Keolis Amey Operations (), Full legal name is bilingual including the Welsh name, as "Keolis Amey Operations / Gweithrediadau Keolis Amey Limited". trading as Transport for Wales Rail Services (TfW Rail Services) was a Welsh train operating company owned by KeolisAmey that operated the Wales & Borders franchise between October 2018 and February 2021.
The Welsh Government body Transport for Wales awarded the contract for the Wales and Borders franchise to KeolisAmey in 2018 which commenced rail operations on 14 October 2018. KeolisAmey used the brand names Transport for Wales and TfW Rail ( and ), which are owned by the Welsh Government, for day-to-day operations. The Welsh Government nationalised the franchise on 7 February 2021, transferring operations to Transport for Wales Rail, although Amey continues to provide an infrastructural role in the franchise, particularly on the South Wales Metro.
History
In October 2016 four bids were shortlisted for the next Wales & Borders franchise: Abellio, the incumbent operator Arriva, KeolisAmey and MTR Corporation.
In October 2017, Arriva withdrew from the bidding process, followed in February 2018 by Abellio, after the collapse of its partner Carillion. In May 2018, the franchise was awarded to KeolisAmey Wales. It commenced on 14 October 2018 and it was to run for 15 years.
Unlike the previous franchise, which was awarded by the Department for Transport, this franchise was awarded by Transport for Wales, on behalf of the Welsh Government.
In January 2020 KeolisAmey was fined £2.3 million by the Welsh government for poor performance of rail services. The company was also expected to be criticised by the Welsh Language Commissioner later in 2020 for reportedly breaking legislation on Welsh language provision six times since taking over the franchise in 2018. KeolisAmey Wales told the BBC that it did not believe any rules had been broken. Complaints included that Welsh was given lesser treatment on self-service machines, websites, and on the mobile app, that correspondence was not issued fully in Welsh, that train tickets were printed only in English, and that station and train announcements were not always made bilingually.
With a collapse in revenues, and a significant reduction in passenger numbers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic having made the original franchise financially unviable, on 7 February 2021 the franchise was taken over by the Welsh Government's operator of last resort, Transport for Wales Rail, a subsidiary of Transport for Wales, with Amey Infrastructure having an involvement in delivering some key projects such as the Core Valley Lines.Written Statement: Future of Rail update Welsh Government 22 October 2020Welsh Government takes control of franchise The Railway Magazine issue 1436 November 2020 page 6
Services Typical TfW weekday off-peak service was as follows:Train Times . Transport for Wales Rail.
North Wales Coast Line Route Calling at to 8 , , , , , (3tpd), (7tpd), (7tpd), (7tpd), , (7tpd), (7tpd), (7tpd), , , (4tpd), , (7tpd), , (3tpd), , , (3tpd), (3tpd), (3tpd), (7tpd), (7tpd), (5tpd), (5tpd), (5tpd) and (5tpd).Only 7 tpd terminate in Holyhead as one turns off at and terminates at , calling at en route. 1 Newport, Cwmbran (Holyhead-bound only), Pontypool (Holyhead-bound only), Abergavenny (Holyhead-bound only), Hereford, Ludlow (Cardiff-bound only), Shrewsbury, Wrexham General, Chester, Flint, Rhyl, Colwyn Bay, Llandudno Junction and Bangor0534 from Holyhead and 1716 from Cardiff Central is the Premier Service which calls at fewer stops and has 1st class accommodation available with meals included. to Holyhead , , , , , Shrewsbury, Gobowen, Chirk, Ruabon, Wrexham General, Chester, Flint, Prestatyn, Rhyl, Colwyn Bay, Llandudno Junction, Conwy, Penmaenmawr, Llanfairfechan and Bangor to 1 , , , , , , , , , Chester, Shotton, Flint, Prestatyn, Rhyl, Abergele & Pensarn, Colwyn Bay, Llandudno Junction and 6 inter-peak trains each day begin/end at the airport, 1 early morning and 2 late evening trains do too, not calling at East Didsbury. Other trains begin at Manchester Piccadilly. to 1 shuttle to 1 Helsby, Frodsham, and South Wales – Manchester Route Calling at to , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and Carmarthen to Manchester Piccadilly , , Pembrey & Burry Port, Llanelli, Gowerton, Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot Parkway, Bridgend, , , , Cardiff Central, Newport, Cwmbran, Abergavenny, Hereford, Leominster, Ludlow, , , Shrewsbury, , , Crewe, Wilmslow and Stockport to Manchester Piccadilly 1 , Clarbeston Road, Whitland, Carmarthen, Pembrey & Burry Port, Llanelli, Gowerton, Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot Parkway, Bridgend, Pencoed, Llanharan, Pontyclun, Cardiff Central, Newport, Cwmbran, Abergavenny, Hereford, Leominster, Ludlow, Craven Arms, Church Stretton, Shrewsbury, Whitchurch, Nantwich, Crewe, Wilmslow and Stockport Cambrian Line Route Calling at to and , , , , , , , , , ...The two portions divide/attach at Machynlleth. Aberystwyth portion: , and Pwllheli portion: Dovey Junction, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth - Welshpool, Newtown, Caersws, Machynlleth, Dovey Junction, Borth and Bow Street Additional trains that run so that there is a service most hours between Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth Heart of Wales Line Route Calling at to 1 , , , , , , , , , and to 1 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and to Shrewsbury and Crewe 4 , Llanelli, Bynea, Llangennech, Pontarddulais, Pantyffynnon, Ammanford, Llandybie, Ffairfach, Llandeilo, Llangadog, Llanwrda, Llandovery, , , , , , , , Llandrindod, Pen-y-Bont, Dolau, Llanbister Road, Llangynllo, Knucklas, Knighton, Bucknell, Hopton Heath, Broome, Craven Arms and Church Stretton 2tpd extend to/from Crewe, calling at Yorton, Wem, Prees, Whitchurch, Wrenbury and Nantwich Shrewsbury to Crewe 5 Yorton, Wem, Prees, Whitchurch, Wrenbury and Nantwich creates an every-2-hours service alongside trains beginning further south Conwy Valley Line Route Calling at to 6 , , , , , , , , , and Borderlands Line Route Calling at to 1 , , , , , , , , , , , and West Wales Locals Route Calling at to , , , , , , , , , , , and to Swansea , , , Whitland, Carmarthen, and Llanelli Swanline Route Calling at to , , , , , , , , and West Wales-Gloucestershire Line Route Calling at to 1 , , , , , Bridgend, , , , , , , , , and Some trains terminate at Cardiff Central, rather than Cheltenham Spa.doesn't run when Fishguard - Gloucester service runs to Gloucester 4 , , , , , , , , , , , , , Bridgend, Pencoed, Llanharan, Pontyclun, Cardiff Central, Newport, Severn Tunnel Junction, Caldicot, Chepstow and Lydney Some trains terminate at Cardiff Central, rather than Gloucester. Ebbw Valley Railway Route Calling at Cardiff Central to 1 , , , , , and Rhymney Line Route Calling at to and 4 , , , , , , , , , (2tph), , , , , and (1tph). 1tph extends to Rhymney, calling at , and Merthyr & Vale of Glamorgan Lines Route Calling at to 1 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and to Aberdare 1 Barry, Barry Docks, Cadoxton, Dinas Powys, Eastbrook, Cogan, Grangetown, Cardiff Central, Cardiff Queen Street, Cathays, Llandaf, Radyr, Taffs Well, Trefforest, Pontypridd, Abercynon, Penrhiwceiber, Mountain Ash, Fernhill and Cwmbach Barry Island to 2 Barry, Barry Docks, Cadoxton, Dinas Powys, Eastbrook, Cogan, Grangetown, Cardiff Central, Cardiff Queen Street, Cathays, Llandaf, Radyr, Taffs Well, , Trefforest, Pontypridd, Abercynon, , , and Rhondda Line Route Calling at to 2 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and City & Coryton Lines Route Calling at Radyr to 2 , , , , , , , , , and Butetown Branch Line Route Calling at to 5 shuttle
Rolling stock KeolisAmey Wales inherited a fleet of Class 142, Class 143, Class 150, Class 153, Class 158, Class 175s diesel multiple units and Mark 3 carriages from Arriva Trains Wales in October 2018.About Us Transport for Wales Rail
In 2019 and 2020, more Class 153 units, Class 170 units and Mark 4 carriages were acquired from other operators. In November 2020, the first three Class 769 units entered service. These allowed for the Class 142 and Mark 3 sets to be withdrawn.
