THE BIGGEST change to the way railways in Wales are run for 15 years will take place tomorrow (Sunday, October 14) – but what will it mean for passengers?

Transport for Wales, a new non-profit company, will be taking over the Wales and Borders rail services this weekend from Arriva Trains Wales, which ran it from 2003.

TfW Rail Services promises a transformation of Wales and Borders rail service by 2025.

James Price, Chief Executive of TfW, says that passengers can expect their rail service to be transformed within just five years.

By 2023, 95% of passengers’ journeys will take place on new, higher capacity trains and there will also be 285 extra services every weekday.

James Price, Chief Executive, Transport for Wales. PICTURE: HUW JOHN, Cardiff 10/10/2018

“From Sunday, the Transport for Wales brand will start to appear on uniforms, around stations and on trains and posters,” he said.

“That journey starts on Sunday – and we hope the people of Wales and the Borders will join us on it.”

The same staff, trains, routes and timetables will remain in place and existing tickets will still be valid.

But changes will start to take place behind the scenes, eventually transforming the rail service in Wales according to Mr Price.

A ‘railmap’ of improvements has been published for customers.

TfW's railmap for improving services in Wales.

The ‘Coming Down the Track’ flyer details a raft of transformational improvements by 2025 that include:

- new and improved stations

- better services

- more carriages

- new and completely rebuilt trains

- better-value fares

- pay-as-you-go travel cards

- free Wi-Fi

- improved accessibility for those with mobility problems at all stations

- new websites and apps to help passengers stay informed and buy tickets easily

Though TfW will run the new rail services, the trains will be operated by new franchisee KeolisAmey, a Spanish-French company.

A cap on KeolisAmey’s profits will ensure that any additional profit will come back into Transport for Wales to be reinvested in transport.

Rather than the industry standard of 30-minute delay repay, TfW is committing to refunds for delays of 15 minutes or more from January 2019.

Passengers will be able to get more information and buy tickets from Transport for Wales Rail Services’ new customer website tfwrail.wales / trctrenau.cymru from Sunday.