 | |
 | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Franchises | Wales & Borders 14 October 2018 – 6 February 2021 |
| Main area | Wales |
| Other areas | |
| Stations operated | 247[2] |
| Parent company | |
| Reporting mark | AW[1] |
| Dates of operation | 2018–2021 |
| Predecessor | Arriva Trains Wales |
| Successor | Transport for Wales Rail |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) |
| Other | |
| Website | |
Keolis Amey Operations (Welsh:Gweithrediadau Keolis Amey),[3] trading asTransport for Wales Rail Services (TfW Rail Services) was a Welshtrain operating company owned byKeolis (64%) andAmey (36%) that operated theWales & Borders franchise between October 2018 and February 2021.
TheWelsh Government bodyTransport for Wales awarded the contract for the Wales and Borders franchise to KeolisAmey in 2018 which commenced rail operations on 14 October 2018.[4] KeolisAmey used the brand namesTransport for Wales andTfW Rail (Welsh:Trafnidiaeth Cymru[5] andTrC Trenau),[6] which are owned by the Welsh Government, for day-to-day operations. The Welsh Government nationalised the franchise on 7 February 2021, transferring operations toTransport for Wales Rail, although Amey continues to provide an infrastructural role in the franchise,[7] particularly on theSouth Wales Metro.
In October 2016 four bids were shortlisted for the nextWales & Borders franchise:Abellio, the incumbent operatorArriva, aKeolis/Amey joint venture, andMTR Corporation.[9][10]
In October 2017, Arriva withdrew from the bidding process, followed in February 2018 by Abellio, after the collapse of its partnerCarillion.[11][12][13][14] In May 2018, the franchise was awarded to KeolisAmey Wales. It commenced on 14 October 2018 and it was to run for 15 years.[15]
Unlike the previous franchise, which was awarded by theDepartment for Transport, this franchise was awarded byTransport for Wales, on behalf of theWelsh Government.[10]
In January 2020 KeolisAmey was fined £2.3 million by the Welsh government for poor performance of rail services.[16] The company was also expected to be criticised by theWelsh Language Commissioner later in 2020 for reportedly breaking legislation on Welsh language provision six times since taking over the franchise in 2018.[17] KeolisAmey Wales told the BBC that it did not believe any rules had been broken.[17] Complaints included that Welsh was given lesser treatment on self-service machines, websites, and on the mobile app, that correspondence was not issued fully in Welsh, that train tickets were printed only in English, and that station and train announcements were not always made bilingually.[17]
With a collapse in revenues, and a significant reduction in passenger numbers as a result of theCOVID-19 pandemic having made the original franchise financially unviable, on 7 February 2021 the franchise was taken over by the Welsh Government'soperator of last resort,Transport for Wales Rail, a subsidiary of Transport for Wales, with Amey Infrastructure having an involvement in delivering some key projects such as theCore Valley Lines.[18][19][20]
Typical TfW weekday off-peak service was as follows:[21]
| North Wales Coast Line | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Route | tph | Calling at | |
