# Premier Service > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Premier_Service > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Premier_Service.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_Service > Source revision: 1346621007 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Passenger train service between North and South Wales "North-South Wales rail service" redirects here. For the proposed railway between North and South Wales, see [North–South Wales railway](/source/North%E2%80%93South_Wales_railway). Premier Service 226 at Manchester Piccadilly in September 2025 Overview Service type Passenger train First service 15 December 2008 Current operator Transport for Wales Rail Former operators Arriva Trains Wales KeolisAmey Wales Route Termini Holyhead Manchester Piccadilly Cardiff Central Average journey time 4 hours, 30 minutes Service frequency Monday - Friday Train numbers 1V91 1W96 Lines used North Wales Coast Chester-Shrewsbury Welsh Marches South Wales Technical Rolling stock Class 67 Mark 4 Mark 4 DVT North Wales South Wales Service The ***Premier Service*** is a passenger train service in [Wales](/source/Wales), operated by [Transport for Wales Rail](/source/Transport_for_Wales_Rail) between [Holyhead](/source/Holyhead_railway_station) and [Cardiff Central](/source/Cardiff_Central_railway_station), connecting [North Wales](/source/North_Wales) and [South Wales](/source/South_Wales). Similar services also operate between South Wales and [Manchester](/source/Manchester_Piccadilly_station). ## History 57315 at [Newport](/source/Newport_railway_station) in May 2009 On 15 December 2008, the *Premier Service* commenced operating between [Holyhead](/source/Holyhead_railway_station) and [Cardiff Central](/source/Cardiff_Central_railway_station).[1] Originally named *Y Gerallt Gymro* ([Gerald of Wales](/source/Gerald_of_Wales)), it was funded by the [Welsh Government](/source/Welsh_Government) as a premium service to connect North and South Wales. [Grand Central](/source/Grand_Central_(train_operating_company)) and [Wrexham & Shropshire](/source/Wrexham_%26_Shropshire) expressed an interest in operating the service; however, the contract was awarded to [Wales & Borders franchise](/source/Wales_%26_Borders_franchise) holder [Arriva Trains Wales](/source/Arriva_Trains_Wales).[2][3] Four [Class 57](/source/British_Rail_Class_57) locomotives (57313–57316) were sublet from [Virgin Trains West Coast](/source/Virgin_Trains_West_Coast) to operate in [top and tail](/source/Top_and_tail) formation, with one [Mark 3](/source/British_Rail_Mark_3) and three [Mark 2](/source/British_Rail_Mark_2) carriages.[4] By February 2009, the service was being operated by a single Class 57.[5] In March 2012, the Class 57 were replaced by [DB Schenker](/source/DB_Cargo_UK) [Class 67](/source/British_Rail_Class_67).[6] The Mark 2 carriages were replaced with Mark 3 carriages at the same time.[7] It originally ran via [Crewe](/source/Crewe_railway_station) but, from September 2012, it was rerouted via [Wrexham General](/source/Wrexham_General_railway_station) after a [Driving Van Trailer](/source/Driving_Van_Trailer) was added; this allowed the train to change direction at [Chester](/source/Chester_railway_station).[8] In October 2018, operation of the *Premier Service* passed with the Wales & Borders franchise to [KeolisAmey Wales](/source/KeolisAmey_Wales).[9] In March 2020, the service was suspended due to the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic) with the Mark 3 coaches withdrawn.[10][11] It resumed in June 2021, with Class 67s hauling [Mark 4 coaches](/source/British_Rail_Mark_4) and, as of August 2021[\[update\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Premier_Service&action=edit), three trains in each direction now operate five days a week.[12][13][14] ## Services The *Premier Service* departs [Holyhead](/source/Holyhead_railway_station) at 05:27, and departs [Cardiff Central](/source/Cardiff_Central_railway_station) at 17:22. It features first-class accommodation and a dining car with a travelling chef. First class customers have the option of purchasing a breakfast, lunch or dinner, cooked to order, by the on-board chef. Normal standard-class fares are valid on the train. As well as serving Cardiff to Holyhead, Transport for Wales introduced 6 return services Monday-Saturday between Cardiff and Manchester, and 1 return service between Swansea and Manchester on Monday-Saturday, with 2 services on Sunday, using the same rolling stock. [15] ## References Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Premier Service](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Premier_Service). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["North-south service to go ahead"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7659142.stm). *[BBC News](/source/BBC_News)*. 