Gerald of Wales / Y Gerallt Gymro

Name: Gerald of Wales / Y Gerallt Gymro
Start: 2026-04-25T07:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-04-25T22:00:00+01:00
Location: 6th Floor, Derwent House, 150 Arundel Gate, S1 2FN Sheffield, United Kingdom

Schedule

Sat Apr 25 2026 at 07:00 am to 10:00 pm

UTC+01:00

Location

6th Floor, Derwent House, 150 Arundel Gate, S1 2FN Sheffield, United Kingdom | Sheffield, EN

We've teamed up with the 225 Group and Transport for Wales to offer a special one-day excursion using a Class 67 locomotive and Mark 4 set, with profits going to the Railway Children charity.
The 225 Group was formed in January 2021 to celebrate the history of the InterCity 225 high speed electric train and support its longevity from mainline service into preservation. The Class 91 locomotives and Mark 4 rolling stock that make up the InterCity 225 entered service in 1989 as part of the electrification of the East Coast Mainline (ECML) from London to Leeds and Edinburgh. By summer 2020, most of the trains had been replaced on the ECML by new Hitachi Class 80x 'Azumas'. Many were scrapped, but a small number of shortened Mark 4 sets were modified for use with Class 67 locomotives on the Transport for Wales ‘premier' services from South Wales to Holyhead and Manchester. As a result, the Welsh locomotive-hauled operations are now very much part of the InterCity 225 story.
The Mark 4 sets made their debut with Transport for Wales in June 2021, initially working one return journey between Holyhead and Cardiff Central on weekdays. This was ramped up to three trips each way in September 2021, before operations were expanded to the busy route between Manchester and South Wales from January 2023. The Class 67s and Mark 4 sets are now booked to work five diagrams on Mondays to Fridays, four on Saturdays and two on Sundays. These provide a regular pattern of locomotive-hauled services between Manchester and South Wales, plus two Monday to Friday journeys between North and South Wales.
The "Gerald of Wales / Y Gerallt Gymro" name is synonymous with services linking North and South Wales, and the excursion on Saturday 25th April 2026 will celebrate this and everything that the popular Class 67s and Mark 4 sets have to offer. The train will start from Holyhead and then travel along the North Wales coast with pick-ups at Bangor, Llandudno Junction, Colwyn Bay, Rhyl and Prestatyn. Passengers can also join at Chester, Crewe and Shrewsbury before the train makes its way through the Welsh Marches to Newport and Swansea. The return journey will follow the same route, but with a stop at Cardiff Central instead of Newport.
This excursion gives the rare opportunity to travel on a Mark 4 set between Chester and Crewe, in both directions, as the trains aren’t booked to do this in normal service. As you would expect from the BLS, we have also planned several rare track moves, including:
Non-stop runs between Shrewsbury and Newport, including Hereford Up and Down Relief Lines (through roads)
Leckwith Loop (Cardiff Central to Pontyclun via Radyr Branch Junction, Penarth Curve North Junction, Ninian Park and Leckwith Loop North Junction)
Stormy Loop, Pencoed Up Passenger Loop and Port Talbot Down Loop
The 225 Group sales stand will be open throughout the day onboard the train, allowing you to meet members of the management team, learn about their plans and buy merchandise. There will also be a 225 Group raffle with a wide range of prizes.
All times and routing are indicative until confirmed by Network Rail. Final routing and timings are usually confirmed by Network Rail five days before travel and will be enclosed with your e-ticket. The outline specification is as follows:
Holyhead (PU 07:08) - Bangor (Gwynedd) Through Line - Llandudno Jct (PU 08:05) - Colwyn Bay (PU 08:12) - Rhyl (PU 08:23) - Prestatyn (PU 08:30) - Chester (PU 09:18) - Crewe (PU 09:49) - Shrewsbury (PU 10:25) - Newport (SD 11:53) - Swansea (SD 13:17)
Swansea (PU 16:00) - Cardiff Central (PU 17:13) - Shrewsbury (SD 19:29) - Crewe (SD 20:00) - Chester (SD 20:21) - Prestatyn (SD 20:53) - Rhyl (SD 21:00) - Colwyn Bay (SD 21:11) - Llandudno Jct (SD 21:19) - Bangor (Gwynedd) Through Line - Holyhead (SD 22:09)
Standard Class fares are £99 for adults and £79 for under 18s, with First Class Dining available at £225 for adults and £205 for under 18s. First Class passengers can enjoy a full Welsh breakfast on the outward journey and a three-course evening meal, including a 75cl bottle of house wine for adults, on the return trip. First Class passengers will also benefit from complimentary hot drinks throughout their journey. Standard Class passengers will have access to a well-stocked buffet car, including a licensed bar.
Members of the 225 Group, BLS and TfW staff benefit from an attractive discount - if you're booking this discounted rate, you MUST enter your membership or staff number in the booking comments box. 225 Group members and TfW staff MUST bring suitable proof of eligibility with you on the day.
If you have any dietary requirements or allergies please advise them in the booking comments box.
To ensure an efficient dining service, dining passengers will be seated according to their joining and alighting stations. If you are travelling in a group, please try to board and alight at the same stations where possible.