwy
Wrexham General
Ruabon
Chirk
Gobowen
Oakengates
Shifnal
Cosford
Albrighton
Codsall
Bilbrook
Runcorn East
Warrington Bank Quay
Earlestown
Newton-le-Willows
Patricroft
Eccles
Manchester Oxford Road
East Didsbury
Heald Green
Manchester Airport
Rhymney
Pontlottyn
Tir-phil
Brithdir
Bargoed
Gilfach Fargoed
Pengam
Hengoed
Ystrad Mynach
Llanbradach
Energlyn & Churchill Park
Aber
Caerphilly
Lisvane & Thornhill
Llanishen
Heath High Level
Cardiff Queen Street
Grangetown (Cardiff)
Cogan
Eastbrook
Dinas Powys
Cadoxton
Barry Docks
Barry
Rhoose
Llantwit Major
Smethwick Galton Bridge
Barry Island
Aberdare
Cwmbach
Fernhill
Mountain Ash
Penrhiwceiber
Abercynon
Pontypridd
Trefforest
Trefforest Estate
Taffs Well
Radyr
Danescourt
Fairwater
Waun-gron Park
Heath Low Level
Ty Glas
Birchgrove
Rhiwbina
Whitchurch (Cardiff)
Coryton
Maesteg
Maesteg (Ewenny Road)
Garth (Bridgend)
Tondu
Sarn
Wildmill
Pye Corner
Rogerstone
Risca & Pontymister
Crosskeys
Newbridge
Llanhilleth
Ebbw Vale Parkway
Ebbw Vale Town
Dingle Road
Penarth
Treherbert
Ynyswen
Treorchy
Ton Pentre
Ystrad Rhondda
Llwynypia
Tonypandy
Dinas (Rhondda)
Porth
Trehafod
Llandaf
Cathays
Cardiff Bay
Bidston
Upton
Heswall
Neston
Hawarden Bridge
Hawarden
Buckley
Penyffordd
Hope (Flintshire)
Caergwrle
Cefn-y-Bedd
Gwersyllt
Wrexham Central
Quakers Yard
Merthyr Vale
Troed-y-Rhiw
Pentre-Bach
Merthyr Tydfil
Aberystwyth
Borth
Glan Conwy
Tal-y-Cafn
Dolgarrog
North Llanrwst
Llanrwst
Betws-y-Coed
Pont-y-Pant
Dolwyddelan
Roman Bridge
Blaenau Ffestiniog
Severn Tunnel Junction
Caldicot
Chepstow
Lydney
Gloucester
Cheltenham Spa
Stations, zones and interchanges from TfL open data (2026-10-07). National Rail interchanges are listed where TfL groups the stations together.
Premier sets: a Class 67 diesel locomotive, five Mark 4 coaches (first class, a kitchen buffet and three standard) and a driving van trailer; an eighth set is being formed
3-car diesel-battery units 230006 to 230010, on Wrexham to Bidston
History 13
Arriva Trains Wales starts running the Wales and Borders franchise. It runs it for 15 years.
The Welsh Government sets up Transport for Wales.
KeolisAmey Wales takes over the Wales and Borders franchise, run for Transport for Wales under the TfW name, with about £800 million to be spent on a new fleet of 148 trains: CAF Civity units, Stadler FLIRTs and Citylink tram-trains.
The Core Valley Lines, from Cardiff to Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil, Treherbert, Rhymney and Coryton, pass from Network Rail to Transport for Wales, to be rebuilt and electrified for the South Wales Metro.
After passenger numbers collapse in the pandemic, the Welsh Government takes the franchise into public ownership: Transport for Wales Rail Ltd, a subsidiary of Transport for Wales, takes over the trains.
The first Class 197, built by CAF at Newport, carries passengers, from Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog.
The Class 231 FLIRTs are formally launched at Caerphilly, taking over on the Rhymney line.
The first Class 230 battery-diesel train, converted from London Underground D78 Stock, enters service between Wrexham and Bidston.
Trains run directly between Ebbw Vale and Newport for the first time in more than 60 years.
Two Class 158s collide head-on near Talerddig on the Cambrian line; one passenger dies.
Class 756 tri-mode trains bring electric services to the Valley Lines, starting on the Merthyr and Aberdare lines.
The Liverpool to Chester trains run on to Llandudno, giving the North Wales coast direct trains to Liverpool.
