New Rail Link Proposed Between Hereford and London via South Wales

FirstGroup has submitted an application to introduce a rail connection between Hereford and London, routed through several towns in South Wales. According to the company’s proposal, the route would include two return services each day, including one on Sundays, and feature stops at Bristol Parkway, Severn Tunnel Junction, Cwmbran, Pontypool & New Inn, and Abergavenny. The plan is currently under review by the Office of Rail and Road.

The proposed service would add two weekday trains to the existing Hereford–London schedule and introduce new direct links through under-served South Wales stations. The application references outcomes from similar services on other routes, where their introduction has coincided with local economic growth. Expectations of a comparable effect along the proposed line, particularly in parts of South Wales and Herefordshire, remain speculative and have not been independently assessed.

Cwmbran, one of the intermediate stops on the proposed route, is a town developed in the mid-20th century as part of the UK's postwar new town programme. There’s a huge indoor shopping area in town where you can grab what you need without much wandering. This is useful if you're just passing through and prefer to stay close to the station. Nearby, Greenmeadow Community Farm allows for a quieter rural break, with open fields, native animals, and occasional local events that reflect the region’s agricultural character.

In Hereford, several locations near the railway station may interest travellers. Hereford Cathedral, known for housing the Mappa Mundi and one of Europe’s oldest chained libraries, is within walking distance of the centre and often draws visitors interested in medieval history. Just a short walk away, the Museum of Cider sits in what used to be a cider factory and offers a look at how cider-making shaped local life. It talks about rows of apple trees, tools once used by hand, and how people lived closely connected to the land for a long time.

Plans for the new service are still being looked at, and no one has pinned down when it might actually begin running. If approved, it would be introduced alongside FirstGroup’s planned route to Carmarthen, which is scheduled for late 2027. The project is part of a broader trend toward expanding rail options on routes not currently supported by public funding, aiming to improve intercity access without relying on government subsidies.