From next Monday, Great Western Railway is set to run an extra 65 trains every week in South Wales as part of its May Timetable Change.

The extra sixty-five trains will be direct services between Carmarthen and London Paddington, extending previous trains beyond Swansea. They will call at Llanelli, Pembrey, and Burry Port, and provide services every two hours.

Additional weekday departures

• Carmarthen to London: 09.27; 11.27; 14.24; 16.19; 18.18; 20.30 (to Bristol Parkway)
• London to Carmarthen: 06.48; 09.48; 11.48; 13.48; 15.48

Additional Saturday departures:

• Carmarthen to London: 09.32; 13.25; 15:28; 17.20; 19.19 (to Swansea)
• London to Carmarthen: 06.48, 08.48, 10.48, 12.48, 14.48

Summer services to Pembroke Dock will resume for the first time since Covid, with four services a day between May and September.

Elsewhere, 44 additional train services every day will serve the wider Bristol area and there will be changes to London and Thames Valley services. As part of the MetroWest scheme, services between Gloucester and Bristol will be doubled, and there will be an extra train an hour between Westbury and Bristol.

Welcoming the new train services Deputy Minister for Climate Change with responsibility for Transport, Lee Waters said: “We are committed to improving rail services in West Wales, therefore the news that GWR are extending their existing Swansea services through to Llanelli, Pembrey & Burry Port, and Carmarthen, an increase of 65 direct services to and from Bristol and London every week, is very welcome.

“The introduction of more rail services is an important part of our plan to boost sustainable transport, making the right choice, the easy one: leaving the car at home and instead, catching a train.”

GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood said “I am really excited to say that this new timetable provides the biggest shake-up in service levels since the introduction of Intercity Express trains – providing more trains where they are needed most and reflecting changes in travel patterns.

“We will deliver more train services, serving even more stations, and providing greater value for money for taxpayers.”

Details of the revised timetable are now available in online journey planners and through Great Western Railway’s Journey Check service at https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/travel-updates/check-your-journey Anyone used to catching a specific train should check their journey in advance.