The first Class 398 tram-train carries passengers, between Pontypridd and Cardiff Bay. In September Transport for Wales pauses their use while Stadler fixes software faults.
Rail infrastructure and assets 2020-21, Office of Rail and Road, 14 October 2021 (Core Valley Lines transferred from Network Rail to Transport for Wales on 28 March 2020; route lengths from Network Rail and the CVL infrastructure manager)
Core Valley Lines Framework Capacity Statement, version 6, Transport for Wales and Amey Infrastructure Wales, December 2025 (the Core Valley Lines owned by Transport for Wales and operated by Amey Infrastructure Wales; about 210 km of track)
About us, Transport for Wales, accessed 7 October 2026 (Transport for Wales: not-for-profit, wholly owned by the Welsh Government)
Our story, Transport for Wales, accessed 7 October 2026 (set up in 2016; KeolisAmey 2018; Core Valley Lines 2020; public ownership 2021; Canton the largest depot)
KeolisAmey takes over Wales and Borders franchise, International Railway Journal, 15 October 2018 (KeolisAmey from 14 October 2018; Arriva Trains Wales from December 2003; £800 million for 148 new trains)
A guide to our fleet of trains: fleet accessibility specifications (V3, updated June 2026), Transport for Wales, June 2026 (the fleet in June 2026: 77 Class 197s (51 two-car, 26 three-car), 11 Class 231s, 24 Class 756s (7 three-car, 17 four-car), 36 Class 398s (in service from June 2026), 19 Class 150s, 22 Class 158s, Class 153 pairings, Class 230s and seven Mark 4 sets; routes of each)
Soft launch for Transport for Wales Class 197 DMUs, Railway Gazette International (Rail Business UK), 14 November 2022 (first Class 197 in service 14 November 2022; Chester (CAF), Canton and Machynlleth depots; ETCS units for the Cambrian lines)
Tram-trains enter service in South Wales, British Trams Online (Gareth Prior), 29 June 2026 (first Class 398 in service 23 June 2026, Pontypridd to Cardiff Bay)
Concern as further delays hit roll-out of tram-trains, Nation.Cymru, 26 September 2026 (six Class 398s in passenger service by late September 2026, use paused for software updates; Class 756s on the Merthyr, Aberdare and Treherbert lines)
TfL Unified API: Line Route Sequence, Transport for London (Powered by TfL Open Data) (main stations: the stations most of its routes meet at, counted from TfL's route data)
unverified route length: ORR gives 1,827 km (1,826.6 km in its table 2200, unchanged since 2023); ORR doesn't say whether this includes the Core Valley Lines, which Transport for Wales owns. ORR's infrastructure figures do include them (it takes their lengths from the Valley Lines' infrastructure manager), and TfW's figure was already 1,827 km in March 2022, two years after the lines were transferred, Class 153s: Transport for Wales's June 2026 guide gives '6' for the 153/3 and 153/5 pairings and '17' for the 153/3 and 153/9 pairings, without saying whether these are cars or pairs, Class 398s: TfW said in late September 2026 that it was 'temporarily pausing their use' while Stadler updates software; no source seen says whether they have returned to service, fleet counts for the 150s (19), 158s (22) and 153s are Transport for Wales's own (June 2026); ORR counted 365 diesel, 113 bi-mode and 40 locomotive-hauled TfW vehicles in March 2025, depots: Canton (TfW), Chester and Machynlleth (Railway Gazette, 2022), Taff's Well (Nation.Cymru, 2026) and Birkenhead (Railway Gazette, 2023) are named in the sources; which depot looks after the 150s, 153s, 158s and Mark 4s isn't stated, stations: counted from TfL's route data, which lacks Bow Street (opened 2021) on the Aberystwyth line, route strips: TfL's data runs one Heart of Wales pattern on from Swansea through the Vale of Glamorgan to Cardiff, which TfW's timetable shows only as a connection; it is left out, so the Swansea – Shrewsbury strip is drawn. TfL's data lacks the Liverpool – Llandudno trains (from May 2026), drawn from its stations in the order of TfW's September 2026 timetable; not every train calls at Abergele & Pensarn. Some strips are one or two trains a day (Birmingham through Chester to Crewe, Liverpool or Manchester; Manchester to Fishguard Harbour), checked against TfW's timetables. TfL's data also puts Ninian Park on the Manchester to west Wales strips, where those trains don't stop