Arriva Trains Wales' new timetable responds to passenger demand

More services, new destinations and shorter journey times willbe introduced in the new December timetable as a response togrowing passenger demand, Arriva Trains Wales announced today(Monday, 6 October).

Starting on Sunday 14 December, the new timetable aims toimprove performance, increase seating capacity and offer morejourney opportunities across key destinations on mainline routes inWales and the English border area.

One of the highlights of the new timetable will be a new, directservice from Aberystwyth to Birmingham International Airport (BIA)and the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), a first for trainservices on the Cambrian Line.

This new service will improve punctuality of services andprovide an additional 650 seats a day on services from Shrewsburyto Birmingham and will also be fully integrated with the new VirginTrains timetable on the West Coast Main Line.

The introduction of the new service will also address alongstanding performance issue whereby services from the CambrianLine to Birmingham were frequently terminated short atWolverhampton due to pathing problems into the busy Birmingham NewStreet Station.

There will be a new direct, two hourly service from Holyhead toBirmingham International Airport via Chester, Shrewsbury andBirmingham New Street, with connections from North Wales at Chesterfor Virgin Trains services.

To reflect continued popularity of the busy Cardiff – ManchesterPiccadilly route, a new hourly Sunday service will be introducedwith a focus on improving services for passengers between bothuniversity cities.

Faster journey times are set for West Wales routes betweenSwansea - Milford Haven and Swansea – Pembroke Dock, saving up to15 minutes on certain services.

More regular spacing of train services across North Wales routeswill see additional shuttle trains destined for Llandudno Station,opening up more mainline routes to visitors to North Wales

Mike Bagshaw, commercial director of Arriva Trains Wales,explained: “We’ve seen consistent growth in passengernumbers in recent years. The changes to the timetable are designedto respond to customer demand by providing more regular, direct andfaster services across key parts of our network.

“The link with Birmingham International Airport, as wellas the National Exhibition Centre is a significant move for us,providing a new route for the first time via rail for Welshpassengers and potentially visiting tourists to Wales.

“We’re committed to providing customers with a firstrate service and have set ambitious growth plans in2009.”

Simon Pickering, Passenger Focus’s manager for Wales,said: “We welcome and support Arriva Trains Wales’timetable changes. As a significant part of the transportnetwork in and out of Wales, the changes will be positive for mostpassengers using the train with more regular services scheduledalong the main coast line.”

For further information visitwww.arrivatrainswales.co.uk