Train accessibility

A new fleet of trains will gradually be introduced between now and December 2022. Details will be included within this webpage as and when each type of train is refurbished or withdrawn and replaced.

Assisted travel team

Our Assisted Travel Team can provide advice, book assistance and arrange tickets for your journey, regardless of train operator. They can be contacted on 033 300 50 501 between 8am and 8pm every day except Christmas Day. The Next Generation Text service number for people with hearing and speech difficulties is 18001 033 300 50 501.

Assistance during your journey

Should you require assistance with boarding and alighting the train, this will be provided by the conductor on the train or by station staff where staff are present. Details of which stations have staff and the times they are available to assist can be found on page xx of our booklet ‘Making Rail Accessible - helping older and disabled passengers.’

Wheelchairs and powered mobility scooters on trains

We can accommodate wheelchairs and powered mobility scooters with dimensions of up to 700mm x 1200mm (including footplates), with a turning radius of 900mm, and a maximum combined weight (wheelchair and passenger) of 300kg. Please check the dimensions of your wheelchair and powered mobility scooter before travel to avoid disappointment if they cannot be carried on the train.

Services between Holyhead, Manchester and Cardiff in both directions

Please note that some services on these routes are operated by traditional engine and coaches and do not have wheelchair-accessible toilets. They also have doors that have to be opened manually. The Assisted Travel team can tell you which services are operated by these trains. If the train you want does not have an accessible toilet, the Assisted Travel team will tell you this when you book and can suggest alternative services for you.

Services between Rhymney and Cardiff in both directions

Please note that some services on this route are operated by traditional engine and coaches and do not have dedicated spaces for wheelchair users. They also have doors that have to be opened manually. The Assisted Travel team can tell you which services are operated by these trains. If the train you want is not accessible to you, the Assisted Travel team can suggest alternative services for you.

Class 142

These two-carriage diesel trains operate on the Cardiff Valleys network and local services in South Wales. There are 15 of these in the fleet. These trains have one on-board standard toilet but no accessible toilets. They have two wheelchair spaces, on-board ramps, a public address system, fold-down seats, and push-button doors. They were built between 1985-1987. These trains will be removed from service in 2020.


Type of train	Two carriage diesel train
Year built	1985 to 1987
Number in fleet	15
Seating capacity	102 + 6 tip up seats
Toilets	1
Wheelchair accessible toilet	No
Wheelchair users’ space	2
Priority seating	No
Bicycle space	2
On board facilities	Public address, access ramp, Wifi and push button doors. These trains do not have visual information screens
Routes operated	Cardiff Valleys network. Cardiff to Swansea and West Wales. Cardiff to Ebbw Vale and Cheltenham.

Class 142 | Download PDF version

Class 143

These two-carriage diesel trains operate on the Cardiff Valleys network and local services in South Wales. There are 15 of these in the fleet. These trains have one on-board standard toilet but no accessible toilets. They have two wheelchair spaces, on-board ramps, a public address system, fold-down seats and push button doors. They were built between 1985-1986. These trains will be removed from service in 2020.

Please be aware that our Class 142 and 143 trains do not feature fully accessible facilities, including toilets. These trains are operating coupled, or joined up with an accessible Class 150 train (accessibility details of Class 150 available below).


Type of train	Two carriage diesel train
Year built	1985 to 1986
Number in fleet	15
Seating capacity	104 + 6 tip up seats
Toilets	1
Wheelchair accessible toilet	No
Wheelchair users’ space	2
Priority seating	No
Bicycle space	2
On board facilities	Public address, access ramp, Wifi and push button doors. These trains do not have visual information screens
Routes operated	Cardiff Valleys network. Cardiff to Swansea and West Wales. Cardiff to Ebbw Vale and Cheltenham.

Class 143 | Download PDF version

Class 150

These two-carriage diesel trains operate on the Cardiff Valleys network and local services in South Wales. There are 36 of these in the fleet. They have two wheelchair spaces, on-board ramps, a public address system and push button doors. These trains are being fitted with one accessible toilet per train and passenger information screens. So far, we have modified 32 of these trains and all will be modified by Summer 2020. They were built in 1987.


Type of train	Two carriage diesel train
Year built	1987
Number in fleet	36
Seating capacity	108 + 6 tip up seats on refurbished fleet. A refurbishment programme is currently in progress and due to be completed in August 2020.
Toilets	2
Wheelchair accessible toilet	None on the non refurbished fleet. 1 on refurbished fleet.
Wheelchair users’ space	2
Priority seating	Yes - on refurbished trains only
Bicycle space	2
On board facilities	Public address, visual information screens, access ramp, Wifi, power points and push button doors. *Available on the refurbished fleet.
Routes operated	Swansea to Shrewsbury via Llandovery. Cardiff to Swansea and West Wales. Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog. Wrexham to Bidston Line. Cardiff Valleys network and Maesteg. Cardiff to Ebbw Vale and Cheltenham.

