Transport for Wales ‘going off the rails’
Rail delays add to Welsh commuters’ woes.
Russell George AM has today (November 12) blasted Transport for Wales (TfW) for delays to services in across the network this morning, leaving some passengers late for work.
There have been delays of up to 20 minutes and some cancellations between Cardiff Central and Barry Island because of an earlier faulty train at Barry Docks. Elsewhere, passengers trying to get travel between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog had to rely on a replacement bus service because more trains than usual required repairs.
Mr George, whose portfolio as Shadow Minster for Business, Economy, and Infrastructure includes responsibility for TfW, said: “Rail passengers in Wales deserve a better service than this. Day after day there are delays and cancellations. Day after day passengers are late for work or miss appointments. Day after day passengers are forced to stand in packed carriages because insufficient rolling stock has been laid on.
“It potentially dangerous, it’s uncomfortable, and it’s unacceptable. The Welsh Labour Government’s management of TfW looks like it’s going off the rails.”
Research by Welsh Conservatives shows TfW lagging behind the national average across a number of categories including being on time (64.9 percent Wales vs 69.4 percent national average), as well as 1.7 percent of trains cancelled (1,440 cancellations out of 84,700 planned trains).
Mr George said: “The issue of rolling stock has made TfW a laughing stock. I’ve had people tell me that only two out of the usual four carriages have been attached in some trains, while the new Class 769 New trains – which were due to arrive on the Valleys Lines to ease pressure on this overstretched commuter network – have been delayed because of engineering issues.
“It’s not good for business, it’s not good for our people, and it’s not good for Wales.”
