Wales Rail Pass - Wales Rail Passes

Wales or Cymru is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in 2011 of 3,063,456 and has a total area of 20,779 km2 (8,023 sq mi). Wales has over 1,680 miles (2,700 km) of coastline and is largely mountainous with its higher peaks in the north and central areas, including Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), its highest summit. The country lies within the north temperate zone and has a changeable, maritime climate. The capital and largest city is Cardiff.

The Welsh Government manages those parts of the British railway network within Wales, through the Transport for Wales Rail train operating company. The Cardiff region has its own urban rail network. Beeching cuts in the 1960s mean that most of the remaining network is geared toward east-west travel connecting with the Irish Sea ports for ferries to Ireland. Services between north and south Wales operate through the English cities of Chester and Hereford and towns of Shrewsbury, Oswestry and Knighton along the Welsh Marches Line. These are all great for a day out in Wales. Trains in Wales are mainly diesel-powered but the South Wales Main Line branch of the Great Western Main Line used by services from London Paddington to Cardiff is undergoing electrification, although the programme has experienced delays.

Transport for Wales Rail Limited, branded as Transport for Wales and TfW Rail (Welsh: Trafnidiaeth Cymru and TrC Trenau), is a Welsh publicly-owned train operating company, a subsidiary of Transport for Wales (TfW), a Welsh Government-owned company. It commenced operations of the day to day services of the Wales & Borders franchise on 7 February 2021, as an operator of last resort, succeeding KeolisAmey Wales. Transport for Wales Rail manages 248 National Rail stations, including all 222 in Wales, and operates all mainline services wholly within Wales, and services from Wales, Chester, and Shrewsbury to Liverpool, Manchester, Manchester Airport, Crewe, Birmingham, Bidston and Cheltenham.

Transport for Wales Routes

Transport for Wales Rail operate on the following Welsh routes. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a temporary reduced timetable is in place so service patterns are not shown. Welsh rail services may run on more than one route, and may skip stops.

Transport for Wales Non-Valley Routes

North Wales to South Wales
Marches Line
Cambrian Line
Heart of Wales Line
North Wales Coast Line
Conwy Valley Line
Borderlands Line
Llandudno to Manchester Airport
West Wales Line
Swanline
Maesteg to Cheltenham Spa
Chester to Crewe
Crewe to Shrewsbury
Liverpool Lime Street to Wrexham General

Transport for Wales South Wales Valleys

Rhondda Line
Merthyr Line
Coryton Line
Rhymney Line
Ebbw Vale Line
Butetown Branch
Vale of Glamorgan Line
City Line

Wales Airports

Cardiff Airport is the international airport of Wales. Providing links to European, African and North American destinations, it is about 12 miles (19 km) southwest of Cardiff city centre, in the Vale of Glamorgan. Intra-Wales flights run between Anglesey (Valley) and Cardiff, operated since 2017 by Eastern Airways. Other internal flights operate to northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 

Wales Ferry Ports

Wales has four commercial ferry ports. Regular ferry services to Ireland operate from Holyhead, Pembroke Dock and Fishguard. The Swansea to Cork service was cancelled in 2006, reinstated in March 2010, and withdrawn again in 2012

If you want to travel extensively by train throughout Wales and Great Britain, then the BritRail pass can be the best value way to travel. These passes are not available to UK residents and you cannot buy them in the UK so it is best to organise this before leaving home (you can order online from us with your pass posted directly to you in Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the United States).

The BritRail pass covers all of Great Britain’s rail network (including virtually all trains in England, Scotland and Wales) and is a cheaper alternative to the All Line Rover (which is a similar pass available to UK residents who are not eligible for a BritRail pass.

It is also a more flexible rail pass to the National Railcard and the All Line Rover as it is available in a wider number of passes with consecutive travel for three, four, eight, 15, 22 consecutive days or one month of consecutive travel or as a flexi-pass with three, four, eight or 15 travel days within a one month period. In contrast, the more expensive All Line Rover is only available for seven or 14 consecutive travel days.

There are Seven Main Varieties of BritRail Pass Available (for Tourists and Visitors to Wales):

Select the Correct Railcard for Your Yearly Train Travel!

Get 1/3 off your train tickets with a Railcard!

From children to seniors, there is a Railcard to suit everyone – and you get at least 1/3 off your tickets.

