New South Wales to London train service launch date

Train operator Lumo has five trains on order for the route with Hitachi while Transport for Wales is seeking to run trains to Bristol

A new west Wales to London train service is on track to launch next year, while Transport for Wales (TfW) is looking to run trains to Bristol.

Lumo, the open access train operator of transport giant FirstGroup, will operate a daily service from Carmarthen to London Paddington. It plans to launch in December 2027.

Grand Union Trains first secured approval for the route from regulator the Office of Road and Rail (ORR) in 2022, after an initial application had been rejected. It had faced opposition from GWR, which operate its own South Wales to London Paddington services.

Grand Union in turn sold its rights to the route to FirstGroup in 2024. The value of the deal was not disclosed .

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The route will provide five return services a day, calling at Carmarthen, Llanelli, Gowerton, Cardiff, Newport, Severn Tunnel Junction, Bristol Parkway, and London Paddington.

The service will be in direct competition with GWR, as well as services between the Welsh stations provided by Transport for Wales.

A Lumo spokesperson said: “Our new service linking South Wales with London Paddington is set to launch from December 2027.

“The service will introduce five brand new Hitachi trains and will bring affordable open access travel to even more communities, operating a single-class of standard seating, offering all of our customers the best seats.

“The new operation will provide five return services a day, calling at Carmarthen, Llanelli, Gowerton, Cardiff, Newport, Severn Tunnel Junction, Bristol Parkway, and London Paddington. We’re also currently preparing to launch a new service linking Stirling with London Euston this Spring, with tickets now on sale.”

Lumo would not comment on the projected number of passengers per annum in its first few years of operation.

TfW Bristol services

TfW is seeking to run trains from South Wales to Bristol Temple Meads. Its application, which is not an open access bid, is currently being reviewed by the ORR.

TfW is seeking to run two services an hour between Cardiff Central Station and Bristol Temple Meads, stopping at Newport, Severn Tunnel Junction, Filton Abbey Wood and Stepleton Road, with one train running via Bristol Parkway Monday to Saturday.

West of Cardiff, TfW said post services would originate from or extend to Fishguard or Milford Haven. While calling patterns will vary, stations such as Bridgend, Port Talbot Parkway, Neath, Swansea and Carmarthen could be used.

TfW said its planned services would fit in-between existing GWR services from South Wales to Bristol Temple Meads.

A spokesman for TfW said: “We have submitted an application to the Office of Rail and Road for a new service between West Wales and Bristol, to begin in September 2026.

“As part of this process we will engage with a range of stakeholders, including Network Rail and other train operating companies, to discuss any implications of the new service on performance and route capacity.”

Subject to approval TfW plans to launch the route September.. The ORR said it couldn’t give any timeframe as to when a decision will be made. TfW operates a number of cross-border services on its Wales & Borders network, including one from South Wales to Manchester.

A spokesman for GWR said of TfW’s Bristol plan “We welcome any enhancements to provide addition levels of service for customers along a key route, but this does need to be done so as not to be detrimental to existing services or already agreed future services which will serve South Wales.

“We will continue to work with our industry partners to ensure railway services are developed in the best possible way for passengers and taxpayer.”