Over the past months and years we have told you how relatively “new” (in rail terms) rolling stock has been scrapped before its end-of-life.
So I am pleased to tell you that Transport for Wales Rail (TfW Rail) has purchased some former British Rail mainline trains and will use them for its mainline services.
Yesterday some of the former BR mainline Mark 4 stock entered service on TfW Rail’s Holyhead-Cardiff service.
This is a flagship route which links both North and South Wales running for part of its route through England.
Timings are geared to the needs of politicians and corporate travellers.
The single direct train departs Holyhead at 0534 and arrives in Cardiff at 0959, with the return train departing Cardiff at 1712, reaching Holyhead at 2144.
Says James Price, TfW CEO, “We’re continuing with our plans to transform transport across our network and improve the customer experience. On June 7 we introduced additional Mark 4 carriages on our north-south Wales route that will improve the service.”
These are conventional trains with first and standard class accommodation. There is a buffet car while passengers in first class receive a full at-seat meal service.
On Monday it was revealed that TfW Rail has purchased a further 30 of BR’s Mark 4 carriages.
These were owned by Grand Central and had been intended for its open access Blackpool-London service which never started.
These currently carry the Grand Central livery but will later adopt TfW Rail’s livery. They will eventually be deployed on TfW Rail’s Manchester-Swansea route.