| Cardiff Central toHolyhead | 8tpd | Newport,Cwmbran,Pontypool & New Inn,Abergavenny,Hereford,Leominster (3tpd),Ludlow (7tpd),Craven Arms (7tpd),Church Stretton (7tpd),Shrewsbury,Gobowen (7tpd),Chirk (7tpd),Ruabon (7tpd),Wrexham General,Chester,Shotton (4tpd),Flint,Prestatyn (7tpd),Rhyl,Abergele & Pensarn (3tpd),Colwyn Bay,Llandudno Junction,Conwy (3tpd),Penmaenmawr (3tpd),Llanfairfechan (3tpd),Bangor (7tpd),Llanfairpwll (7tpd),Bodorgan (5tpd),Ty Croes (5tpd),Rhosneigr (5tpd) andValley (5tpd). Only 7 tpd terminate in Holyhead as one turns off atLlandudno Junction and terminates atLlandudno, calling atDeganwy en route. | |
| 1tpd | Newport, Cwmbran (Holyhead-bound only), Pontypool (Holyhead-bound only), Abergavenny (Holyhead-bound only), Hereford, Ludlow (Cardiff-bound only), Shrewsbury, Wrexham General, Chester, Flint, Rhyl, Colwyn Bay, Llandudno Junction and Bangor 0534 from Holyhead and 1716 from Cardiff Central is thePremier Service which calls at fewer stops and has 1st class accommodation available with meals included. | ||
| Birmingham International to Holyhead | 1tp2h | Birmingham New Street,Smethwick Galton Bridge,Wolverhampton,Telford Central,Wellington, Shrewsbury, Gobowen, Chirk, Ruabon, Wrexham General, Chester, Flint, Prestatyn, Rhyl, Colwyn Bay, Llandudno Junction, Conwy, Penmaenmawr, Llanfairfechan and Bangor | |
| Manchester Airport toLlandudno | 1 | East Didsbury,Manchester Piccadilly,Manchester Oxford Road,Newton-le-Willows,Earlestown,Warrington Bank Quay,Runcorn East,Frodsham,Helsby, Chester, Shotton, Flint, Prestatyn, Rhyl, Abergele & Pensarn, Colwyn Bay, Llandudno Junction andDeganwy 6 inter-peak trains each day begin/end at the airport, 1 early morning and 2 late evening trains do too, not calling at East Didsbury. Other trains begin at Manchester Piccadilly. | |
| Crewe toChester | 1 | shuttle | |
| Chester toLiverpool Lime Street | 1 | Helsby, Frodsham,Runcorn andLiverpool South Parkway | |
| South Wales – Manchester | |||
| Route | tph | Calling at | |
| Milford Haven toManchester Piccadilly | 1tp2h | Johnston,Haverfordwest,Clarbeston Road,Clunderwen,Whitland,Carmarthen,Pembrey & Burry Port,Llanelli,Gowerton,Swansea,Neath,Port Talbot Parkway,Bridgend,Cardiff Central,Newport,Cwmbran,Abergavenny,Hereford,Leominster,Ludlow,Shrewsbury,Crewe,Wilmslow andStockport | |
| Carmarthen to Manchester Piccadilly | 1tp2h | Ferryside,Kidwelly, Pembrey & Burry Port, Llanelli, Gowerton, Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot Parkway, Bridgend,Pencoed,Llanharan,Pontyclun, Cardiff Central, Newport, Cwmbran, Abergavenny, Hereford, Leominster, Ludlow,Craven Arms,Church Stretton, Shrewsbury,Whitchurch,Nantwich, Crewe, Wilmslow and Stockport | |
| Fishguard Harbour to Manchester Piccadilly | 1tpd | Fishguard and Goodwick, Clarbeston Road, Whitland, Carmarthen, Pembrey & Burry Port, Llanelli, Gowerton, Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot Parkway, Bridgend, Pencoed, Llanharan, Pontyclun, Cardiff Central, Newport, Cwmbran, Abergavenny, Hereford, Leominster, Ludlow, Craven Arms, Church Stretton, Shrewsbury, Whitchurch, Nantwich, Crewe, Wilmslow and Stockport | |
| Cambrian Line | |||
| Route | tph | Calling at | |
| Birmingham International toAberystwyth andPwllheli | 1tp2h | Birmingham New Street,Smethwick Galton Bridge,Wolverhampton,Telford Central,Wellington,Shrewsbury,Welshpool,Newtown,Caersws,Machynlleth... The two portions divide/attach at Machynlleth. | |
