UK: Transport for Wales has announced a ‘Sunday railway revolution’, with the December timetable change due to bring a 40% increase in services as a step towards ‘a truly seven-day railway.’
The 186 additional services will include increased frequencies on the Valley Lines, the introduction of Sunday services to Maesteg and the doubling of services between Cardiff and Swansea. Seasonal services on the North Wales Coast line will now run all year, and there will be the first year-round Sunday service between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog. The Cambrian Coast service between Machynlleth and Pwllheli will be increased from one to five trains in each direction on Sundays.
‘A huge amount of hard work has gone into developing this timetable’, said TfW Rail Services’ Customer Experience Director Colin Lea on November 19, reporting ‘fantastic collaboration’ with Network Rail to secure access for earlier and later services by moving maintenance times.
Welsh Government Minister for Economy & Transport Ken Skates said the ‘dramatic increase’ in Sunday services would ‘increase connectivity between our cities, towns and villages’, and ‘improve access for social, recreational and educational opportunities, as well as employment opportunities.’
