Press releases

Rail passengers are to benefit from more modern, spacious trains on Wales' long-distance services from Monday (11 December 2006).

Arriva Trains Wales is running 11 additional 'Coradia' trains from Monday, providing modern, comfortable carriages. The trains will operate on the company's long distance routes between Cardiff and Holyhead and West Wales and Manchester and will boost seats available by 10 per cent.

The new additions mean that around a quarter of the company's trains are from the Coradia fleet and offer:

• the best of a new generation of trains reaching speeds of up to 100mph
• modern, air-conditioned carriages with additional leg room
• seats for up to 186 passengers (three-carriage train)
• on train CCTV
• disabled toilet and baby-changing facilities.

Mike Bagshaw, commercial director for Arriva Trains Wales, said:

Our long-distance services between Cardiff and Holyhead and West Wales and Manchester, launched last December, are providing a real alternative for travellers making journeys by road. In providing newer trains and better comfort for passengers, Arriva Trains Wales is delivering an economically viable, practical alternative to the car.

As well as providing improved comfort for long-distance journeys, communities along these routes using services to travel to work or for leisure will also benefit from the increased seating capacity that Coradia trains provide.

From Monday, rail passengers travelling between Wrexham and Bidston will benefit from more spacious and reliable services as four sprinter trains enter service on the line replacing older trains. Four sprinter trains will also enter service on South Wales valley routes for use on the restored Ebbw Valley Line from summer 2007. The sprinter trains have been made available with funding from Welsh Assembly Government.

Andrew Davies, minister for enterprise, innovation and networks in Wales, said:

The addition of the extra 11 Class 175 Coradia trains, takes Arriva Trains Wales' long-distance fleet of these comfortable, modern, high speed trains to 27, a most welcome improvement in comfort and journey quality.

The additional Class 150 sprinter trains will double daily capacity on the Wrexham to Bidston Line, and should also improve reliability on that service. The others will form the fleet for the new Ebbw Valley Railway when it opens next summer. This represents additional investment from my rail budget of some £4 million annually. It is additional to my investment in extra rolling stock on the Cambrian and Heart of Wales lines earlier this year and is further evidence of my commitment to improving rail services across all parts of Wales.

Notes to editors

• Photograph attached: additional Coradia trains will improve services for passengers on Arriva's long-distance routes.
• The Coradia (Class 175) train fleet was first introduced to the rail network in 2000.
• For background information on Arriva Trains Wales visit www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk.