By 1997 there was one XC to and from Swansea a day. I think it went up in the morning and down at night in the mid 1990s but I am open to correction. By 2000, it was definitely an out and back from Newcastle. The up train departed from Swansea around 1525. Anyone from Fishguard who wanted to avoid the tedious wait on the Leckwith Loop could get off at Bridgend and take that HST to Cardiff, arriving around 30 minutes earlier.
There was a period in 2000 when class 47s appeared on the Swansea a few times. I cannot recall if the train was booked via Bristol Temple Meads but I assume it ran direct from Newport to Parkway when it was hauled. It was during the post Hatfield meltdown so it was usually 30+ late by Cardiff, so missing Temple Meads would have made up a good chunk of the delay.