Somewhat amusingly it would appear that people have been so quick to criticise they haven't noticed some of the benefits to the timetable, some of which are new things that hadn't been previously announced, so allow me to go through every route and give a breakdown
Chester - Liverpool/Manchester
Liverpool services go back from 2 hourly to hourly (not seen since Covid), with most extended to/from Llandudno. The existing Wrexham services continue, but are increased to 4 cars.
Manchester services stay at hourly, but see increased capacity through longer trains, with all bar the last departure at night a minimum of 3 cars, and 5 cars in the peaks. Most services run to Bangor or Holyhead instead of Llandudno
All services worked by 197s
Chester - Shrewsbury
Broadly similar to now, though with a slight increase in the number of 4 car services. Morning services run through to Cardiff instead of Birmingham. There are a couple of gaps, but there are also references to a review taking place to fill these again.
All services worked by 197s bar the 3 daily Cardiff - Holyhead MKIVs.
Chester - Crewe
Frequency and times broadly the same as now, but capacity increased from 2 car 153 to 3 car 197.
North Wales Coast
Big increases in capacity here, with Manchester services diverted from Llandudno to Bangor, and Liverpool services extended to Llandudno in their place. Manchester - Bangor services are all 3 cars minimum, as are the Cardiff - Holyheads. There are also slightly more of the latter services, in place of some Birmingham - Holyhead.
All services worked by 197s bar the 3 daily Cardiff - Holyhead MKIVs.
Blaneau Ffestiniog
No major changes, other than 153s upgraded to 2 car 197s
Wrexham - Bidston
Service doubled to half hourly all day, with the extra service running semi - fast. Rolling stock unconfirmed, either 197 or 230.
Manchester - Cardiff/West Wales
No changes to frequency here but big improvements in capacity, with all services bar the last two at night from Manchester formed of alternating MKIVs and 5 car 197s. The 197s run through from Milford Haven, and return through to Fishguard Harbour (see below). MKIVs services are sped up slightly, presumably through running at MU speeds
Crewe - Shrewsbury local
Remains broadly the same as now, but upgraded from a single 153 to 2 car 197
Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth
Increase in frequency with services now running hourly all day. Most services run through to and from Birmingham, and every second splits at Machynlleth for Pwllheli as now. Splitting services run as 4 car 197s, purely Aberystwyth are 2 car 197s.
Cambrian Coast
Timetable broadly same as now. 2 car 158s replaced with 2 car 197s.
Shrewsbury - Birmingham International
Timetable broadly as now, but with some former Holyhead services running to/from Aberystwyth instead. Other than early morning and late at night all services are at least 4 car 197, with one 6 car in each peak.
Shrewsbury - Cardiff
Frequency same as now, but big increases in capacity. As mentioned above, nearly all Manchester services are 5 cars, either MKIVs or 197s. Additionally, all Cardiff - Holyhead services are at least 3 car 197, on top of the current 3 MKIV services per day.
Shrewsbury - Swansea via HOWL
Improved timetable introduced this month continues, but sees slight increase in capacity from 2024 with all solo 153s running as 2 car sets.
Cheltenham - Cardiff
Increase in frequency to hourly all day. Only runs East of Cardiff, no longer runs through to/from Maesteg. 2 X 2 car and 1 X 3 car 197.
Ebbw Vale - Newport/Cardiff
Frequency remains at hourly on both routes, but Newport services extended through to Ebbw Vale. Cardiff services extended to/from Maesteg in place of Cheltenham services. Cardiffs are all 3 car 197 bar 1 late night service, Newport 2 car 197
Cardiff - Swansea
Slight increase in frequency, with Swanline local services now running hourly all day, with 2 car 153 (replaced by 197 in 2024). Swanline services now stop all stops between Cardiff and Bridgend. Hourly TFW semi fast alternates between 5 car 197 on through services to/from Manchester (to Fishguard, from Milford Haven) and 2 car 197 on services terminating Cardiff. 1 service each way per day MKIVs (as per current timetable but not yet in service).
Maesteg branch
Frequency remains hourly, but as mentioned above services now run to/from Ebbw Vale. All are at least 3 cars, with a 4 car every 4 hours.
Swansea - West Wales
Some big pleasant surprises here. Swansea - Pembroke and Milford Haven both remain 2 car as now, with Milford services running east to Manchester and west from Cardiff as 2 car 197s. Pembroke services remain as 153s for now, but due to go to 197s in 2024.
Fishguard gains a 2 hourly all day service, formed of 2 car 197s, running West from Manchester and East to Cardiff. Extra capacity east of Carmarthen is provided by GWR extending their London - Swansea services to Carmarthen every 2nd hour all day.
I think that's everything, but I might have missed some of the details here and there. All told it's a big improvement over the tired ex Arriva timetable and fleet, both of which needed replacing years ago. There's also promises of further improvements to come when the entire Stadler and 197 fleets are in service in 2024. Exciting times!
