Great Western Railway runs first electric-only train to and from South Wales

The train operator carried out a test run in the early hours of Saturday, using a 12-car Class 387 to run electric-only from Swindon to the Welsh capital.

To view a video of the test train at Cardiff Central click here.

It is the first time an Electrostar has passed into Wales since Network Rail completed electrification of the Severn Tunnel in June last year.

A 12-car Class 387 has more than 700 seats and GWR’s ambition is to run them alongside its Intercity Express Trains to meet demand to and from Cardiff for major events like the Six Nations Rugby Championship.

GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood said:

“This is a long-term ambition, to help provide additional capacity when ‘big-ticket’ items in the city require it. The pandemic has obviously slowed the need for such services, but we have been working closely with our colleagues at Network Rail to be able to fulfil this ambition.

“Our IET fleet has always been capable of coping with the majority of demand on the Cardiff to London corridor for these events – the benefit of using 387s is that we can provide more seats without having to reduce IET services elsewhere to provide them.”

GWR has worked closely with Network Rail to bring the operation of Class 387s to and from South Wales to fruition.

Interim Head of Western Alliance John Lanchester said:

“This a real coup for Great Western Railway and Network Rail and it demonstrates how we’ve worked collaboratively to make sure we’re ready to operate electric-only trains into Wales.”

Network Rail’s Wales and Border route director Bill Kelly said:

“Delivering electrification through the Severn Tunnel last year was a huge achievement for Network Rail and has resulted in thousands of extra seats, more frequent services and quicker and greener journeys for passengers as they travel to and from South Wales.

“It is great to see GWR has moved another step closer in providing an additional, all-electric passenger service for large-scale events in Cardiff off the back of our electrification work.”

GWR ran electric trains to and from South Wales for the first time in January last year, with its IET fleet switching to diesel to pass through the Severn Tunnel before electrification of that section was completed in June last year.

The train operator is actively working on plans to reduce the carbon emissions of its train fleet, with a view to removing all diesel-only traction from the network by 2040 in line with the Government’s Transport Decarbonisation Plan.

Increasing passengers on trains offers a significant opportunity to help meet with the Government’s legal commitment of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Testing of the Class 387s to South Wales will now continue before the trains are introduced into passenger service.

Notes to editors

First Greater Western Limited, trading as “Great Western Railway” (GWR), operates trains across the Great Western franchise area, which includes South Wales, the West Country, the Cotswolds, across southern England and into London. GWR provides high speed, commuter, regional and branch line train services, and before the covid-19 pandemic helped over 100 million passengers reach their destinations every year. GWR was recently awarded an extension to its direct award franchise (called DA3), which shall run up to 31 March 2023 with an option to extend for a further year. 

Find out more here: https://www.gwr.com/about-us 

GWR has been providing rail services throughout the pandemic and has worked to ensure that these are as safe as possible, including enhanced cleaning regimes. This work continues as it starts to welcome more people back to the railway.

The train operator has also provided extra staff at key stations to offer help and guidance.

Travelling by train is low risk as carriages are well ventilated with air regularly refreshed either by air-conditioning systems, or by doors and windows being opened.

GWR’s enhanced cleaning regime includes:

• A 24% increase in cleaning hours every week since March 2020
• Sanitising (fogging) of 1,120 vehicles every 4 weeks
• Carrying out 2,150 on board surface tests (ATP) every four weeks, to ensure the effectiveness of our cleaning
• 272 train cleaning processes reviewed, and many adapted
• Hand sanitising facilities at key stations across its network.