Train accessibility
A new fleet of trains will gradually be introduced between now and 2023. Details will be included within this webpage as and when each type of train is refurbished or withdrawn and replaced.
Making Rail Accessible: A guide to our fleet of trains | Open as PDF
Alternatively, you can access the info below
Assisted travel team
Our Assisted Travel Team can provide advice, book assistance and arrange tickets for your journey, regardless of train operator.
To make a booking or for more information about Passenger Assist call our Assisted Travel team: 03330 050 501 RelayUK: 18001 033 300 50 501 or visit tfw.wales/accessible-travel. You can also simply “turn up and go” without booking assistance in advance. We’ll provide assistance to get you to your destination.
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 in 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.
Universal toilets on-board
All our fleet have Universal accessible toilets as well as baby changing facilities. Please check with railway staff or door signs to ensure you access the right part of the train.
On-board universal toilet dimensions
Units that have a universal toilet on board for passengers with reduced mobility have a door width of 800mm, unless otherwise stated. Please see the specific class of train within this document for further details.
Please note that these dimensions may differ from fleet to fleet. Class 158 has a smaller universal accessible toilet and limited room to manoeuvre a wheelchair. For further information please visit the Class 158 page within this document. If you would like further assistance to determine which services are operated by these trains, please contact the Assisted Travel team. They can assist in planning your journey and can suggest alternative services for you.
On-board audio and visual information
Most trains in our fleet provide on-board audio and visual information. Please check before boarding.
Alternative formats
All out documentation confirms to the Welsh language standards/Welsh language Act and are available Bilingually.
Alternative formats of all our documents are free of charge, from the Customer Relations team. The team can provide alternative formats such a large print, Braille or audio versions.
We will provide the large-print document within seven days of receiving your request, and any other formats as soon as possible.
If you would like copies of these guides or any other TfW publications in an alternative format, please contact us in the following ways:
Telephone the Customer Relations team on 03333 211 202
Lines are open from 08:00 - 20:00 Monday to Saturday and 11:00 to 20:00 on Sundays
Contact us online by filling out a feedback form on tfw.wales/contact-us
Write to us at:
- Customer Relations,
Transport for Wales Rail Limited,
3 Llys Cadwyn, Pontypridd, CF37 4TH
TfW Social Media, follow:
- Twitter @TfWrail
- Instagram @TfWrail
- Facebook @TfWrail
For information on passenger assistance, please visit tfw.wales/passenger-assistance
For delay compensation, please visit tfw.wales/delay-repay-compensation
Additional contact details can be found at tfw.wales/contact-us
-
Class 150
-
Current fleet
-
Class 150s are two carriage diesel trains
-
Year built | 1987
-
Number in fleet | 36
-
9 of the Class 150 fleet have recently been fitted with Automated Passenger Counting (APC), which monitors the business of each service
Accessibility
Access ramp Yes 
Assistance button Yes 
Priority seating Yes 
Wheelchair users' space 2 
Universal Toilet 1 Door width (mm) 825 
Routes
-
Heart of Wales line
-
West Wales - Swansea - Cardiff
-
Llandudno - Llandudno Junction
-
Llandudno Junction - Blaenau Ffestiniog
-
Wrexham - Bidston
-
All Valleys routes and City Line
-
Maesteg - Ebbw Vale and Cheltenham
-
Crewe - Chester
-
South Wales - Manchester Piccadilly
These are the most common routes but they are subject to change.
What’s inside
Bicycle space 4 
Charging sockets 3-pin and USB Yes 
Public Address Yes 
Seats 108 
Seats - additional tip-up 6 Seats - priority Yes Universal Toilet 1 
Visual Information Screens Yes Wheelchair users’ space 2 
Wi-Fi Yes Carriage layout
-
-
-
Class 153
-
Current fleet
-
Class 153s are single carriage diesel trains which normally operate in coupled pairs
-
Year built | 1987 - 1988
-
Number in fleet | 26
-
There are 2 types of unit in service at the moment.
- UAT (with Universal Accessible Toilet)
- Non-UAT (without any toilet).
