Transport for Wales adds extra train on Powys' Cambrian line

In April this year Powys' sole mainline rail operator announced its future timetables plans, and asked the public for feedback on any amendments which could make railway journeys more accessible. 

The original plans saw an hourly railway service between Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth, from March 2026. The service will only be run every hour during the summer.

But Transport for Wales has now confirmed it will add an extra service year-round in a bid to alleviate congestion on a rush-hour service, after public feedback.

READ MORE: Decade long wait for hourly Powys train service continues

A spokesperson said: “Transport for Wales will add a 4.30pm train from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth in all year around.

“This is because of a known capacity issue on 5.30 train from Shrewsbury to Machynlleth.

“We aim to introduce this extra train in May 2025 but is subject to agreement with other operators and Network Rail. The wider one train per hour will come in from March 2026.

“The proposal to run the extra trains to increase the frequency to Aberystwyth to a full 1tph in the summer only (March-Sept) is to continue.”

OTHER NEWS:

• Tributes paid to 'best dad' Powys farmer, 39, killed in quad bike accident
• Conservative Craig Williams faces gambling probe over 'flutter' on election
• IN PICTURES: The best floats from Newtown's first carnival in years

Colin Lea, planning and performance director at Transport for Wales, said: “The Cambrian Line is Wales’ first Local Railway scheme and we’ve worked closely with local managers on the proposed changes there.

“We have done our best to listen to key local feedback and knowledge and incorporate this into our decision making, as well as continue to progress with our original commitment of putting on more carriages on the Cambrian Coast Line services in the summer months; something that was trialled successfully in 2023.

“While this remains our intention, we still need to work closely with our industry partners in Network Rail before these changes can come into effect in future timetable changes.”

Transport for Wales also announced changes to the coastal leg of the journey past Machynlleth.

This will include the retention of the service the 08:52 train from Machynlleth to Pwllheli and return from Pwllheli at 11:37 – the initial plan was to cut this service in winter.

TfW will be doubling capacity on four key Cambrian Coast services from summer 2025 from two carriages to four carriages “to help key local tourism businesses”.