Electric trains help take strain as more services added to get fans home

ELECTRIC trains will provide more seats for rugby fans as they leave Cardiff following Wales’ game against Scotland on Saturday.

Great Western Railway says it will provide nearly 20,000 seats for rugby fans.

It is all part of its plan to help disperse crowds after the Principality Stadium fixture on Saturday.

But the train operator has warned that services will still be busy and a queuing system will be in operation at the station after the game.

Customers are advised to be prepared to stagger their journey time and to keep checking social media for the latest information on queuing times.

There was criticism of train services after some of the Autumn Internationals with complaints that fans had been “crammed in like sardines”.

In a change to previous years, fans travelling to Newport after the game will be asked to queue on the square in front of Cardiff Central station, rather than from Riverside car park.

Customers are also reminded that they must wear a face mask when travelling in Wales, unless they are exempt.

The Class 387 Electrostars will provide more than 2,600 seats, making up 15% of GWR’s postmatch seating capacity.

In total the train operator will run 38 services to Newport, Swansea, Bristol and London, starting from 4.11pm, with the final train to Swansea departing at 10.49pm.

GWR customer service and operations director Richard Rowland said: “It has been a longheld ambition to use our 387s for ‘big-ticket’ events in Cardiff and we are excited to see these more sustainable, electric trains in use for the first time for the Wales-Scotland fixture.

“We have worked closely with our colleagues at Network Rail to run electric-only trains to and from Cardiff and our 387s have been running successfully since their introduction in the December timetable.

“We’ll be running these as halfhourly shuttle services to Newport, helping to free up more space on our London and Bristol services.”

Fans travelling to the game are advised to allow time to enter the ground, and to travel early, with trains immediately before the 2.15pm kick-off expected to be very busy.

Network Rail’s Wales and Border route director, Bill Kelly, said: “It’s fantastic to see passengers continuing to benefit from our work to electrify the railway through the Severn Tunnel into South Wales.

“GWR’s additional, all-electric services will be a big boost for rail passengers on large-scale event days in Cardiff, with more options for those travelling to and from the city.

“Network Rail is delighted to be working closely with our rail partners at GWR and Transport for Wales to build a better railway for Wales and Borders.”

Transport for Wales’ planning and performance director Colin Lea said: “We will be running additional services to and from Cardiff for Wales’ first home game of the Six Nations on Saturday.

“With 75,000 people expected at the stadium services will be very busy, so we kindly ask that people plan ahead, check the latest timetables and leave plenty of time for their journey.

“We would also like to remind customers face coverings remain mandatory on public transport in Wales, unless exempt.”

GWR will also provide eight Intercity services to London, 12 Intercity services to Swansea and 12 services to Bristol following the match.

For more information, or to check your journey, visit GWR.com