All aboard! A new weekday service linking Wales, England and Scotland by one train launches for the first time — with Gloucester and Cheltenham named among the 22 stations connecting the 455-mile journey.
The services are being introduced as part of CrossCountry's — and the train industry's — twice-yearly timetable change, with the new journey rolled out from Sunday 15 December 2024; and passengers are already able to book the new route.
Formed by long-distance Voyager services, the trains will run once a day in each direction on weekdays, departing from Cardiff and Penzance in the morning, joining together at Birmingham New Street, before proceeding north to Edinburgh.
Then, on the southbound journey, the train will depart from Edinburgh and proceed to Gloucester where the service splits into two — with half of the train traveling onwards to Cardiff whilst the other half terminates at Plymouth.
Single fares from Gloucestershire start at £42, with each journey taking just under six hours.
Scott Maynard, CrossCountry’s interim managing director, said: 'We’re delighted to introduce this new service joining Cardiff and Edinburgh directly by rail for the very first time — meaning even more connections for customers across the length and breadth of the country.
'Thanks to colleagues across CrossCountry and the wider rail industry for their support in delivering these new services linking two of Great Britain’s capital cities, as well as many other key towns and cities in between.'
For more information or to book, visit CrossCountry online.