Class 150 | Download PDF version

Class 153

These single-carriage diesel trains operate on the Heart of Wales, West Wales, Conwy Valley, City Line and Cardiff Bay routes. There are 22 of these in the fleet. They have one wheelchair space, onboard ramps, a public address system and push button doors. 13 of these trains are being fitted with one accessible toilet per train and passenger information screens. So far, we have modified 8 of these trains and all will be modified by Summer 2020. They were built in 1987.


Type of train	Single carriage diesel train
Year built	1987 / 1988
Number in fleet	22
Seating capacity	59 on refurbished fleet. 72 on non refurbished fleet. Fleet refurbishment is currently in progress and due to be completed in August 2020 for 1 units.
Toilets	1
Wheelchair accessible toilet	None on the non refurbished fleet. 1 on the refurbished fleet.
Wheelchair users’ space	1 space on the non refurbished fleet 1 space on the refurbished fleet.
Priority seating	6
Bicycle space	2
On board facilities	Public address, visual information screens, access ramp, Wifi, power points and push button doors. *Available on the refurbished fleet.
Routes operated	Swansea to Shrewsbury via Llandovery. Cardiff to Swansea and West Wales. Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog. Coryton to Radyr. Cardiff Queen Street to Cardiff Bay.

Class 153 | Download PDF version

Class 158

These two-carriage diesel trains operate long distance services across the network. There are 24 of these in the fleet. These trains have two on-board standard toilets. Although there is one accessible toilet on-board, the maximum door width is 580mm. There are two wheelchair spaces, on-board ramps, a public and automatic address system, baby change facilities and push button doors. They were built between 1989-1992.


Type of train	Two carriage diesel train
Year built	1989 to 1992
Number in fleet	24
Seating capacity	138
Toilets	1
Wheelchair accessible toilet	1 (Accessible toilet door is 780mm wide Standard toilet door is 460mm wide)
Wheelchair users’ space	2
Priority seating	Yes
Bicycle space	2
On board facilities	Public address, visual information screens, assistance button, access ramp, push button doors, baby changing, Wifi, assistance button, baby changing, power points and at-seat catering on selected services.
Routes operated	Long distance services between West Wales, Swansea, Cardiff, Shrewsbury, Manchester and Holyhead. Aberystwyth and Pwllheli to Shrewsbury and Birmingham International. Maesteg to Cardiff, Ebbw Vale and Cheltenham.

Class 158 | Download PDF version

Class 170

These two or three carriage diesel trains operate long-distance services across the network. There are 12 of these in the fleet. These trains have one accessible toilet. There are two wheelchair spaces, on-board ramps, a public and automatic address system, baby change facilities and push-button doors. They were built between 1999-2001.


Type of train	Two and three carriage diesel train
Year built	1998 to 2005
Number in fleet	4 two car and 8 three car units
Seating capacity	126 in the two car and 187 in the three car
Toilets	2
Wheelchair accessible toilet	1
Wheelchair users’ space	2
Priority seating	Yes
Bicycle space	2
On board facilities	Public address, visual information screens, access ramp, and push button doors. Wifi due to be fitted in September 2020.
Routes operated	Services between Maesteg, Cardiff, Ebbw Vale and Cheltenham.

Class 170 | Download PDF version

Class 175

These two or three carriage diesel trains operate long-distance services across the network. There are 27 of these in the fleet. These trains have two on-board standard toilets and one accessible toilet. There are two wheelchair spaces, on-board ramps, a public and automatic address system, baby change facilities and push-button doors. They were built between 1999-2001.


Type of train	Two and three carriage diesel train
Year built	1999 to 2001
Number in fleet	11 two car and 16 three car trains
Seating capacity	122 in the two car and 190 in the three car
Toilets	2
Wheelchair accessible toilet	1
Wheelchair users’ space	2
Priority seating	Yes
Bicycle space	2
On board facilities	Public address, visual information screens, assistance button, access ramp, push button doors, baby changing, Wifi, assistance button, baby changing, power points and at seat catering on selected services.
Routes operated	Long distance services between West Wales, Swansea, Cardiff, Shrewsbury, Manchester and Holyhead. Maesteg to Cardiff and Ebbw Vale.

Class 175 | Download PDF version

Long distance locomotive hauled services

Our Locomotive-Hauled Coach Engine and four coaches (Mark II & III) is no longer in service since March 2020. These trains will be replaced with the Class Mark V in Autumn/Winter 2020, which will meet all legal accessibility requirements.


Type of train	Diesel locomotive and four carriages
Year built	1989 to 1992
Number in fleet	3
Seating capacity	46 First Class, 202 Standard Class
Toilets	4
Wheelchair accessible toilet	No
Wheelchair users’ space	2
Priority seating	Yes
Bicycle space	5
On board facilities	Public address, access ramp, assistance button, Wifi, and Restaurant car on the Holyhead to Cardiff service in both directions.
Routes operated	Holyhead to Cardiff in both directions. Holyhead to Chester and Manchester in both directions.

Long distance locomotive hauled services | Download PDF version