First Minister “deflects and obfuscates” as quarter of Wales’ trains are out-of-service
The Welsh Conservative leader used First Minister’s questions today to secure answers as to what Transport for Wales’ plan of action is for resolving the capacity issue with its stock.
It follows TfW’s full page apology published in Welsh newspapers today where they stated customers “haven’t received the service that” they “deserve and expect”.
Despite past promises of a high quality, affordable, and accessible train network in Wales made by Carwyn Jones, Paul Davies AM highlighted that:
- TfW’s morning commuter train from Chepstow and Caldicot to Newport and Cardiff has been cancelled 16 times in the last 20 weekdays;
- Blaenau Ffestinog, Betws-y-coed and Llanrwst have had no trains all day on seven of the last 20 weekdays;
- And the 08.40 train from Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury was cancelled on four days last week.
The Leader of the Opposition also questioned the transparency of the Welsh Government surrounding the tender specification against which the potential rail operators were to bid in order to win the current contract, as Carwyn Jones has refused to make it public.
Under pressure from Mr Davies, the First Minister conceded that the document will be published, but refused to give any timeframe.
Outside the Chamber, Paul Davies said:
“If the problems of Transport for Wales are serious enough to warrant full page apologies in several newspapers, it surely means the Welsh people are angry and concerned at the state of rail capacity in their country.
“I am certain they will be even angrier after seeing him dodge questions on this today.
“The early failures of TfW are disappointing but hardly surprising. The Welsh Labour Government have built a track record of failing miserably at transport and infrastructure projects over the years, so we should continue to expect such failures.
“Going forward, we need far more transparency and dialogue from the Welsh Government, less deflection and obfuscation. Hopefully, the next First Minister will change things, but given the Labour Party’s track record, I sincerely doubt it.”
