Modern trains to improve service for Wales’ rail passengers

Rail passengers are to benefit from more modern, spacious trainson Wales' long-distance services from Monday (11 December2006).

Arriva Trains Wales is running 11 additional 'Coradia' trainsfrom Monday, providing modern, comfortable carriages. The trainswill operate on the company's long distance routes between Cardiffand Holyhead and West Wales and Manchester and will boost seatsavailable by 10 per cent.

The new additions mean that around a quarter of the company'strains are from the Coradia fleet and offer:

• the best of a new generation of trains reaching speeds of up to100mph
• modern, air-conditioned carriages with additional leg room
• seats for up to 186 passengers (three-carriage train)
• on train CCTV
• disabled toilet and baby-changing facilities.

Mike Bagshaw, commercial director for Arriva Trains Wales,said:

Our long-distance services between Cardiff and Holyheadand West Wales and Manchester, launched last December, areproviding a real alternative for travellers making journeys byroad. In providing newer trains and better comfort for passengers,Arriva Trains Wales is delivering an economically viable, practicalalternative to the car.

As well as providing improved comfort for long-distancejourneys, communities along these routes using services to travelto work or for leisure will also benefit from the increased seatingcapacity that Coradia trains provide.

From Monday, rail passengers travelling between Wrexham andBidston will benefit from more spacious and reliable services asfour sprinter trains enter service on the line replacing oldertrains. Four sprinter trains will also enter service on South Walesvalley routes for use on the restored Ebbw Valley Line from summer2007. The sprinter trains have been made available with fundingfrom Welsh Assembly Government.

Andrew Davies, minister for enterprise, innovation and networksin Wales, said:

The addition of the extra 11 Class 175 Coradia trains,takes Arriva Trains Wales' long-distance fleet of thesecomfortable, modern, high speed trains to 27, a most welcomeimprovement in comfort and journey quality.

The additional Class 150 sprinter trains will doubledaily capacity on the Wrexham to Bidston Line, and should alsoimprove reliability on that service. The others will form the fleetfor the new Ebbw Valley Railway when it opens next summer. Thisrepresents additional investment from my rail budget of some£4 million annually. It is additional to my investment inextra rolling stock on the Cambrian and Heart of Wales linesearlier this year and is further evidence of my commitment toimproving rail services across all parts of Wales.

Notes to editors

• Photograph attached: additional Coradia trains will improveservices for passengers on Arriva's long-distance routes.
• The Coradia (Class 175) train fleet was first introduced to therail network in 2000.
• For background information on Arriva Trains Wales visitwww.arrivatrainswales.co.uk.