The Anonymous Widower

My Train To Wales Today Divided At Swansea

According to the Wikipedia entry for Great Western Railway, seven of their hourly services to Swansea now continue to Carmarthen station.

• My train was such a train, although I got off at Newport station.
• The service was formed of two five-car Class 800 trains; 800026 and 800027.
• I would assume that at Swansea, the trains will have split and the rear train will reverse and continue to Carmarthen.
• The lead train would stay in Swansea.
• I have traced the Carmarthen train on Real Time Trains and it clearly shows that the train picked up another train at Swansea as it came back to London.

All the trains involved in the splitting and joining were Class 800 trains.

The splitting and joining at Swansea means the following.

• There is a ten-car train between London and Swansea, which will give maximum capacity to and from the rugby at Cardiff.
• There is a five-car train between Swansea and Carmarthen, which doesn’t need the capacity of a ten-car train.

This is probably a more efficient use of trains and it maximises capacity to and from Cardiff, in both directions.

Is this splitting and joining at Swansea, the first regular use of the technique in service with Class 800 trains?

This YouTube video shows the station displays at Reding, when a Swansea/Carmarthen pair go through.

February 3, 2024 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | A Day Trip To Ebbw Vale Town Station, Automatic Splitting And Joining Of Trains, Cardiff Central Station, Carmarthen Station, Class 800 Train, Great Western Railway, Newport (South Wales) Station, Swansea Station