Aber Info
Transport

Aberystwyth Train Services

Regular direct trains normally run every two hours between Birmingham and Aberystwyth via Shropshire and Mid Wales.

Times and Routes

Typical fares and journey opportunities, current at June 2010:

From Birmingham and the West Midlands

Direct train services to Aberystwyth are available from Birmingham International, Birmingham New Street, Smethwick Galton Bridge and Wolverhampton.

Typical journey time from Birmingham New Street is around 3 hours.

Typical fares from Birmingham New Street:

  • Advance purchase one-way fares from £12.00 on selected trains
  • £41.10 standard return (Off Peak Return: valid most trains, return within 1 month)
  • £23.10 same-day return, ideal for day trips
  • Check latest fares and book online with
From London

Take a Virgin Trains service from London Euston and change at Birmingham New Street or Wolverhampton for connecting Arriva Trains Wales service to Aberystwyth.

Total journey time should be comfortably inside 5 hours.

Typical fares from London Euston:

  • Advance purchase one-way fares from £7.50 on selected trains
  • £61.60 standard return (Off Peak Return: valid on most trains after 10.00am, return within 1 month)
  • £225.00 peak return (Anytime Return: use any train, return within 1 month)
  • Check latest fares and book online with

Note: if you are travelling from London to Aberystwyth using the flexible Off Peak Return ticket, you may use any train out of London Euston after the morning rush-hour. Beware that some rail staff have mistakenly claimed otherwise, possibly confused by the restrictions that apply to those travelling shorter distances on the same route.

From Manchester, Chester and North West England

Direct train services are available to Shrewsbury, where connecting Arriva Trains Wales services to Aberystwyth are available.

From Manchester Piccadilly, total travel time should be under 4 hours; from Chester, the journey is around 3 hours.

Typical fares from Manchester Piccadilly:

  • Advance purchase one-way fares from £12.00 on selected trains
  • £47.50 standard return (Off Peak Return: valid most trains, return within 1 month)
  • Check latest fares and book online with
From North Wales

From Porthmdog, Pwllheli, Barmouth and elsewhere on Gwynedd's west coast, there are regular trains to Machynlleth and Dovey Junction, for connections to Aberystwyth.
See also: Cambrian Coast Railway for more about this route.

Much of north east Wales and the north Wales coast has convenient train services to Shrewsbury, for onward connections to Aberystwyth.

From the Bangor area and Anglesey, it will often be quicker to make use of the direct Bangor - Aberystwyth X32 bus.

  • Check latest fares and book online with
From South Wales

Direct train services are available from most major towns to Shrewsbury, where connecting Arriva Trains Wales services to Aberystwyth are available.

From Cardiff, total travel time should be around 4 hours.

From Swansea and most of south west Wales, it will often be quicker to travel to Carmarthen and then catch the connecting X40 bus onwards.

Typical fares from Cardiff Central:

  • Advance purchase one-way fares from £16.00 on selected trains
  • £50.00 standard return (Off Peak Return: valid most trains, return within 1 month)
  • Check latest fares and book online with
From other UK towns, airports and ferry ports

Most major towns have direct services to Birmingham International, Birmingham New Street, Wolverhampton or Shrewsbury, where you can transfer to the Aberystwyth train.

For how to get to Aberystwyth from airports and ferry ports, see: Air and ferry links.

To plan your journey, check fares and buy tickets use , call the Arriva Trains Wales booking line or visit a staffed railway station.


Check Fares and Buy Tickets Online


Cambrian Railcard - discounts for regular travellers

Local residents who regularly use the trains between Aberystwyth, Pwllheli, Machynlleth and Shrewsbury may benefit by buying a Cambrian Railcard. For a payment of £5, cardholders get a third off most rail fares along the route for 12 months.

See: Cambrian Line - Railcard

Other railcards, valid across the UK, are also available for people aged over 60, under 26, disabled or travelling with children. See: National Railcards

National Rail Enquiries

Times, fares and advice - English
0845 748 4950*
Times, fares and advice - Welsh
0845 604 0500*
Website
www.nationalrail.co.uk

Arriva Trains Wales

Customer Services
0845 606 1660*
Ticket Sales
0870 900 0773*
Assisted Travel Bookings
0845 300 3005*
Website
www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk

 

* Calling these numbers costs up to 35p/minute and the company you're calling may well be profiting from your call! Cheaper alternative numbers can often be found at: www.saynoto0870.com.