Where possible, a UAT unit will be coupled with a Non-UAT unit
Accessibility
Access ramp Yes 
Assistance button Yes 
Priority seating Yes 
Wheelchair users' space (non-UAT) 1 Wheelchair users' space (UAT) 2 
Universal Toilet (non-UAT) 0 Universal Toilet (UAT) 1 Door width (mm) 820 
Routes
-
Heart of Wales
-
West Wales - Swansea - Cardiff - Shrewsbury - Crewe
-
Cardiff Bay Shuttles
-
Chester - Liverpool Lime St
-
Crewe - Chester
-
City Line
-
Rhymney - Cardiff
-
South Wales - Manchester Piccadilly
These are the most common routes but they are subject to change.
What’s inside
Bicycle space 2 Public Address Yes Seats 56 Seats - additional tip-up 3 Seats - priority Yes Universal Toilet (non-UAT) 0 Universal Toilet (UAT) 1 Wheelchair users' space (non-UAT) 1 Wheelchair users' space (UAT) 2 Carriage layout
-
-
-
Class 158
-
Current fleet
-
Class 158s are two carriage diesel trains
-
Year built | 1989 - 1992
-
Number in fleet | 24
-
Please note, Class 158s have a smaller universal accessible toilet and limited room to manoeuvre a wheelchair
Accessibility
Access ramp Yes Assistance button Yes Priority seating Yes Wheelchair users' space 2 Universal Toilet 1 Door width (mm) 780 
Routes
-
West Wales - Manchester
-
West Wales - Holyhead
-
Shrewsbury - Wolverhampton and Birmingham
-
Shrewsbury - Cambrian Coast Line (these are the only trains used on the Cambrian Coast Line)
-
North Wales Coast Line
These are the most common routes but they are subject to change.
What’s inside
Bicycle space 2 
Catering - at seat (selected services only) Yes Charging sockets 3-pin and USB Yes Public Address Yes Seats 134 Seats - additional tip-up 6 Seats - priority Yes Universal Toilet 1 
Toilet - not wheelchair accessible 1 Visual Information Screens Yes Wheelchair users' space 2 Wi-Fi Yes Carriage layout
-
-
-
Class 170
-
Current fleet
-
Class 170s are two and three carriage diesel trains
-
Year built | 1998 - 2005
-
Number in fleet | 12
-
two carriages | 4
-
three carriages | 8
-
Accessibility
Access ramp Yes Assistance button Yes Priority seating Yes Wheelchair users' space 2 Universal Toilet 1 Door width (mm) 970 
Routes
-
Maesteg - Ebbw Vale and Cheltenham
These are the most common routes but they are subject to change.
What’s inside
Bicycle space 2 Charging sockets 3-pin only Yes Public Address Yes Seats | two carriages 126 Seats | three carriages 187 Seats - additional tip-up 5 Seats - priority Yes Universal Toilet 1 Toilet - not wheelchair accessible | two carriages 1 Toilet - not wheelchair accessible | three carriages 2 Visual Information Screens Yes Wheelchair users' space 2 Wi-Fi No Carriage layout
Class 170 two carriages
Class 170 three carriages
-
-
-
Class 175
-
Current fleet
-
Class 175s are two and three carriage diesel trains
-
Year built | 1999-2001
-
Number in fleet | 27
-
two carriages | 11
-
three carriages | 16
-
Accessibility
Access ramp Yes Assistance button Yes Priority seating Yes Wheelchair users' space 2 Universal Toilet 1 Door width (mm) 900 
Routes
-
West Wales - Manchester
-
West Wales - Holyhead
-
Shrewsbury - Wolverhampton and Birmingham
-
North Wales Coast Line
These are the most common routes but they are subject to change.
What’s inside
Bicycle space 2 Catering - at seat (selected services only) Yes Charging sockets 3-pin and USB Yes Public Address Yes Seats | two carriages 122 Seats | three carriages 190 Seats - additional tip-up | two carriages 6 Seats - additional tip-up | three carriages
8 Seats - priority Yes Universal Toilet 1 Toilet - not wheelchair accessible | two carriages 1 Toilet - not wheelchair accessible | three carriages 2 Visual Information Screens Yes Wheelchair users' space 2 Wi-Fi Yes Carriage layout
Class 175 two carriages
Class 175 three carriages
-
-
-
Class 769
-
Current fleet
-
Class 769s are four carriage diesel trains.
-
There are two sub-classes: 769/0 and 769/4
-
Year built | 1987 - 1988
(Class 319 EMU converted to Class 769 DEMU in 2019) -
Number in fleet | 8
-
769/0 | 4
-
769/4 | 4
-
Accessibility
Access ramp Yes Assistance button Yes Priority seating Yes Wheelchair users' space 2 Universal Toilet 1 Door width (mm) 825 
Routes
-
Rhymney - Penarth
These are the most common routes but they are subject to change.
