South Wales trains
Plan your trip around South Wales by train and discover some of the country’s most beautiful scenery, coastal hikes, and vibrant communities. Thanks to the frequent rail services operating in South Wales and connecting South Wales to England and Scotland, you can easily reach not only Cardiff but also the stunning Brecon Beacons National Park and the Wye Valley.
South Wales train services
There are three train companies operating in South Wales:
- Transport for Wales, who run almost all train services in South Wales and between South Wales and some of the most popular hubs in England, including Chester and Manchester
- CrossCountry, who mainly connect Cardiff Central and Newport to Central and North East England
- Great Western Railway (GWR), who run their services between London to South Wales.
Want to learn more about the Welsh rail network? Read our guide to trains in Wales or trains in North Wales.
South Wales train map
Check out our South Wales map below or use our interactive Wales Rail Map and discover how easy it is to get to the main destinations of South Wales by train.
Explore South Wales by train and take in the breath-taking views of each city from the comfort of your seat. Cardiff, Swansea and Newport are the main station hubs in South Wales. You can easily get from Swansea to Cardiff in just 1h 7m on the fastest services operated by GWR and Transport for Wales. The route from Newport to Cardiff, which only takes 18m, is also served by these two train companies, as well as CrossCountry.
If you’re travelling to South Wales from London, you’ll need to take a GWR service from London Paddington station. Trains from London to Newport take just 1h 29m on the fastest services, while services from London to Cardiff can take as little as 1h 42m. It takes slightly longer to reach Swansea from London – about 2h 37m.
Taking the train from Scotland, you’ll need to change at least once to reach South Wales. For example, to get from Edinburgh to Cardiff, you can travel with CrossCountry to Bristol Parkway or Birmingham New Street station and then change onto a GWR train or another CrossCountry service bound for Edinburgh.
Popular train routes in South Wales
Want to learn more about some of the most popular train routes in South Wales? Check out our table below and click on the route you’re most interested in – you’ll find plenty of information, including journey times, ticket prices and some useful FAQs. At Trainline, we connect directly to Transport for Wales, CrossCountry and GWR’s inventory, so your train ticket will always be valid for travel if you book online with us.
|
Route |
Distance |
Fastest journey |
|
131 miles (211 km) |
2h 26m | |
|
124 miles (199 km) |
2h 12m | |
|
18 miles (30 km) |
24m | |
| Bristol to Cardiff |
26 miles (42 km) |
56m |
|
130 miles (208 km) |
6h 4m | |
|
31 miles (50 km) |
1h 43m | |
|
18 miles (29 km) |
37m | |
|
126 miles (202 km) |
4h 41m | |
|
7 miles (11 km) |
23m | |
|
11 miles (18 km) |
18m |
Train stations in South Wales
Planning to travel to one of South Wales’ train stations? Click on one of the stations below, and you’ll find all you need to know about live train times, station facilities and useful travel tips.
How to book cheap train tickets to South Wales
If you’re after cheap train tickets to South Wales, check out our tips below and see how much you can save on your train journey. Want to bag yourself the latest offers on UK train travel? Visit our train deals and discounts page to search for all the available deals in the UK.
Book in advance
Train tickets in South Wales usually go on sale 12 weeks before the date of travel. Look out for Advance train tickets and make sure you buy them as soon as possible, as these tend to be cheaper when they’re first released and sell out quickly on the busiest routes. Visit our Advance train tickets page for more information.
Travel Off-Peak
When buying your Advance ticket to travel to South Wales, make sure you book an Off-Peak time. Tickets are usually cheaper during quieter times on weekdays and weekends than during Peak times. Use our Journey Planner to start your search and we’ll highlight the cheapest Off-Peak tickets for you. Learn more about Off-Peak train times.
Get a Railcard
If you’ll be travelling more than a few times a year to South Wales, we recommend you get a Railcard – you’ll save up to 1/3 on eligible journeys. Railcards cater to different age groups and circumstances so, from the Senior Railcard to the Disabled Persons Railcard and the 26-30 Railcard, you'll be sure to find your match. Check out our Railcards page if you want to buy one online or see the different eligibility requirements for each type.
Use GroupSave
If you’re travelling with a group of 3 to 9 people to South Wales, why not use GroupSave – you’ll get a discount of up to 34% on Off-Peak train tickets on selected routes. You won’t need any special cards like a Railcard to travel with GroupSave tickets – the discount will be applied automatically to your booking after selecting the number of passengers and the travel date and time on our website. Learn all about GroupSave on our GroupSave train tickets page.
Split your train tickets
Did you know? If you break your journey down into parts and buy separate train tickets for each leg of the journey, you may get cheaper tickets. Use our latest money-saving feature called SplitSave – to help you save money, we’ll find clever combinations of tickets and ‘split’ your trip into multiple legs, without any need for you to change trains unnecessarily. Just look for the SplitSave icon when searching in our app.
Discover the best destinations of South Wales
Looking for ideas for your next trip to South Wales? You’ve come to the right place! Our Wales Travel Inspiration hub is full of handy guides to help you plan your Welsh holiday and enjoy fantastic natural scenery and bustling cities full of culture.
Learn more about train travel in Great Britain
Want to learn more about the UK rail network? Click on one of our UK train travel guides – we’ll provide you with all the information you need about UK train and ticket types, deals and discounts, popular destinations, and more.
If you're planning to travel beyond the UK, check out one of our European train travel guides or start a search in our Journey Planner at the top of the page.
Frequently asked questions
Do kids travel for free on trains in South Wales?
If your child is 4 or under, they can travel for free alongside a fare-paying parent or guardian. Children aged 5 to 15 inclusive may get half-price fares for most tickets across the South Wales rail network.
Which train companies operate in South Wales?
There are currently three main national train companies that operate in South Wales. They are Transport for Wales, CrossCountry, and GWR.
What happened to Arriva Trains Wales?
Since October 2018, Transport for Wales took over Arriva Trains Wales and currently run the main train services in South Wales.