About National Railcards

The average Railcard holder saves £140 a year, and there are now over 5.6 million Railcards in use. We offer 9 main National Railcards, which give you savings of 1/3 off train fares. Most are available to buy online or at stations. You must carry your Railcard with you on your journey to qualify for the discount.

16-17 Saver Railcard

For those aged 16-17.
Buy a 16-17 Saver Railcard and keep it with you when you travel (on your phone or wallet)
Save on most tickets including Advance tickets
The 16-17 Saver is valid for one year or until your 18th birthday, whichever comes first and is not available to purchase at stations
Click for more information about the 16-17 Railcard from just £30 a year

16-25 Railcard
1/3 off rail travel
Average annual savings of up to £159!**
Just £30 for 1 year or £70 for 3 years
For everyone aged 16-25
and mature students
People with a 16-25 Railcard save on average £159 per year**, or £4.56 per journey^.
Click for more information about the 16-25 Railcard from just £30 a year

26-30 Railcard
1/3 off rail travel
Average annual savings of up to £218!**
Just £30 for a year
For everyone aged 26-30
People with a 26-30 Railcard save on average £218 per year**, or £4.88 per journey^
Click for more information about the 26-30 Railcard from just £30 a year

Two Together Railcard
Get 1/3 off train travel with a Two Together Railcard
1/3 off rail travel
Average annual savings of up to £153!**
Just £30 for 1 year
For you and the person you travel with the most
Click for more information about the Two Together Railcard from just £30 a year

Family and Friends Railcard
Get 1/3 off train travel for adults and 60% off for kids
1/3 off rail travel for adults and 60% off for kids
Average annual savings of up to £150!**
Just £30 for 1 year or £70 for 3 years
Up to 4 adults travelling together with up to 4 kids
People with a Family & Friends save on average £150 per year**, or £5.32 per journey^.
Click for more information about the Family and Friends Railcard from just £30 a year

Senior Railcard
Get 1/3 off train travel with a Senior Railcard
1/3 off rail travel
Average annual savings of up to £76!**
Just £30 for 1 year or £70 for 3 years
For everyone aged 60 and over
People with a Senior Railcard save on average £76 per year**, or £5.34 per journey^.
Click for more information about the Senior Railcard from just £30 a year

Disabled Persons Railcard
Get 1/3 off adult train travel with a Disabled Persons Railcard
1/3 off rail travel for you and an adult companion
Average annual savings of up to £91!**
Just £20 for 1 year or £54 for 3 years
For people with a disability that meets the eligibility criteria
People with a Disabled Persons Railcard save on average £91 per year**, or £4.26 per journey^.
Click for more information about the Disabled Persons Railcard from just £20 a year

Network Railcard
Get 1/3 off rail fares in London and the South East with a Network Railcard.
1/3 off rail fares in London and the South East!
Average annual savings of up to £134!**
Network Railcards cost just £30 a year
For travel in the Network Railcard area
People with a Network Railcard save on average £134 per year**, or £4.65 per journey^.
Click for more information about the Network Railcard from just £30 a year

Veterans Railcard
1/3 off rail travel for Veterans.
1/3 off most rail travel
For UK Veterans
Get your Railcard on your phone
Just £30 for 1 year or £70 for 3 years
For Veterans who served at least one day in His Majesty’s UK Armed Forces or UK Merchant Mariners who have seen duty on legally defined military operations
Click for more information about the Veterans Railcard from just £30 a year

see also:

HM Forces Railcard
For those in the serving in the HM Forces of Great Britain.
3-year Railcard available to buy online for £70.
Average annual saving of £118 plus special partner discounts on days out, holidays, theatre and more.
Click for more information about the HM Forces Railcard from just £30 a year

Please allow sufficient time to receive your Railcard before your departure.

You can get your Railcard in a digital format to be stored in the National Rail Railcard app on your phone or tablet, or as a physical card.

You can use your Railcard to buy tickets online from this website, at a ticket office, from a ticket machine, and over the phone.

When you enter a journey into our Journey Planner, you can add the number and type of Railcards you wish to use. It is possible to add multiple Railcards for different people who are travelling. When the fares are displayed, click on one of the prices to see how much money you have saved with your Railcard.

Your total journey cost will include the correct discounts for each of the passengers and Railcards entered.