New TFW Cardiff and West Wales to Bristol Temple Meads service

[whole diary]

[anthony215]

Rail magazine published an article saying TFW planning to start a 2 hourly service between West wales/Cardiff to Bristol Temple meads from September 2026.

Service will seve Newport,  Severn tunnel junction,  filton Abbey Wood and Stapleton road  using  197/0's

https://www.railmagazine.com/news/transport-for-wales-plans-new-bristol-temple-meads-service

[Phantom]

Rail magazine published an article saying TFW planning to start a 2 hourly service between West wales/Cardiff to Bristol Temple meads from September 2026.

Service will seve Newport,  Severn tunnel junction,  filton Abbey Wood and Stapleton road  using  197/0's

https://www.railmagazine.com/news/transport-for-wales-plans-new-bristol-temple-meads-service

Assume this is in addition not instead of the current GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) service that comes up the M5 corridor to Cardiff?
Is there space in the timetable for additional services?

[Red Squirrel]

Assume this is in addition not instead of the current GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) service that comes up the M5 corridor to Cardiff?
Is there space in the timetable for additional services?

The article says:

TfW^▸ (Transport for Wales) said its two-hourly service has been timed to fit between GWR trains “to maximise passenger journey opportunities over this section of the route as well as the direct connectivity for passengers travelling to/from the west of Cardiff”.

Not sure what spare capacity there is through the Severn Tunnel, though. TfW have also spoken of a 2tph stopper between Cardiff and Bristol; FIT to BRI^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads station (that is the formal station code - see also BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads station (strictly, it should be BRI) but BTM is a commonly used alternative))), or Bristol Royal Infirmary (hospital), depending on context) should have capacity but STJ^▸ (Severn Tunnel Junction railway station) to FIT could be... interesting.

[Mark A]

Good. Can someone please do the same for Bristol - Hereford - Shrewsbury - Chester.

Mark

[John D]

The 197/0 are the 2car versions with 116 seats

If some of them are going to be combined (effectively extensions) of services to Cardiff from the West of Wales, then I do wonder about sufficient capacity.   

Is this a temporary idea pending the proposed 6 extra stations that are due to be built with 170m platforms so 7 (long) car or 8 (20m) car trains can be used

[grahame]

Not sure what spare capacity there is through the Severn Tunnel, though.

There are no longer the slower coal / freight trains going through, (nor the international motorail services  )

[anthony215]

The 197/0 are the 2car versions with 116 seats

If some of them are going to be combined (effectively extensions) of services to Cardiff from the West of Wales, then I do wonder about sufficient capacity.   

Is this a temporary idea pending the proposed 6 extra stations that are due to be built with 170m platforms so 7 (long) car or 8 (20m) car trains can be used

I suspect this service in time will be replaced by at least an.hourly all stopping seevice between Cardiff and Bristol TM^▸ (Train Manager, or Ticket Machine, or Temple Meads (Bristol), depending on context). I do believe that there is enough capacity for these no MGR trains any more will help

[anthony215]

Bit more information here:

https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blob.core.windows.net/sale-of-access-rights/Consultations/Current%20Track%20Access%20Consultations/22.08.2025%20-%20Transport%20for%20Wales%20Ltd%20-%20Section%2022A%20-%2052nd%20SA%20-%20Closes%2022.09.2025/TfWRL%2052nd%20(Bristol)%20Form%20P.pdf

[WelshBluebird]

Is this essentially the start of the new services that were mentioned in the consultation a year or two ago?

If so somewhat disappointed at the limited stopping pattern as it was originally planned to be a true stopping services from what was initially shared, but now Patchway, Ashley Down and Lawrence Hill miss out.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Another case of 'Over promise, but underdeliver' possibly. 

[anthony215]

Is this essentially the start of the new services that were mentioned in the consultation a year or two ago?

If so somewhat disappointed at the limited stopping pattern as it was originally planned to be a true stopping services from what was initially shared, but now Patchway, Ashley Down and Lawrence Hill miss out

I disagree I think its testing the water.  Given the new stations tfw want to run an hourly 1tph to Bristol TM^▸ (Train Manager, or Ticket Machine, or Temple Meads (Bristol), depending on context) at least using a class 756. That's another reason why they are looking to order new units

[grahame]

Is this essentially the start of the new services that were mentioned in the consultation a year or two ago?

The ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road, formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) document shared (and I have grabbed a copy for our archive) is nearly two years old ...

[froome]

Is this essentially the start of the new services that were mentioned in the consultation a year or two ago?

If so somewhat disappointed at the limited stopping pattern as it was originally planned to be a true stopping services from what was initially shared, but now Patchway, Ashley Down and Lawrence Hill miss out.

Don't forget Pilning!

It would make more sense to me if the existing Cardiff to Bristol (and beyond) trains were the true stopping services, and that services starting in west Wales stopped at the stations those trains stop at at the moment. And I say that as someone who does enjoy whizzing through these intermediate stations at the moment on trains that only stop at Filton Abbey Wood and Newport.

[Noggin]

Is this essentially the start of the new services that were mentioned in the consultation a year or two ago?

If so somewhat disappointed at the limited stopping pattern as it was originally planned to be a true stopping services from what was initially shared, but now Patchway, Ashley Down and Lawrence Hill miss out.

That would seem sensible - run the minimum justifiable service with the kit TfW^▸ (Transport for Wales) have available, secure the paths and get their crews used to the route.

Then, up the length/frequency as the new stations are built on the Welsh side, either replacing with new BEMUs or straight-electrics depending on when/whether Filton Bank is wired.

On the stopping service, I'd imagine that GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) need all the Filton Bank slow paths long-term for the Henbury and Severn Beach services, so perhaps a deal has been cut between TfW and WECA^» (West of England Mayoral Combined Authority - about)? 

 

[John D]

Modern Railways has reported that service will be 9 return trains per day to Bristol, starting 13th September 2026.

Will be operated by 2car class 197 DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) (which have 116 seats)

Apparently 2 early trains will start from Cardiff, the others will be extensions of services from west Wales that currently terminate at Cardiff.  I am guessing 2 evening services from Bristol will end in Cardiff area.

Obviously don't know timetable yet, but these are current times of trains from west Wales to Cardiff.
05:35 from Carmarthen, arrives Cardiff 07:39
05:54 from Milford Haven, arrives Cardiff 08:45
07:16 from Pembroke Dock, arrives Cardiff 10:36

I won't list them all, but clearly not same time every hour