First ETCS-fitted Class 197e trains enter service on Cambrian Coast Line

Transport for Wales (TfW) has put its first three Class 197e trains into passenger service on the Cambrian Coast Line between Machynlleth and Pwllheli, the final part of its network to receive the new fleet.

The operator said on 22 October that the units replace trains that have served the route for more than 30 years. More Class 197es will follow over the coming months on the wider Cambrian line between Birmingham, Machynlleth and Aberystwyth.

The introduction forms part of the Welsh Government's £800m investment in new trains across Wales and the borders. The fleet was built by CAF at its factory in Newport.

Mark Hooper, Deputy Minister for Transport, said: "This investment is about more than just new trains, it's about TfW delivering better journeys for passengers, on trains built in Wales, for the people of Wales."

Why the Cambrian came last

The Cambrian route is the UK's first line to run with the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) in-cab signalling. Network Rail said when it awarded the contract for the scheme that it planned to implement ERTMS Level 2 on the Cambrian line, with a new control centre at Machynlleth, and that the system would replace Radio Electronic Token Block signalling on the 215km route from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli.

TfW said in June 2024 that this unique signalling system was the reason the Cambrian services were the last to be handed over to Class 197s. The route needs a dedicated sub-fleet fitted with the European Train Control System (ETCS), maintained at Machynlleth depot. The "e" in the Class 197e designation denotes that fitment, according to TfW's timetable page.

Because the new trains cannot attach to or detach from the existing Cambrian stock, TfW said it is introducing them gradually, so passengers will see a mix of old and new units during the changeover. The Class 197es will progressively replace the Class 158s on the line, which TfW said will be returned to their owner once the new trains have taken over the Birmingham to Holyhead, Pwllheli and Aberystwyth services.

Infrastructure works

TfW said in April 2026 that Network Rail would carry out infrastructure improvements on the Cambrian line between Shrewsbury, Aberystwyth and Machynlleth from 8 to 22 May 2026, and that the work was to prepare the route for the Class 197s later in the year.

Gwyn Rees, Programme Director at Network Rail Wales and Borders, said in April that the upgrades "will help us maintain a safe and reliable railway for passengers and freight" across mid Wales.

TfW has also raised sections of platform at six Cambrian stations to make boarding easier for wheelchair users and passengers with reduced mobility. Harrington Humps have been installed at Aberdovey, Dyffryn Ardudwy, Llwyngwril, Talsarnau, Penrhyndeudraeth and Porthmadog.

The fleet

The Class 197 programme comprises 77 trains, 51 two-car and 26 three-car units. The first was formally launched in January 2023 by Lesley Griffiths MS. By June 2024 more than half the fleet had entered service, and TfW says it now runs more new trains than old across its network, serving destinations from Holyhead to Fishguard.

First Minister Eluned Morgan said in February 2026 that the £800m spent on new trains had bought rolling stock able to carry 80% more passengers.

On the Cambrian Coast the new units offer faster Wi-Fi, at-seat power, bilingual digital information screens, air-conditioning, a fully accessible toilet and dedicated spaces for passengers with reduced mobility, according to TfW.

What happens next

TfW began introducing the Class 197s between Pwllheli and Machynlleth from 19 October 2026. While the Coast is served by new trains and the rest of the line by Class 158s, passengers travelling between the Cambrian Coast and Shrewsbury or Birmingham must change at Machynlleth, where lifts give step-free access between platforms and extra staff are on hand. Aberystwyth to Birmingham journeys are unaffected.

TfW said this temporary timetable is expected to remain in place until late 2026, when the new trains are rolled out across the rest of the Cambrian line.