Direct train services between west Wales and Bristol have been approved, paving the way for a planned launch with the December 2026 timetable change.
Transport for Wales is proposing a two-hourly service on weekdays and Saturdays, with nine trains in each direction. Most would run through to Bristol Temple Meads, allowing passengers from west of Cardiff to travel without changing trains.
More direct journeys across the Severn
Proposed stops include Carmarthen, Pembrey and Burry Port, Llanelli, Gowerton, Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot Parkway, Bridgend, Cardiff, Newport and Severn Tunnel Junction. Most services would begin or end at Fishguard Harbour or Milford Haven.
Five services each way are planned on Sundays, initially operating only between Cardiff and Bristol. Two weekday trains in each direction would also restore Carmarthen–Cardiff services that were reduced in December 2024.
The Office of Rail and Road has granted temporary access rights until the December 2027 timetable change. The final timetable and launch date depend on crew training, and TfW says the start date will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
The trains would use two-car Class 197 units, with no infrastructure upgrades needed for the proposed timetable. Great Western Railway raised concerns about capacity, performance and the potential effect on its existing Cardiff–Bristol services, but the regulator concluded the proposal should create enough new revenue to pass its test.
Why it matters for Britain
The service would give communities in west Wales more direct access to Bristol, while adding capacity and restoring some Cardiff connections. It also strengthens cross-border links using existing infrastructure and trains.
