Class 197e trains begin service on Cambrian Coast Line, Wales 2026

Key Points

• Class 197e trains from Transport for Wales have been put into service on the Cambrian Coast Line for the first time.
• They will operate between Pwllheli and Machynlleth starting from Monday, 19 October 2026.
• It is the first time in over 35 years that new trains have been operated on this route.
• The Class 197e trainset will be gradually replacing Class 158 trains that have been serving the Cambrian line for over three decades.
• Since the Class 197e trains cannot be connected to the current fleet of trains, the passenger will notice the combination of both the new and old trains.
• Until late 2026, when the services on the Cambrian Coast will start and terminate at Machynlleth.
• This will mean that passengers going from the coastal stops to the destinations such as Shrewsbury and Birmingham, will have to transfer at Machynlleth station.
• As explained by Transport for Wales, this gradual introduction of new trains allows introducing three new trains on the Cambrian Coast overnight, as a first step.

Wales (Wales Times) October 22, 2026 — Transport for Wales has begun operating its first new Class 197e trains on the Cambrian Coast Line, marking the first introduction of new rolling stock on the route in more than 35 years.

The trains entered passenger service between Pwllheli and Machynlleth from Monday, 19 October 2026. Transport for Wales says the introduction begins a gradual replacement of the Class 158 trains that have served the Cambrian line for more than three decades.

As reported by the County Times, Transport for Wales confirmed that the Class 197e trains would begin operating between Pwllheli and Machynlleth from Monday, 19 October, with the move described as a major milestone for the railway. The publication reported that new trains had not appeared on the route for more than three decades.

Why are the new trains being introduced gradually?

Transport for Wales says the Class 197e trains cannot attach and detach with the trains currently used on the Cambrian line. As a result, the operator is introducing the new fleet gradually, and passengers will continue to see both new and older trains on the route.

The operator stated on its timetable page: “From 19 October 2026 we’ll begin introducing our new Class 197 trains on the Cambrian line, between Pwllheli and Machynlleth.” It added that this would be “the first time in over 35 years new trains have operated on this route.”

Transport for Wales also said the new Class 197e fleet will gradually replace its Class 158 trains, which have operated on the Cambrian line for more than 30 years.

What timetable changes affect passengers?

From Monday, 19 October until late 2026, trains on the Cambrian Coast line between Pwllheli and Machynlleth will temporarily start and finish at Machynlleth. Transport for Wales says the change is connected to the phased introduction of the new fleet.

As reported by the County Times, this means passengers travelling between stations on the coast and destinations further east, including Shrewsbury and Birmingham, will need to change trains at Machynlleth to complete their journeys.

The Cambrian News reported that passengers wanting to travel east on the Cambrian line after arriving at Machynlleth will have to change onto older trains. The publication also reported that the temporary timetable change began on Monday, 19 October and is expected to remain in place until late 2026.

How has Transport for Wales explained the rollout?

Transport for Wales said it had considered the available options before choosing an approach that allows three new trains to be introduced onto the Cambrian Coast overnight as a first stage. The operator’s comments were reported by the Cambrian News.

Earlier, a Transport for Wales spokesperson told the Cambrian News: “We are on track to introduce the first Class 197 trains on the Cambrian line from autumn 2026.” The spokesperson added: “They will be introduced onto the Cambrian main line and Coast first and then introduced onto our Shrewsbury to Birmingham and select Holyhead services shortly afterwards.”

The same spokesperson had also told the Cambrian News in September that the trains would first be introduced on the Cambrian main line and Coast, before being used on Shrewsbury to Birmingham and selected Holyhead services shortly afterwards.

What preparation took place before launch?

The introduction follows months of preparation. The Cambrian News reported in September that months of testing had been carried out along the Cambrian and Cambrian Coast lines.

In June, a Transport for Wales spokesperson told the Cambrian News:

“We’re working towards introducing the first 197 units onto the Cambrian line from Autumn 2026.”

The spokesperson said work to prepare for their introduction was progressing well and that driver training was under way.

Transport for Wales had also carried out rail engineering work on the Cambrian line in May 2026 to prepare for the new trains and improve reliability. The operator said the work was important to prepare the line for the introduction of Class 197 trains later in the year.

A report prepared for Gwynedd Council’s Cambrian Coast Railway Liaison Committee noted that safety tests on the new Class 197 fleet had been implemented and that the trains were hoped to enter service in September 2026, following completion of platform improvements at some stations. It also recorded that further test journeys were planned for January 2026, with driver and conductor training due in the new year.

Which trains are being replaced?

Transport for Wales says the Class 197e fleet will gradually replace the Class 158 trains on the Cambrian line. The Class 158 trains have served the route for more than three decades.

The new trains are part of a wider fleet programme. Transport for Wales describes its long-distance flagship units as made in Wales and says they entered service in 2023.

The Cambrian News reported that the Cambrian services between Birmingham International and Holyhead, Pwllheli and Aberystwyth were among the last services to be converted to new Class 197 trains. It reported that the line’s unique ETCS in-cab signalling system requires a dedicated fleet of ETCS Class 197 trains, which are maintained at Machynlleth depot and are being built and tested by CAF.

What does the launch mean for the route?

The launch brings new trains to a route that has relied on older rolling stock for decades. Transport for Wales says the Class 197e trains are being introduced first between Pwllheli and Machynlleth, with the wider rollout continuing beyond the initial phase.

The operator has not presented the change as a complete replacement of all existing trains on the route at this stage. Instead, it says customers will continue to see a mix of new and old trains while the introduction takes place.

The temporary arrangement at Machynlleth remains in place until late 2026, according to Transport for Wales.

Background of the development

The Cambrian Coast Line runs between Pwllheli and Machynlleth and forms part of the wider Cambrian railway network in mid and north Wales. Transport for Wales describes it as one of Britain’s celebrated railway routes, with the Explore Cambrian day ticket covering travel along the line between Pwllheli, Aberystwyth and Machynlleth.

The introduction of the Class 197e trains has been planned over several years. In November 2025, Transport for Wales Chief Executive James Price wrote to Ceredigion Preseli MS Elin Jones saying he hoped the new 197e trains would be introduced on the line in September 2026. He said that, while there was no specific date at that time, planning and preparatory work would likely lead to a phased introduction in September 2026. His comments were reported by the Cambrian News.

Preparation work continued through 2026. Transport for Wales announced engineering work in May to prepare the Cambrian line for the new trains and improve reliability. The operator later confirmed that testing had been carried out along the Cambrian and Cambrian Coast lines, while driver training was under way ahead of the autumn introduction.

The line’s ETCS in-cab signalling system has been a key factor in the rollout. The Cambrian News reported that the system requires a dedicated fleet of ETCS Class 197 trains for Cambrian services, with those trains maintained at Machynlleth depot.

Prediction: How will this affect passengers?

For passengers living along the Cambrian Coast, the immediate effect is likely to be a period of adjustment. Travellers between Pwllheli and Machynlleth will have access to the new Class 197e trains, but those continuing east towards Shrewsbury, Birmingham or other destinations will need to change at Machynlleth until late 2026.

The change may be most significant for commuters, students and leisure travellers who use through services from coastal stations to destinations beyond Machynlleth. They will need to plan for a change of train and allow additional time for connections during the temporary timetable arrangement.

If the rollout proceeds as Transport for Wales has set out, more Class 197e trains are expected to appear on the Cambrian line over time, reducing reliance on the Class 158 fleet. The operator says the new fleet will gradually replace those older trains, which have served the route for more than three decades.