Wales and Borders
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Image:Waleslogo.gif Image:158823 at Bristol Temple Meads.JPG
Wales and Borders was the name of a train operating company between 14 October 2001 and 7 December 2003. It was formed from part of the former Wales and West franchise (the remainder forming Wessex Trains) and the Cardiff Railway Company (which traded as Valley Lines), together with the lines from Shrewsbury to Pwllheli and Aberystwyth formerly operated by Central Trains.
Like the Wales and West and Cardiff Railway Company franchises it replaced, it was part of the National Express Group. It was based in Cardiff.
In September 2003 the lines west of Crewe, through Chester to Holyhead, Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog previously operated by First North Western trains were transferred to Wales and Borders. The company only ran the majority of trains in Wales and the Borders for about three months before the franchise ended.
In July 2003 the Strategic Rail Authority announced that from 7 December 2003 the franchise would be awarded for a 15 year period (subject to satisfactory reviews after 5 and 10 years) to Arriva Trains Wales.