A rail network fit for Wales’ future

Changes happening now in Wales

Below are press releases from rail companies in Wales promoting changes and improvements happening in the area.

All All

Biggest restoration of Barmouth Viaduct in its history
Barmouth Viaduct will undergo a £25m upgrade to protect it for local people and visitors in the future. The work to the Grade...
Train companies urge against travel after seeing increase in people planning journeys
With more people potentially travelling by train next week, train companies are urging people only to travel by rail if their...
GB Railfreight Capt. Tom Moore miniature train raises £140,000 for NHS
GB Railfreight, one of the UK’s leading rail freight operators, has teamed up with model manufacture Hornby Hobbies to make a...
Blaenau Ffestiniog tunnel went blue for NHS and all critical workers
Network Rail lit up the Blaenau Ffestiniog tunnel last night (7 May) at 20:00hrs in honour and gratitude to all NHS staff and...
Network Rail to help UK rail supply chain secure business abroad
Network Rail has announced that from 1st May 2020, references will be provided for use by UK suppliers when bidding for...
Transport Wales displays rainbows on Trains
Transport for Wales will tonight reveal the first batch of trains, that will have rainbow stickers as a tribute to all those...

Big Changes in 2020

Passengers, communities and businesses in Wales will benefit from big changes happening on our railway.

Trains

£40 million train refurbishment programme in 2020 on Transport for Wales trains

Stations, tracks, depots

In 2020 a new station will open at Bow Street on the Cambrian Line, connecting a new community to the rail network
More than 200 ticket machines will be installed at stations, along with Wi-Fi

Communities

From January 2020, Transport for Wales will offer free travel for children under the age of 11, as well as under-16s on off-peak services when accompanied by a fare paying adult
A new Transport for Wales Railcard will save 18 year-olds 50% on all fares
In 2020 three new Community Rail Partnerships will be launched across South and West Wales

Major upgrade work

Electrification of the South Wales Mainline to Cardiff by January 2020 means for the first time, Intercity Express trains can run between London and Cardiff on electricity, cutting journey times for passengers
2020 work will start on renewing Grade II listed Barmouth Viaduct, which provides a critical link for passengers travelling across Mid and North West Wales

View all the big changes happening across Britain

People across Wales support rail companies’ proposals for change

The rail industry recognise the need for big changes, that's why together we submitted proposals for a radical alternative to the current franchising system to the independently-chaired Williams review looking into the future of Britain's railway. We proposed for a more customer focussed, joined-up and accountable railway.

Find out more about our Big Plan for change