Huge Transport for Wales Timetable Shake-Up Announced for May 2026

Transport for Wales has announced one of the most significant timetable changes for North Wales in a generation, with a major service overhaul set to take effect from 17 May 2026.

The new timetable will cover all routes north and west of Shrewsbury and Crewe, with the exception of services between Wrexham and Bidston. Delivered as part of the wider Network North Wales investment programme, the changes are designed to improve rail capacity, reliability and connectivity while supporting growing demand for sustainable travel.

As part of the overhaul, services along the North Wales Coast Line will increase by around 50 per cent. The redesigned timetable will introduce a more consistent hourly pattern on many routes, meaning some trains will depart at the same time each hour, making journey planning simpler for passengers.

The changes will also significantly increase capacity and frequency between Chester and Llandudno Junction, one of the busiest parts of the Wales and Borders rail network. The revised timetable also supports the rollout of phase one of Pay as you Go ticketing in North Wales, which will launch on 18 May and initially cover 15 stations between Wrexham General and Bidston.

Because of the scale of the timetable redesign, some direct journeys will no longer operate. However, the new schedule has been designed so passengers can still complete longer journeys by changing trains at key interchange stations such as Chester and Llandudno Junction.

Passengers are strongly advised to check their journeys before travelling, as stopping patterns will change and some trains may call at different stations than before. This will be particularly important for anyone making connections with other train operators who may also be adjusting their timetables.

The changes will introduce several new service patterns across the North Wales coast and border routes, including:

• Trains from Manchester Airport to Llandudno will now serve Holyhead instead, improving links to Northwest England and enhancing ferry connections to Ireland from Manchester.
• The separate Wrexham - Chester and Chester - Crewe hourly services are being combined into one through service.
• The Liverpool - Chester service will be extended to Llandudno, offering new direct travel opportunities.
• The Birmingham - North Wales service (including from Birmingham International Airport) - currently every two hours - will operate to and from Llandudno Junction, not Holyhead.
• A new service pattern will improve commuting options to Holyhead and Bangor, supporting local employment and economic growth.
• Valley station will become a compulsory call on all relevant services, helping to give customers greater confidence in travelling from this stop.

Additional improvements are also planned in West Wales to support seasonal travel demand and the local tourism industry.

Extra trains will run on busy holiday routes, including services between Carmarthen and Tenby, until September. Additional Sunday services will also operate in August and September to support tourism and local travel.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates said:

“This is fantastic news for passengers. Alongside a generational £14bn investment in Welsh rail, new trains and a fare freeze, the new timetable change is another huge improvement for public transport. This amounts to almost a doubling of TfW services on the North Wales Coast Line and vitally important additional trains on busy holiday routes across West Wales.

Colin Lea, TfW Planning and Performance Director said:

“This is a once-in-a-generation transformation for rail services in North Wales. By increasing capacity, improving frequencies, and simplifying the timetable, we’re creating a more reliable and connected network that better serves the needs of our customers and communities.”

Emma Osborn, Passenger Strategy Director at Network Rail Wales and Borders said,

“We’re really pleased to have supported the introduction of enhanced services for communities along the North Wales Coast and into the North of England. Improving connectivity is vital, and this uplift will make it easier for people to travel, while strengthening links between regions.”

Image: Transport for Wales