| Aberystwyth portion: Dovey Junction,Borth andBow Street | Pwllheli portion: Dovey Junction,Penhelig,Aberdovey,Tywyn,Tonfanau,Llwyngwril,Fairbourne,Morfa Mawddach,Barmouth,Llanaber,Talybont,Dyffryn Ardudwy,Llanbedr,Pensarn,Llandanwg,Harlech,Tygwyn,Talsarnau,Llandecwyn,Penrhyndeudraeth,Minffordd,Porthmadog,Criccieth,Penychain andAbererch | ||
| Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth | - | Welshpool, Newtown, Caersws, Machynlleth, Dovey Junction, Borth and Bow Street Additional trains that run so that there is a service most hours between Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth | |
| Heart of Wales Line | |||
| Route | tpd | Calling at | |
| Carmarthen toLlandovery | 1 | Llanelli,Bynea,Llangennech,Pontarddulais,Pantyffynnon,Ammanford,Llandybie,Ffairfach,Llandeilo,Llangadog andLlanwrda | |
| Llandrindod toCrewe | 1 | Pen-y-Bont,Dolau,Llanbister Road,Llangynllo,Knucklas,Knighton,Bucknell,Hopton Heath,Broome,Craven Arms,Church Stretton,Shrewsbury,Yorton,Wem,Prees,Whitchurch,Wrenbury andNantwich | |
| Swansea to Shrewsbury and Crewe | 4 | Gowerton, Llanelli, Bynea, Llangennech, Pontarddulais, Pantyffynnon, Ammanford, Llandybie, Ffairfach, Llandeilo, Llangadog, Llanwrda, Llandovery,Cynghordy,Sugar Loaf,Llanwrtyd,Llangammarch,Garth,Cilmeri,Builth Road, Llandrindod, Pen-y-Bont, Dolau, Llanbister Road, Llangynllo, Knucklas, Knighton, Bucknell, Hopton Heath, Broome, Craven Arms and Church Stretton 2tpd extend to/from Crewe, calling at Yorton, Wem, Prees, Whitchurch, Wrenbury and Nantwich | |
| Shrewsbury to Crewe | 5 | Yorton, Wem, Prees, Whitchurch, Wrenbury and Nantwich creates an every-2-hours service alongside trains beginning further south | |
| Conwy Valley Line | |||
| Route | tpd | Calling at | |
| Blaenau Ffestiniog toLlandudno | 6 | Roman Bridge,Dolwyddelan,Pont-y-Pant,Betws-y-Coed,Llanrwst,North Llanrwst,Dolgarrog,Tal-y-Cafn,Glan Conwy,Llandudno Junction andDeganwy | |
| Borderlands Line | |||
| Route | tph | Calling at | |
| Wrexham Central toBidston | 1 | Wrexham General,Gwersyllt,Cefn-y-Bedd,Caergwrle,Hope,Penyffordd,Buckley,Hawarden,Shotton,Hawarden Bridge,Neston,Heswall andUpton | |
| West Wales Locals | |||
| Route | tph | Calling at | |
| Pembroke Dock toSwansea | 1tp2h | Pembroke,Lamphey,Manorbier,Penally,Tenby,Saundersfoot,Kilgetty,Narberth,Whitland,Carmarthen,Pembrey & Burry Port, andLlanelli | |
| Fishguard Harbour to Swansea | 1tp2h | Fishguard and Goodwick,Clarbeston Road,Clunderwen, Whitland, Carmarthen,Pembrey & Burry Port and Llanelli | |
| Swanline | |||
| Route | tph | Calling at | |
| Swansea toCardiff Central | 1tp2h | Llansamlet,Skewen,Neath,Briton Ferry,Baglan,Port Talbot Parkway,Pyle,Bridgend,Pencoed andPontyclun | |
| West Wales-Gloucestershire Line | |||
| Route | tph | Calling at | |
| Maesteg toCheltenham Spa | 1 | Maesteg (Ewenny Road),Garth,Tondu,Sarn,Wildmill,Bridgend,Pencoed,Llanharan,Pontyclun,Cardiff Central,Newport,Severn Tunnel Junction,Caldicot,Chepstow,Lydney andGloucester Some trains terminate at Cardiff Central, rather than Cheltenham Spa. doesn't run when Fishguard - Gloucester service runs | |
