Transport for Wales is bringing integrated, sustainable, and accessible transport solutions to the nation
Transport for Wales (TfW) is a not-for-profit company wholly owned by the Welsh Government, which was established in 2016 with a focus on sustainability and connectivity. From walking and cycling to using public transport, TfW is on a mission to make sustainable travel easier to access throughout Wales.
With the Welsh Government having set ambitious decarbonization targets and publishing the Llwybr Newydd, The Wales Transport Strategy, in 2021, there is a major push for sustainable initiatives across the country’s transport system. “TfW plays a major role in delivering the decarbonization strategy and creating a greener transport network,” opens James Price, CEO. “We can achieve this by improving our current public transport through new electrified trains and buses, but crucially by encouraging more people to use public transport rather than private vehicles. 
“We’re driving forward the Welsh Government’s vision of a high-quality, safe, integrated, affordable, and accessible transport network that the people of Wales are proud of,” he states. “We are committed to investing and improving public transport across the Wales and Borders network, and our vision for the future is to create a public transport network that is joined up and integrated, easily accessible and affordable – one network, one timetable, one ticket.”
To turn this vision into reality, there are several investments and initiatives underway across the organization. “We’ve invested £800 million in brand-new trains and we’re already seeing the positive impact this is having on people using our services and our revenue. 31.7 million journeys were made by our customers last year and that’s already a fifth up from the previous year. New trains and fundamental changes to our train timetables offering more frequent services are encouraging people to travel by train and this has generated a 17.8 percent increase in revenue, ” James elaborates. “We’re also in the final stages of the South Wales Metro, a billion-pound project that will electrify over 170 kilometers of railway track and has brought electrified rail services to the South Wales valleys for the first time ever.
“Next, we will be working with the Welsh Government and partners to transform and improve the bus sector within Wales by franchising all services as part of an integrated network, through the recent bus bill announcement and providing a structure that serves the customer and integrates with our rail network. We’ve already made big improvements to our national bus network by introducing new electrified buses, integrating certain tickets with rail, and improving routes – all of which has led to an increase in passengers.
“Everything we’re doing now is aimed at improving and integrating the public transport network, with different transport modes working alongside one another,” he continues. “Our longer-term goal is to create a multi-modal public transport network that is accessible, affordable, and therefore attracts significantly more people to use it. For passengers, this means they can travel wherever they want, and we’ll provide a service where rail, bus, and walking or cycling routes are integrated and provide transport options.”
One of TfW’s most significant initiatives is the aforementioned South Wales Metro project, an investment scheme aimed at providing a more frequent, reliable, faster, greener, and more accessible transport service. “The South Wales Metro is a once-in-a-generation project and one of our major milestones; we’re electrifying 170 kilometers of railway line, and we’ve already started to introduce brand-new tri-mode trains to the line, meaning they can run on battery, electric, or diesel,” James confirms. “These were the first trains using this type of engine to be used in passenger service within the UK. They can travel up to 100 kilometers per hour on rail, as well as being used on tram lines, and at 40 meters long, can hold up to 252 passengers per unit.
“Next year (2026), 36 tram-trains will be added to the metro network, offering an electrified, turn-up-and-go service. We’ve already introduced tap-on, tap-off, pay-as-you-go technology in all 95 metro stations, and again, we are the first organization in our sector in the UK to introduce this technology outside of London.
“The South Wales Metro is totally transforming the way people travel in and around South Wales and has been dubbed the ‘Welsh tube’ due to its similarities with London’s tube network,” he says. “The most important part of this project is to always remember why we’re doing it, and that’s to link the communities of South Wales with themselves and with Cardiff and beyond. This provides economic, social, and environmental opportunities, and simply improves people’s lives.”
To support the metro network, TfW has also invested in the creation of a new train depot to house the 36 tram-trains. “Our £100 million depot in Taff’s Wells is home to the South Wales Metro, and stores and maintains our tram-trains,” James reveals. “It is also where the metro control center is located, providing electrical controls and signaling for the network. It’s almost like the brain of the metro, providing signaling for trains on the Treherbert, Aberdare, and Merthyr railway lines.”
With a mission to make the network more accessible, the organization is implementing several key strategies to support people with mobility challenges. “As part of the South Wales Metro project, we’re upgrading facilities at our stations across the region so that once completed, we can provide level boarding onto our new trains,” James shares. “We’re also working with Network Rail, who own the station infrastructure outside of the Core Valley lines in South Wales, to make accessibility improvements across the rest of the Wales and Borders network.
“We have dedicated Travel Companion teams at our busiest stations, which are Cardiff Central, Chester, Swansea, Newport, and Shrewsbury, and we’ve invested in new Changing Places facilities at key stations including Shrewsbury, Bangor, Chester, and Carmarthen, as well as the new Cardiff Bus Interchange. Working with our rail industry colleagues and the Welsh Government, we have ambitious ongoing plans to improve the accessibility of our services, and we’re committed to delivering an excellent service for all customers.”
From speaking with James, it’s clear to see that TfW is playing a crucial role in securing a sustainable and accessible transport network across the country. “The level of transformation we’re experiencing is phenomenal, and we’ll continue to push our ongoing initiatives forward,” he shares. “One of our teams focuses on regional transport and integration, and the team are working across the whole country to ensure a collaborative approach by partnering with local authorities.
“To summarize, we’re introducing brand-new trains all over Wales, including four different types of train model. The South Wales Metro will deliver 170 kilometers of electrified infrastructure that also involves revamping a Victorian railway to one of the most modern lines in Europe.
“Quite recently, the Welsh Government officially launched Network North Wales – a multi-billion-pound vision setting out a long-term public transport plan for the region with some short-term priorities, which we’ll look to deliver over the next 12 months,” James concludes. “There’s an immediate focus on improving links between Wrexham and Liverpool, a 50 percent increase in our rail services on the North Wales mainline and doubling the frequency of services between Wrexham and Chester. We’ll also roll out pay-as-you-go ticketing as we’ve done in the South, and when it comes to buses, that’s the next chapter of our story and involves creating a fully integrated multi-modal network.”