Additional trains across the Wales and Borders network have been announced by Transport for Wales (TfW) along with plans to provide up to 6,500 more seats for commuters.
The changes will be made as part of the December timetable change.
The Valley Lines will see more 4 carriage trains and will provide more space for commuters with up to 6,500 more seats every week.
Class 170 trains will travel between Cheltenham and Maesteg and Cardiff and Ebbw Vale. The modern trains will provide passengers with Wifi, power sockets, onboard information and air conditioning along will accessible toilets.
Some services between North Wales and Manchester will be formed of refurbished Mark 4 Intercity carriages.
Additional Class 153 trains will be provided by Porterbrook for use until the delayed Class 769 trains are available.
Pacers and Class 37 loco-hauled trains will be removed from services as the Class769s come into use next year.
What did the officials say?
Mary Grant, CEO of Porterbrook, said:
“Porterbrook is committed to working closely with TfW as they continue to transform the experience of rail passengers across Wales. Some of TfW's plans depend on our innovative Class 769 trains, whose introduction into service has been subject to delays for which we apologise. We are actively working with TfW and our supply chain to deliver these trains as soon as possible. In the meantime, we have accelerated delivery of our Class 170 units and are also supplying additional trains to cover for the Class 769s and provide support to TfW and their passengers.”
James Price, Transport for Wales CEO said:
“Our customer research reveals that being able to sit or stand comfortably on a train is a top priority for many people, and therefore we hope that our customers will welcome plans which will mean a big increase in capacity for December.
“We're also pleased that we're improving the overall experience for passengers using services between Cheltenham and Maesteg, and between Cardiff and Ebbw Vale through the introduction of more modern accessible trains.
“Our plan is to retain some of our Pacer and Class 37 loco-hauled trains for a short period of time in 2020 to allow us to increase capacity of our busiest routes, meaning extra space onboard for our customers.
“We have always focused on delivering what our customers want, and we will do all we can to provide further capacity, which is their key priority. We must remain responsive to the needs of all of our customers, even if this means changing our plans.”
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Class 170 cascaded from Greater Anglia will have a new home in South Wales and to provide better services and extra capacity on some of the lines it will operate on. As the Class 755s have already entered service in East Anglia.
And what will the Heart of Wales line get – apart from 150s/153s that can’t make it up Sugar Loaf, just more cancellations and delays? Nothing in the pipeline at all for the HoW, period; because nobody is interested in a line with tight tunnels, close and low platforms and a 1980s signalling system way past its prime (if it ever had one…).
Interestingly the press release has been changed since it was originally issued to exclude mention of the HoW because nobody had thought to consult the Sectional Appendix which currently precludes Class 170 (and virtually everything else) between Morlais Junction and Craven Arms.