| Fishguard Harbour to Gloucester | 4tpd | Fishguard and Goodwick,Clarbeston Road,Clunderwen,Whitland,Carmarthen,Ferryside,Kidwelly,Pembrey & Burry Port,Llanelli,Gowerton,Swansea,Neath,Port Talbot Parkway, Bridgend, Pencoed, Llanharan, Pontyclun, Cardiff Central, Newport, Severn Tunnel Junction, Caldicot, Chepstow and Lydney Some trains terminate at Cardiff Central, rather than Gloucester. | |
| Ebbw Valley Railway | |||
| Route | tph | Calling at | |
| Cardiff Central toEbbw Vale Town | 1 | Pye Corner,Rogerstone,Risca & Pontymister,Crosskeys,Newbridge,Llanhilleth andEbbw Vale Parkway | |
| Rhymney Line | |||
| Route | tph | Calling at | |
| Penarth toBargoed andRhymney | 4 | Dingle Road,Grangetown,Cardiff Central,Cardiff Queen Street,Heath High Level,Llanishen,Lisvane & Thornhill,Caerphilly,Aber,Energlyn & Churchill Park (2tph),Llanbradach,Ystrad Mynach,Hengoed,Pengam, andGilfach Fargoed (1tph). 1tph extends to Rhymney, calling atBrithdir,Tir-Phil andPontlottyn | |
| Merthyr & Vale of Glamorgan Lines | |||
| Route | tph | Calling at | |
| Bridgend toAberdare | 1 | Llantwit Major,Rhoose Cardiff International Airport,Barry,Barry Docks,Cadoxton,Dinas Powys,Eastbrook,Cogan,Grangetown,Cardiff Central,Cardiff Queen Street,Cathays,Llandaf,Radyr,Taffs Well,Trefforest,Pontypridd,Abercynon,Penrhiwceiber,Mountain Ash,Fernhill andCwmbach | |
| Barry Island to Aberdare | 1 | Barry, Barry Docks, Cadoxton, Dinas Powys, Eastbrook, Cogan, Grangetown, Cardiff Central, Cardiff Queen Street, Cathays, Llandaf, Radyr, Taffs Well, Trefforest, Pontypridd, Abercynon, Penrhiwceiber, Mountain Ash, Fernhill and Cwmbach | |
| Barry Island toMerthyr Tydfil | 2 | Barry, Barry Docks, Cadoxton, Dinas Powys, Eastbrook, Cogan, Grangetown, Cardiff Central, Cardiff Queen Street, Cathays, Llandaf, Radyr, Taffs Well,Trefforest Estate, Trefforest, Pontypridd, Abercynon,Quakers Yard,Merthyr Vale,Troed-y-rhiw andPentre-bach | |
| Rhondda Line | |||
| Route | tph | Calling at | |
| Cardiff Central toTreherbert | 2 | Cardiff Queen Street,Cathays,Llandaf,Radyr,Taffs Well,Trefforest,Pontypridd,Trehafod,Porth,Dinas Rhondda,Tonypandy,Llwynypia,Ystrad Rhondda,Ton Pentre,Treorchy andYnyswen | |
| City & Coryton Lines | |||
| Route | tph | Calling at | |
| Radyr toCoryton | 2 | Danescourt,Fairwater,Waun-gron Park,Ninian Park,Cardiff Central,Cardiff Queen Street,Heath Low Level,Ty Glas,Birchgrove,Rhiwbina andWhitchurch | |
| Butetown Branch Line | |||
| Route | tph | Calling at | |
| Cardiff Queen Street toCardiff Bay | 5 | shuttle | |
KeolisAmey Wales inherited a fleet ofClass 142,[22]Class 143,Class 150,Class 153,Class 158,Class 175sdiesel multiple units andMark 3 carriages from Arriva Trains Wales in October 2018.[23]
In 2019 and 2020, more Class 153 units,Class 170 units andMark 4 carriages were acquired from other operators. In November 2020, the first threeClass 769 units entered service. These allowed for the Class 142 and Mark 3 sets to be withdrawn.
KeolisAmey Wales operated 15 Class 143 units.[24] All had advertising vinyls applied, with the messages 'The start of a new journey', 'The journey is almost over for old trains', and 'These trains will terminate soon', stating rolling stock, infrastructure and service improvements.
From 1 January 2021, the Class 143 units were only able to operate coupled to (a) PRM-compliant unit(s), and the toilets were locked out of use due toNetwork Rail no longer wanting waste from non-tanked toilets being dropped onto their tracks.[25] The last Class 143 unit ran in May 2021.
