Transport for Wales (TfW) has partnered with the 225 Group and Branch Line Society to run a special one-day charity rail tour on a Mark 4 train to raise money for Alzheimer’s Society and Railway Children.
The “Gerald of Wales” will depart Holyhead on Saturday 25 April at 07:08, travelling along the North Wales coast and continuing through the scenic Welsh Marches to Newport and Swansea, before returning via the same route in the evening. Passengers can also join at stations along the North Wales main line including Chester and Crewe.
The journey offers the opportunity to travel between Chester and Crewe on a Mark 4 hauled by a Class 67 locomotive, a route not usually operated by these trains. The tour is also planned to operate on lengths of track not regularly covered by passenger trains including freight loops, through lines and the ‘Leckwith Loop’ between Ninian Park and the South Wales Mainline.
TfW’s new Spring/Summer menu will be served celebrating the very best of Welsh produce. Standard Class customers will have the option to purchase a freshly prepared breakfast or an evening meal package, crafted by our onboard chefs.
First Class passengers will be treated to a full cooked breakfast on the outward journey with a specially curated menu showcasing premium Welsh ingredients available on the return trip, including:
- Grilled Wye Valley asparagus
- Dewi Roberts lamb served with Caerphilly champ
- A macerated strawberry and honey Marches trifle
All profits from the excursion will be donated to Railway Children and TfW’s 2026 charity of the year Alzheimer’s Society.
Standard Class tickets are priced at £99 for adults and £79 for under-18s, with First Class Dining available at £225 for adults and £205 for under-18s. Discounted fares are available for Branch Line Society and 225 Group members as well as TfW staff.
Tickets can be booked online via the Branch Line Society website – BLS – Online booking form
Image credit: TfW