Transport for Wales

KeolisAmey Wales is a future train operating company that will commence on 14 October 2018, operating the Wales & Borders franchise.

History
In October 2016, Abellio, incumbent Arriva/Frasers Centrepoint, Keolis/Amey Joint Venture and MTR Corporation/SMRT Corporation were shortlisted to bid for Wales & Borders franchise and last 15 years.

In October 2017, Frasers Centrepoint withdrew from bidding process, followed in February 2018 by Abellio with the collapse of the partner Carillion. In May 2018, it was later awarded to Keolis. The new franchise was awarded by Transport for Wales.


 * 12 refurbished Mark 4 carriages from the Holyhead to Cardiff Premier Service.
 * Introduction of new and reduced fares from Shotton to Cardiff service.
 * Introduce a Central Metro that improves journey times and increases frequency to at least four trains per hour from the head of each using new trains
 * Build new stations at Loudoun Square, Crwys Road, and The Flourish by December 2023, and Gabalfa by 2028 and relocate Treforest Estate station by December 2025
 * Replace all Class 142s and 143s by the end of 2019
 * 5 Class 153s will be moved from Great Western Railway, as well as Class 230s for the Borderlands Line will be moved in 2019
 * Provide ticket machines in all Valley Lines stations by April 2019
 * Introduce new tri-mode trains between Penarth, Barry and Bridgend to destinations north of Cardiff Central
 * Introduce pay-as-you-go contactless smartcards by 2020, and to all users by 2021
 * Increase Wrexham to Bidston services to 2tph by December 2021 as part of the North East Wales Metro and was proposed in the early 2017 and is part of Welsh Labour's plan for North Wales. Labour has pledged to open the system by 2035. The metro is conceptually a multi-modal system with a combination of bus, heavy rail and light rail services linking major settlements and employment areas with hubs located in Wrexham, Chester and Deeside. The new stations are Deeside Industrial Estate and North Wrexham, upgrades to train stations and new bus routes to existing stations.
 * A new 1 train per hour (tph) Ebbw Vale to Newport service by May 2021
 * Introduce the new fleet of diesel multiple units (DMUs) to the North Wales Coast Line, regional services, services in South East Wales and services between Rhymney/Coryton to Penarth/Barry Island/Bridgend via VoG in 2022
 * Refurbished Class 170s from Greater Anglia on the Heart of Wales Line in 2022
 * New DMUs on the Cambrian line during 2022 to replace the Class 158s
 * Stadler Rail will also purchase 36 three-car Citylink tram trains to Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil, for use between 2022 and 2023.
 * Introduce new two and three-car new diesel multiple units for Milford Haven to Manchester service by 2023
 * 2tph between Cardiff and Bridgend via the Vale of Glamorgan Line from December 2023
 * Eliminate diesel use on the Central Metro trains by 2024
 * Invest in Chester station by 2028
 * 4tph throughout on the Rhymney Line from December 2023
 * 4tph to Treherbert from December 2022
 * 6tph to Cardiff Bay from December 2022
 * 4tph between Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Cardiff from December 2022
 * 1tph between Cardiff and Cheltenham from December 2022
 * 4tph between Cardiff and Bridgend (direct, Monday to Saturday) from December 2019
 * Invest to co-fund new station buildings at Blaenau Ffestinog