Arriva trains wales new timetables may 2011

[whole diary]

[Hafren]

With the increased interworking between Central Wales and Swanline, it must be something like:
Swansea-Fishguard-Swansea
4.xx Swansea-Shrewsbury
9.xx Shrewsbury-Swansea-Cardiff
15.14 CDF^» (Cardiff - next trains)-SWA^» (Swansea - next trains)
17.10 SWA-CDF
It's possible that it is might be exchanged or strengthened before it leaves Cardiff at 1514...

[Jez]

Yes possibly exchanged for a 158 or 175 at Cardiff at 15.14.  Interesting that the Swansea-Holyhead looks to be non stop between Newport and Shrewsbury. I take it this is the 2nd daily express service between Cardiff-Holyhead or is that not meant to be starting yet? If so would a 175 or 158 be sufficient to use it considering that they use on the 16xx Cardiff-Holyhead.

It also looks like the 2000 from Swansea (which comes from West Wales) only goes as far as Cardiff not Chester as before.

I noticed the 06xx Carmarthen-Manchester still calls at Pyle at 0728 getting into Cardiff at 0759.

The 18.30 from Manchester to Carmarthen - which days is this meant to take the district line? Im guessing there would be a suitable connection for Neath/Swansea passengers at Cardiff.

[Hafren]

The 18.20 doesn't offer the premium services (first class & restaurant) and reaches the coast somewhat later in the evening, so perhaps won't be as busy as the 16.xx. How busy is the 16.xx usually?

The 18.30 from Manchester appears to go via Swansea on Fridays, and via the DIstrict Line on MOn-Thurs. Passengers for Swansea can change onto FGW^▸ (First Great Western); it looks like it will connect quite well into the 2015 from PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains). Passengers from Swansea to the west then have a gap frmo 2207 to 2345, which shouldn't be too bad on Mon-Thurs. For Kidwelly and Ferryside, however, this appears to be the last train, so when it avoids Swansea their last train thence is at 2207, i.e. a long time before the current last train. I wonder if the 23.15 CDF^» (Cardiff - next trains)-CMN is really dropping the stops, or has it just failed to show 'set-down only request' stops properly...?

[Jez]

Im not sure how busy the 16xx is - ive never used it. 
I wonder if this change is because the agreement is that there is at least 1 direct Swansea-North Wales train a day?

The 17.10 Swanline could probabaly do with being at least 2 car rather than a 153 as I know quite a few people who catch it and its always busy. So hopefully a set swap will work out for the best.

I wonder which stations along the North Wales Coast Line the 17.10 Swansea-Holyhead will call at? On the timetable after Chester they just have Llandudno Jcn, Bangor and Holyhead I think.

18.30 is the train id usually catch back from Manchester if I went on a weekday however im guessing a connection at Cardiff wont be too bad, or I could go from Port Talbot I guess.

[anthony215]

 Everytime i have seen the 16:15 Cardiff - Holyhead service   at Newport most of the seats in standard class have been taken and there are normally about  5-8 people in the 1st class carriage.  Mind you it does carry more passengers between Cardiff & newport most of whom are railway enthusiasts. I have yet to do this up to Holyhead, the 1 time i was planning to as i had seen a single from cardiff to Holyhead for ^10 i had to cancel.