New TFW Cardiff and West Wales to Bristol Temple Meads service Posted by anthony215 at 10:26, 3rd September 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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
Re: New TFW Cardiff and West Wales to Bristol Temple Meads service Posted by Phantom at 11:30, 3rd September 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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
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 service that comes up the M5 corridor to Cardiff?
Is there space in the timetable for additional services?
Re: New TFW Cardiff and West Wales to Bristol Temple Meads service Posted by Red Squirrel at 11:44, 3rd September 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Assume this is in addition not instead of the current GWR service that comes up the M5 corridor to Cardiff?
Is there space in the timetable for additional services?
The article says:
TfW 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 should have capacity but STJ to FIT could be... interesting.
Re: New TFW Cardiff and West Wales to Bristol Temple Meads service Posted by Mark A at 12:11, 3rd September 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Good. Can someone please do the same for Bristol - Hereford - Shrewsbury - Chester.
Mark
Re: New TFW Cardiff and West Wales to Bristol Temple Meads service Posted by John D at 12:48, 3rd September 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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
Re: New TFW Cardiff and West Wales to Bristol Temple Meads service Posted by grahame at 13:47, 3rd September 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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

Re: New TFW Cardiff and West Wales to Bristol Temple Meads service Posted by anthony215 at 14:35, 3rd September 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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
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. I do believe that there is enough capacity for these no MGR trains any more will help
Re: New TFW Cardiff and West Wales to Bristol Temple Meads service Posted by anthony215 at 14:37, 3rd September 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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
Re: New TFW Cardiff and West Wales to Bristol Temple Meads service Posted by WelshBluebird at 17:16, 3rd September 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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.
Re: New TFW Cardiff and West Wales to Bristol Temple Meads service Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:22, 3rd September 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Another case of 'Over promise, but underdeliver' possibly.

Re: New TFW Cardiff and West Wales to Bristol Temple Meads service Posted by anthony215 at 18:14, 3rd September 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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
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 at least using a class 756. That's another reason why they are looking to order new units
Re: New TFW Cardiff and West Wales to Bristol Temple Meads service Posted by grahame at 18:51, 3rd September 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Is this essentially the start of the new services that were mentioned in the consultation a year or two ago?
The ORR document shared (and I have grabbed a copy for our archive) is nearly two years old ...
Re: New TFW Cardiff and West Wales to Bristol Temple Meads service Posted by froome at 10:55, 4th September 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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.
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.
Re: New TFW Cardiff and West Wales to Bristol Temple Meads service Posted by Noggin at 12:50, 10th September 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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.
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 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 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?
Re: New TFW Cardiff and West Wales to Bristol Temple Meads service Posted by John D at 09:29, 22nd September 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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 (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
Re: New TFW Cardiff and West Wales to Bristol Temple Meads service Posted by Noggin at 18:33, 22nd September 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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
Bit of a niche market I know but presumably will be quite useful for anyone in the West of England who wants to take the train to the Irish ferry, as it knocks off half an hour of stopover in Cardiff, and equally, anyone in the west of Wales who wants to get to Bristol Airport