Named trains from Wales Launched - The Welshman, The Capitals United, The Red Dragon and St David
Great Western Railway has launched named trains on the daily train services between Cardiff
and London Paddington, to mark the re-opening of the Severn Tunnel.
Taking the number of direct daily
services from Cardiff to London Paddington back to 29 per day, the 0728
service from Swansea is named Y Cymro – The Welshman.
It joins three other named week day
services between London Paddington and South Wales: The Red Dragon; St
David and The Capitals United.
Helping to provide over 30,000 seats
a day between south Wales and London Paddington, the service will take 2
hours and 07 minutes from Cardiff – just seven minutes more than the
minimum check-in time advised by airports.
The service calls at Cardiff at 0825 before making its way towards London for arrival into Paddington at 1032.
The tunnel was due to re-open on Saturday 22 October, after its six-week closure for Network Rail electrification works.
GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood
said: “With a large number of passengers travelling by train between
Cardiff and London Paddington, it is clear that rail remains the most
convenient way to travel. Journeys will be quicker
again, taking a little over two hours after the six-week closure of
Severn Tunnel; and at the same lead in Advance Single Fare price of just
£18.00.
“I appreciate how disruptive this
work may have been for some and I would like to thank them for your
patience during the last six weeks. The vital work will modernise the
railway between South Wales and London which, once complete, will enable
us to deliver more frequent services, more seats, and to reduce journey
times.”
During the work Network Rail installed overhead lines to power GWR’s new Intercity Express Trains (IETs).
The new IETs will begin to enter
service on selected routes from next summer, with Network Rail expected
to complete electrification of the line between London Paddington to
Cardiff by 2019. Once complete South Wales customers will experience
quicker journey times, up to 21 minutes between Swansea and London
Paddington, and more seats – up to a 25% increase in seats per train
compared to existing High Speed Trains.
Alongside Y Cymro, The Welshman
there are 58 trains a day operating between Cardiff and London
Paddington, each providing over 500 seats.
Some 32 train services a day operated during the Severn Tunnel work.
Advance single tickets are available
from £18.00 from Cardiff Central to London Paddington, without the need
to pay extra for reservations or for more than one bag.
Named trains to/from Wales
The Capitals United
- 0558 Swansea to London Paddington (Monday to Friday)
- 1645 London Paddington to Swansea (Monday to Friday)
The Capitals United Operates between
London Paddington, Cardiff Central and Swansea. The name was originally
used between 1956 and 1963 by British Railways and has been
reintroduced by GWR to highlight the continuing importance of the rail
link between the capitals of England and Wales
The Red Dragon
- 0730 Carmarthen to London Paddington (Monday to Friday)
- 1715 London Paddington to Carmarthen (Monday to Friday)
The Red Dragon runs between London
Paddington and Carmarthen, and is named after the mythical Red Dragon
(known in Welsh as Y Ddraig Goch) that appears on the Welsh national
flag. Although the flag was only granted official status in 1959, it is
claimed to be the oldest national flag still in use, although the
origins are now lost in history and myth.
The St David
- 0745 London Paddington to Swansea (Monday to Friday)
- 1128 Swansea to London Paddington (Monday to Friday)
The St David operates between
Swansea and London Paddington and is named after the patron saint of
Wales (in Welsh, Dewi Sant). St David was born sometime between 462 and
512 and was officially recognised as the patron saint of Wales in 1120.
NOW SEE THE LATEST ON THE NEW FOCUS FLICKR SITE:
Three albums have now been added to the Flickr site. A little bit different from our usual fayre, inasmuch provided by Paul Gooderson from his recent journeyings across Canada, plus a little diversion over the border into North America. A very interesting snapshot of the varied bus and coach scene on the other side of the North Atlantic. These can now be viewed by clicking here
NOW SEE THE LATEST ON THE NEW FOCUS FLICKR SITE:
Three albums have now been added to the Flickr site. A little bit different from our usual fayre, inasmuch provided by Paul Gooderson from his recent journeyings across Canada, plus a little diversion over the border into North America. A very interesting snapshot of the varied bus and coach scene on the other side of the North Atlantic. These can now be viewed by clicking here