What’s inside
Baby changing Yes Bicycle space
Not dedicated, flexible use space2 Charging sockets USB only Yes Public Address Yes Seats | 769/0 303 Seats | 769/4 268 Seats - priority Yes Universal Toilet 1 Visual Information Screens Yes Wheelchair users' space 2 Wi-Fi Yes Carriage layout
Class 769/0
Class 769/4
-
-
-
Mark 4 Coach
-
Current fleet
-
Mark 4 Coaches are locomotive-hauled coaches.
-
Year built | 1989 - 1992
-
Number in fleet | 12 coaches, making up 3 trains
Accessibility
Access ramp Yes Assistance button Yes Priority seating Yes Wheelchair users' space 2 Universal Toilet 1 Door width (mm) 800 
Routes
-
Cardiff - Holyhead
-
Future plans to run Swansea - Manchester Piccadilly (from December 2022)
These are the most common routes but they are subject to change.
What’s inside
Baby changing Yes Bicycle space 4 
Capacity 222 Catering - at seat (selected services only) Yes Charging sockets 3-pin only Yes Public Address Yes 
Restaurant car Yes Seats - standard class 182 Seats - first class 40 Seats - priority Yes Universal Toilet 1 Toilet - not wheelchair accessible 3 Visual Information Screens Yes Wheelchair users' space 2 Wi-Fi Yes Carriage layout
-
-
-
Class 230
-
Future fleet
-
Class 230s are three carriage bi-mode trains using diesel and battery.
-
Year built | 2019 - 2020
-
Year to be introduced | TBC
-
Number in fleet | 5
Accessibility
Access ramp Yes Assistance button Yes Priority seating Yes Wheelchair users' space 2 Universal Toilet 1 Door width (mm) 800 
Routes
-
Wrexham - Bidston
These are the most common routes but they are subject to change.
What’s inside
Baby changing Yes Bicycle space 4 Catering - at seat (selected services only) Yes Charging sockets 3-pin and USB Yes Public Address Yes Seats 125 Seats priority Yes Universal Toilet 1 Visual Information Screens Yes Wheelchair users' space 2 Wi-Fi Yes Carriage layout
-
-
-
Class 197
-
Future fleet
-
Class 197s are two and three carriage diesel trains.
-
Year built | 2020 - present
-
Year to be introduced | 2022
-
Number in fleet | 77
-
two carriages | 51
-
three carriages | 26
-
Accessibility
Access ramp Yes Assistance button TBC Priority seating Yes Wheelchair users' space 2 Universal Toilet 1 Door width (mm) 800 
Routes
-
North Wales Coast Line
-
Marches line
-
South Wales Mainline
-
West Wales
-
West Midlands
-
Cambrian line
These are the most common routes but they are subject to change.
What’s inside
Baby changing Yes Bicycle space TBC Catering - at seat (selected services only) Yes Charging sockets 3-pin and USB Yes Public Address Yes Seats - standard class two carriages 116 three carriages 188 three carriages with first class 158 
Seats - first class | three carriages with first class 16 Seats - additional tip-up two carriages 5 three carriages 8 Seats - priority Yes Universal Toilet 1 Toilet | not wheelchair accessible two carriages 0 three carriages 1 Visual Information Screens Yes Wheelchair users' space 2 Wi-Fi Yes Carriage layout
Class 197, two carriages
Class 197, three carriages
Class 197, three carriages with first class
-
-
-
Class 231 Flirt
-
Future fleet
-
Class 231 Flirts are four carriage electric and diesel trains.
-
Year built | 2020 - present
-
Year to be introduced | 2022
-
Number in fleet | 11
Accessibility
Access ramp Yes Assistance button Yes Priority seating Yes Wheelchair users' space 2 Universal Toilet 1 Door width (mm) 800 
Routes
-
Maesteg - Ebbw Vale and Cheltenham
These are the most common routes but they are subject to change.
What’s inside
Baby changing Yes Bicycle space
Not dedicated, flexible use space9 Charging sockets 3-pin and USB Yes Public Address Yes Seats 170 Seats - additional tip-up 34 Seats - priority Yes Universal Toilet 1 Visual Information Screens Yes Wheelchair users' space 2 Wi-Fi Yes Carriage layout
-
-
-
Class 756 Flirt
-
Future fleet
-
Class 756 Flirts are three and four carriage tri-mode trains using diesel, electric and battery.
