Swanline
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Swanline | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Swanline is the name of the local rail service from Swansea to Cardiff Central, on the South Wales Main Line.
The Swanline service was launched in June 1994, following the construction of five new stations at Pyle, Baglan, Briton Ferry, Skewen and Llansamlet on the existing South Wales Main Line. Originally, an hourly service was provided through a partnership between British Rail and local government, with the local authorities securing EU development funding and retaining ownership of the trains needed to operate the service.[1][2]
During 1997, as part of railway privatisation, responsibility for Swanline services passed from British Rail's Regional Railways sector to South Wales & West Railway, a newly created franchised train operating company. In 1999, the company halved the service to two-hourly, citing poor passenger usage and offering to purchase the rolling stock for use elsewhere. [3][1]
From 2003 to 2018, the line was operated as part of the Arriva Trains Wales franchise. In 2018, the franchise passed to KeolisAmey Wales and in 2021 to Transport for Wales Rail. A bi-hourly service is provided on Mondays to Saturdays.
