TFW Explore Wales Pass

[John Luxton]

I have had one of the four in eight day passes in 2022, 2023 and 2024 - I had to miss last year.

I notice that since I bought one in spring 2024 the price has increased somewhat but there is now increased bus availability including almost all the Traws Cymru services, Previously just Cardiff, Arriva, Stagecoach and First which makes more circular trips possible but even better is the ticket is now advertised as Anytime Monday to Friday - the annoying 09:30 weekday restriction has been lifted.

One further improvement though would be if it was made available on TfW Services into Merseyside and Manchester given that Liverpool is now gaining an hourly TfW service to Llandudno from next week and of course Manchester is already well served by TfW.

 

[Djgr]

I guess the more you permit using services in England the less it is an Explore Wales ticket.

Still no validity to Pont Penarlâg/Hawarden Bridge, although that is in Wales!

 

[John Luxton]

I guess the more you permit using services in England the less it is an Explore Wales ticket.

Still no validity to Pont Penarlâg/Hawarden Bridge, although that is in Wales!

Yes that is a weird one that it doesn't go to Pont Penarlag but now goes as far as Cheltenham.

I am sure when I last had one in spring 2024 it only went as far as Gloucester as I recall alighting there to change directions even though the TFW train was going to Cheltenham and I boarded the same train on the return.

Logically it should stop at Chepstow but then for some reason Shrewsbury - Whitcurch - Crewe - Chester is included - but perhaps that is due to the fact that some Chester - Cardiff services go via Crewe?

There isn't really a lot of logic to it.

For me living in Liverpool lopping off Chepstow to Cheltenham and adding Liverpool to Chester via South Parkway would make more sense. There is also a big Merseyside market which could be tapped.

When I get a freedom of Wales I have ended up buying a day return to Chester via South Parkway as even in the morning peak it was cheaper than using my railcard to get a Merseyrail single as there is a restriction on railcards on Merseyrail before the end of the peak. On the return I can use my Merseytravel concessionary pass on the electrics but prefer to get off at South Parkway as it avoids going into the city centre at night.

 

[Djgr]

Yes that is a weird one that it doesn't go to Pont Penarlag but now goes as far as Cheltenham.

I am sure when I last had one in spring 2024 it only went as far as Gloucester as I recall alighting there to change directions even though the TFW train was going to Cheltenham and I boarded the same train on the return.

Logically it should stop at Chepstow but then for some reason Shrewsbury - Whitcurch - Crewe - Chester is included - but perhaps that is due to the fact that some Chester - Cardiff services go via Crewe?

There isn't really a lot of logic to it.

For me living in Liverpool lopping off Chepstow to Cheltenham and adding Liverpool to Chester via South Parkway would make more sense. There is also a big Merseyside market which could be tapped.

When I get a freedom of Wales I have ended up buying a day return to Chester via South Parkway as even in the morning peak it was cheaper than using my railcard to get a Merseyrail single as there is a restriction on railcards on Merseyrail before the end of the peak. On the return I can use my Merseytravel concessionary pass on the electrics but prefer to get off at South Parkway as it avoids going into the city centre at night.

Hawarden Bridge/Pont Penarlag omission is almost certainly due to an historically very limited service, coupled with someone without a detailed knowledge of the English/Welsh boundary. Some of the Wirral is actually in Wales. Who knew?!

The omission of Liverpool to Chester via Halton Curve might be because it is a relatively new TfL service. That said, Bidston to Shotton is also excluded, although this is treated as honorary Welsh by some TfL tickets.