KeolisAmey Wales operated 36Class 150, 24Class 158 and 27Class 175 units.[26][27][28]
In April 2019, KeolisAmey Wales added five153 units acquired fromGreat Western Railway to the eight it previously had.[29] Four of these entered service the following month, while the fifth entered service on 21 October 2019 as the first 153 on the whole GB rail network withPRM modifications.[30]
In October 2019,Porterbrook announced that it would lease a further nine Class 153 units to KeolisAmey Wales for use on a short-term basis.[31] These comprise five units fromGreater Anglia which entered service in January 2020, and four units fromEast Midlands Railway which entered service in February 2020.[32] In November 2020, two more units arrived from East Midlands Railway.[33]
In September 2019, KeolisAmey Wales took delivery of the first of 12Class 170Turbostar DMUs fromAbellio Greater Anglia.[34] As of 2020[update], Transport for Wales operated the 12 Class 170 units on the Maesteg/Cardiff/Ebbw Vale-Cheltenham routes.[35]
NineClass 769Flex bi-mode multiple units were due to be delivered by 2019, following conversion fromClass 319 electric multiple units, by fitting diesel generators and extra electronic equipment to some previously unused below-solebar space.[36][page needed] The first three units entered service in November and December 2020.[37]
| Family | Class | Image | Type | Top Speed | Carriages | Number | Routes Operated | Built | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mph | km/h | ||||||||
| Locomotive hauled stock | |||||||||
| Premier Service | 67 | .jpg) | Loco | 125 | 200 | – | 6 |
| 1999–2000 |
| Diesel multiple units | |||||||||
| Pacer | 143 |  | DMU | 75 | 121 | 2 | 15 |
| 1985–1986 |
 | |||||||||
| Sprinter | 150 | .JPG) | 75 | 121 | 2 | 36 |
| 1986–1987 | |
| 153Super Sprinter | .jpg) | 1 | 24 | 1987–1988 | |||||
 | |||||||||
| 158Express Sprinter |  | 90 | 140 | 2 | 24 |
| 1990–1991 | ||
 | |||||||||
| Bombardier Turbostar | 170 | .jpg)  | 100 | 161 | 2 | 4 |
| 2002 | |
| 3 | 8 | 1999 | |||||||
| |||||||||
| Alstom Coradia | 175Coradia 1000 |  | 100 | 161 | 2 | 11 | Regional services between North West England, North and South Wales | 1999–2001 | |
| 3 | 16 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Bi-mode multiple units | |||||||||
| BR Second Generation (Mark 3) | 769Flex | .jpg) | BMU | 100 | 161 | 4 | 3 | Valley Lines | 2019–2020[nb 1] |
 | |||||||||
KeolisAmey Wales's fleet was stored and maintained at the following depots.
Due to space limitations, Chrysalis Rail allowed KeolisAmey Wales to store any unallocated units or carriages at itsLandore TMD in Swansea, even if they were not being worked on.[39]
From June 2019 to March 2020, KeolisAmey Wales hired two Class 37-hauled Mark 2 sets to temporarily operate rush-hour services between Cardiff and Rhymney to add capacity. From January 2020 they were operating under PRM non-compliance dispensation, but were withdrawn in March due to decreasing reliability and replaced with trains formed of multiple Class 153 railcars coupled together, with many more of those in the fleet.[31]
In July 2020, all of KeolisAmey Wales's Mark 3 stock (which had been inherited from Arriva Trains Wales) went off lease and into storage at Long Marston.[40]
| Class | Image | Type | Top Speed | Carriages | Number | Routes Operated | Withdrawn | Built | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mph | km/h | ||||||||
| Locomotive hauled stock | |||||||||
| 37 | .jpg) | Loco | 80 | 129 | – | 3 | Rhymney Line | March 2020 | 1960–1965 |
| Mark 2 | .jpg) | Coach | 100 | 161 | 10 | 1963–1975 | |||
| Mark 3 | .JPG) | 125 | 201 | 12 |
| July 2020 | 1975–1988 | ||
| Driving Van Trailer |  | Control car | 3 | 1988–1990 | |||||
| Diesel multiple units | |||||||||
| 142Pacer |  | DMU | 75 | 121 | 2 | 15 |
| September–December 2020 | 1985–1987 |
Company number: 11389531
Darganfod hyd a lled rhwydwaith Trafnidiaeth Cymru. [Find out the full extent of the Transport for Wales network].
Four bidders have been selected to progress to the next stage in the procurement process to operate rail services in Wales and the Borders from October 2018 as well take forward key aspects of the next stage of Metro.
The firm that runs most of Wales' rail network has pulled out of the contest to continue running it from 2018. Arriva has said Arriva Trains Wales was "no longer participating in the Wales and Borders competition", adding it had "not been an easy decision".
One of the three remaining bidders for the next Wales and Borders rail franchise has pulled out. Abellio Rail Cymru (ARC) said it had been unable to overcome the collapse of its partner construction company, Carillion. Its exit from the process leaves just MTR and KeolisAmey bidding to run the franchise, which will operate the South Wales Metro.
A £5bn contract to run Wales' rail service for the next 15 years has been awarded to two European firms, who will run it jointly. France's Keolis and Spanish-owned Amey's bid triumphed over a rival offer from Hong Kong's MTR commuter railways. It will also drive forward the south Wales Metro in Cardiff and the valleys.
| Preceded by | Operator ofWales & Borders franchise 2018–2021 | Succeeded by |
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| Walking | |
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