8 October 2008. Retrieved 12 February 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** "ATW to launch Holyhead-Cardiff service" *[Rail](/source/Rail_(magazine))* issue 603 22 October 2008 page 21 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** "Go-ahead for new North-South Wales service" *[Today's Railways UK](/source/Today's_Railways_UK)* issue 84 December 2008 page 7 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** "New Service Links North and South Wales" *[The Railway Magazine](/source/The_Railway_Magazine)* issue 1294 February 2009 page 9 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** "57s solo on WAG express" *Today's Railways UK* issue 88 April 2009 page 58 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** 67s start work on WAG Express *Rail* issue 693 4 April 2012 page 25 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** "Ex-Cargo-D Mk 3s refurbished and ready for duty with Arriva Trains Wales" *Rail* issue 708 31 October 2012 page 26 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Mk3 DVTs converted for Arriva Trains Wales *Rail* issue 687 11 January 2012 page 18 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [Service Improvements](https://gov.wales/docs/cabinetstatements/2018/180604serviceimprovementsen.pdf) Government of Wales 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Arriva Mk3s sent for store *The Railway Magazine* issue 1431 June 2020 page 77 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Time called on WAG *[Railways Illustrated](/source/Railways_Illustrated)* July 2020 page 16 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** TfW livery applied to first of hired Class 67s *Rail* issue 892 20 November 2019 page 29 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** First trials for Welsh Mk 4s *Railways Illustrated* January 2020 page 8 1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** [Transport for Wales introduces premium trains](https://web.archive.org/web/20210608170651/https://news.tfw.wales/news/transport-for-wales-introduce-premium-trains) Transport for Wales 7 June 2021 1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["InterCity 225 Services"](https://225group.org.uk/docs/Intercity-225-Services-TfW.pdf) (PDF). *225group.org.uk*. v t e Railway lines in Wales InterCity lines North Wales Main Line South Wales Main Line Main lines Gloucester–Newport line Shrewsbury–Chester line Welsh Marches line Valleys & Cardiff Local Routes Butetown Branch City Line Coryton Line Ebbw Vale Line Maesteg Line Merthyr line Rhondda line Rhymney line Vale of Glamorgan Line Other lines Borderlands line Cambrian Line Conwy Valley line Heart of Wales line West Wales lines Swansea District line Heritage railways Service routes Premier Service Swanline Trains portal Wales portal v t e Transport in Wales Transport in the United Kingdom Transport for Wales Infrastructure Bus stations Railway stations proposed Regional projects Network North Wales South Wales Metro Swansea Bay and West Wales Metro (proposed) Bridges Proposed devolution of railway infrastructure Welsh Government roads review Governance Transport for Wales South East Wales Transport Alliance (defunct) South West Wales Integrated Transport Consortium (defunct) Taith Joint Board (defunct) Network Rail Department for Transport Great British Railways Walking Rights of way in England and Wales Highways in England and Wales Long-distance footpaths Wales Coast Path Byways and Bridleways Trust Road Trunk roads Welsh Government traffic officer Motorways M4 M4 relief road (cancelled) M48 A48(M) motorway Mountain passes Trunk road agent North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agent South Wales Trunk Road Agent Road signs in Wales UK-wide Roman roads Welsh Government roads review Buses and trams Bus and coach operators Defunct Bus stations Tramways South Wales tramroads Water Ports and harbours GB-wide Aqueducts Pontcysyllte Aqueduct Canals Llangollen Canal Monmouthshire and Brecon2 Montgomery Canal2 Neath and Tennant2 Swansea Canal2 Glandŵr Cymru (Canal & River Trust) Cancelled canal projects Ellesmere Canal Grand Contour Canal Barmouth Ferry Cardiff Waterbus Lighthouses Marinas Rail Wales & Borders franchise Railway lines Train operating companies (Wales-specific) Wales and Borders Valley Lines Arriva Trains Wales KeolisAmey Wales Transport for Wales Rail Other Great Britain-wide operators National Rail Railway stations Proposed railway stations Rail transport in Cardiff Valleys & Cardiff Local Routes British Rail Western Region of British Railways Great Western Railway in West Wales North–South Wales railway (proposed) Premier Service Heritage railways Great Little Trains of Wales Cycling Cycle routes in Cardiff Dragon Ride Wales Tour de Gwent Welsh Cycling Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013 National Cycle Museum Local Cardiff Other Airports Cardiff Airport Air Wales Welsh Air Service RAF stations Transport disasters Category 2 Partly or mostly navigable, and/or under restoration. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Premier Service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_Service) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_Service?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.