Class 31

Class 158

 
The franchise for this route was won by Wales & West Trains on 14 October 1996. They provided a basically hourly service between Cardiff and Portsmouth Harbour, with a few down trains being extended to Swansea, Tenby or Milford Haven and a few up trains to Brighton. Class 158 units operated this route with the occasional class 150 unit being seen.

On 14 October 2001, the company was disbanded and replaced on this route by Wessex Trains. The overcrowding problem which had been inherited continued to get worse depite other stock being hired in. Some trains were loaded to the extreme and the problem remained with the company throughout the term of their franchise which ended on 31 March 2006. Around 2005 some of the 158 units were strengthened to three cars.

 
References to these workings can be found in :-