-
Year built | 2020 - present
-
Year to be introduced | 2023
-
Number in fleet | 24
-
three carriages | 7
-
four carriages | 17
-
Accessibility
Access ramp Yes Assistance button Yes Priority seating Yes Wheelchair users' space 2 Universal Toilet 1 Door width (mm) 800 
Routes
-
Rhymney - Penarth
-
Vale of Glamorgan
These are the most common routes but they are subject to change.
What’s inside
Baby changing Yes Bicycle space
Not dedicated, flexible use spacethree carriages 6 four carriages 9 Charging sockets 3-pin and USB Yes Public Address Yes Seats three carriages 118 four carriages 158 Seats - additional tip-up three carriages 24 four carriages 32 Seats - priority Yes Universal Toilet 1 Visual Information Screens Yes Wheelchair users' space 2 Wi-Fi Yes Carriage layout
Class 756 Flirt three carriages
Class 756 Flirt four carriages
-
-
-
Class 398 Citylink
-
Future fleet
-
Class 398 Citylinks are three carriage tram-trains using electric and battery.
-
Year built | 2020 - present
-
Year to be introduced | 2023
-
Number in fleet | 36
-
Please note that there are no toilets on board. Toilet facilities can be found at stations along the route, with a maximum of 14 minutes between stops.
Accessibility
Access ramp Level boarding; however some stations require the use of an access ramp Assistance button Yes Priority seating Yes Wheelchair users' space 2 Universal Toilet No 
Routes
-
Treherbert / Merthyr Tydfil / Aberdare - Cardiff and Penarth
These are the most common routes but they are subject to change.
What’s inside
Bicycle space
Not dedicated, flexible use space6 Charging sockets 3-pin and USB Yes Public Address Yes Seats 96 Seats - additional tip-up 31 Seats - priority Yes Visual Information Screens Yes Wheelchair users' space 2 Wi-Fi Yes Carriage layout
-
-
Summary
| Train | Accessibility | Other | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Class 150 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 2 | 1 | Yes | 2 | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Class 153 | Yes | Yes | ** | 1/2 | 1* | ** | 2 | No | Yes* | Yes | No | No | Yes* | Yes* |
| Class 158 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 2 | 1 | Yes | 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 1 | Yes | Yes |
| Class 170 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 2 | 1 | Yes | 2 | No | Yes | Yes | No | 1/2** | Yes | No |
| Class 175 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 2 | 1 | Yes | 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 1/2** | Yes | Yes |
| Class 769 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 2 | 1 | Yes | 2 | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Mark 4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 2 | 1 | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 3 | Yes | Yes |
| Class 230 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 2 | 1 | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Class 197 | Yes | TBC | Yes | 2 | 1 | Yes | TBC | Yes | Yes | Yes | 0/1** | 0/1** | Yes | Yes |
| Class 231 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 2 | 1 | Yes | 9 | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Class 756 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 2 | 1 | Yes | 6/9** | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Class 398 | Yes | Yes | No | 2 | No | No | 6 | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
* Refurbished fleet only
** See full breakdown for details
Transport for Wales exists to drive forward the Welsh Government’s vision of a high quality, safe, integrated, affordable and accessible transport network that the people of Wales are proud of. Transport for Wales is key to delivering the Welsh Government’s key themes as set out in Prosperity for All: The National Strategy.
For Wales and its people to thrive, we need to be connected to one another, to the services we need and to open up new opportunities. Our work focuses on making these connections happen - by planning, commissioning and managing efficient transport networks and by drawing on the very best skills from across industry, government and society.
We are creating a transport network fit for the future that contributes to the long-term sustainability of Wales and those communities connected to us.
Metro
Reduced journey times, more services and better connections are just some of the benefits you can expect from Metro, the exciting new transport system that will transform the way we all travel Wales and the borders.
Metro will be a world-class transport network that will transform people’s lives in Wales and the borders, improving access to job, leisure and other opportunities. Metro will also transform Wales’ economic prospects.
Work on the South Wales Metro is already underway and we’re developing options to improve and enhance the transport network in North Wales and Swansea Bay.
-
Did you know?Sgwrs | Customer panelWe’re transforming travel in Wales. It’s a big job and we need your help.Apply to join Sgwrs