Class 143 Pacer
KeolisAmey Wales operated 15 Class 143 units. All had advertising vinyls applied, with the messages 'The start of a new journey', 'The journey is almost over for old trains', and 'These trains will terminate soon', stating rolling stock, infrastructure and service improvements.
From 1 January 2021, the Class 143 units were only able to operate coupled to (a) PRM-compliant unit(s), and the toilets were locked out of use due to Network Rail no longer wanting waste from non-tanked toilets being dropped onto their tracks. The last Class 143 unit ran in May 2021.
Class 150, 158 and 175 DMUs KeolisAmey Wales operated 36 Class 150, 24 Class 158 and 27 Class 175 units.
Class 153 Super Sprinters In April 2019, KeolisAmey Wales added five 153 units acquired from Great Western Railway to the eight it previously had. Four of these entered service the following month, while the fifth entered service on 21 October 2019 as the first 153 on the whole GB rail network with PRM modifications.
In October 2019, Porterbrook announced that it would lease a further nine Class 153 units to KeolisAmey Wales for use on a short-term basis. These comprise five units from Greater Anglia which entered service in January 2020, and four units from East Midlands Railway which entered service in February 2020. In November 2020, two more units arrived from East Midlands Railway.
Class 170 Turbostars In September 2019, KeolisAmey Wales took delivery of the first of 12 Class 170 Turbostar DMUs from Abellio Greater Anglia. , Transport for Wales operated the 12 Class 170 units on the Maesteg/Cardiff/Ebbw Vale-Cheltenham routes.
Class 769 Flex Nine Class 769 Flex bi-mode multiple units were due to be delivered by 2019, following conversion from Class 319 electric multiple units, by fitting diesel generators and extra electronic equipment to some previously unused below-solebar space. The first three units entered service in November and December 2020.
Fleet at end of franchise FamilyClassImageTypeTop SpeedCarriagesNumberRoutes OperatedBuiltmphkm/hLocomotive hauled stockPremier Service67Loco125200–6 Holyhead-Cardiff Central Holyhead (Llandudno)-Manchester Piccadilly Diesel multiple unitsPacer143DMU75121215 Valley Lines & Cardiff local routes19851986Sprinter15075121236 Valley Lines & Cardiff local routes Heart of Wales/West Wales lines Regional services between South and West Wales, North West and South West England19861987153 Super Sprinter12419871988158 Express Sprinter90140224 Cambrian line Regional services between South and North Wales, North West and South West England19901991Bombardier Turbostar17010016124 Maesteg Line Ebbw Valley Railway South Wales Main Line2002381999Alstom Coradia175 Coradia 1000100161211Regional services between North West England, North and South Wales19992001316Bi-mode multiple units BR Second Generation (Mark 3) 769 Flex BMU10016143Valley Lines
Train maintenance depots KeolisAmey Wales's fleet was stored and maintained at the following depots.
Cardiff Canton: Class 143, 150, 153, 170 and 769s and locomotive-hauled trains Chester (Alstom): Class 175s Machynlleth: Class 158s Holyhead: Stabling point (refuelling and light maintenance) for locomotive-hauled trains and DMUs Crewe Carriage Sidings (Arriva TrainCare): Class 150, Class 153 and Class 158 units, and locomotive-hauled trains. Stabling point and light maintenance.
Due to space limitations, Chrysalis Rail allowed KeolisAmey Wales to store any unallocated units or carriages at its Landore TMD in Swansea, even if they were not being worked on.
Past fleet