Some of the highlights in the latest Transport for Wales (TfW) Annual Report published thi week, are more new trains, increased use of key bus services, and innovation in ticketing.

46 brand-new trains and timetabling improvements have helped to reduce cancellations and increase revenue through more people choosing the comfort, speed, and capacity offered by the new trains.

Included in the innovations in ticketing are Pay-As-You-Go tickets. These were piloted on services between Cardiff Central, Newport and Pontyclun, and have been extended to include Ebbw Vale. Ticket sales through the TfW app have also seen a 30% increase.

A new Ebbw Vale to Newport service launched in February 2024 was a game changer for local communities, with twice the number of trains per hour, helping to improve connectivity for work, education, and leisure.

A copy of the full Annual Report is available by clicking here.  

Over the last five years, we’ve been on a journey of transformation at TfW and we’re now starting to see the benefits of investments.

With improved services and better trains, we’ve seen an increase in passenger numbers which has helped to drive up our rail revenue by 15%. We’ll aim to maintain this upward trajectory as we continue to introduce more new trains as part of our £800 million investment, as well as making timetable adjustments.

Our vision is to become ‘Wales’s favourite way to travel’ and we can do this through continuing our investment into an integrated public transport network.  We’ve seen a 25% increase in passengers using our TrawsCymru bus services and we recently opened the new Cardiff Bus Interchange, which will improve links between rail and bus.

We’ve distributed £46 million in active travel funding which will improve local walking, cycling and wheeling routes improving local connectivity, and we’ve launched over 30 new walks from our railway stations across Wales.

James Price, Transport for Wales CEO