In a response to a question to the Senedd, Labour’s Climate Change Minister, Julie James, replied that train passenger numbers are still lagging behind their post covid targets:
- Train journeys are running at 86% of their pre-covid average;
- Labour and Transport for Wales predicted that there would be 14% more passengers than are currently using train service;
- Transport for Wales is now operating 20% more services than when Arriva Train Wales ran the trains in 2018.
Commenting on the written question, Welsh Conservative Shadow Transport Minister, Natasha Asghar MS said: “The fact that journeys are 86% of the pre covid average indicates that TfW and Labour anticipated 14% more passengers when the service was originally budgeted for. So why are there so many examples of too few carriages, cancellations and late trains, when the level of passenger growth is below what was anticipated before the pandemic?
“Transport for Wales is languishing in bottom place for UK for customer satisfaction and passengers have complained that the quality of the service is deteriorating month by month.
“After sinking £125m to bail out TfW, it is high time that commuters in Wales see significant improvement to the service and a return on Labour’s investment of taxpayers money.”
The questions submitted in writing were:
- When does the Minister anticipate that passenger numbers on trains in Wales will recover following the pandemic? – WQ89811;
- What discussions has the Minister had with Transport for Wales about any reductions in train services given that passenger numbers are declining? – WQ89812.
In response, Julie James said: “Passenger numbers are not declining. The most recent figures show passenger journeys are 86% of the pre-covid average, having grown 9% since last year. Some routes and days now exceed pre-covid levels, for example, Sundays are 116% of the pre-covid average.
“From December, Transport for Wales will be operating 20% more services than Arriva Train Wales operated in 2018.”
Responses
I’m guessing the Welsh Conservatives haven’t seen the sorry state of many rail services across the border managed by the Conservative government. I’m guessing Welsh Conservatives have no connection to the Westminster Conservatives?
Of course passenger numbers are declining; the figures presented have been cherry-picked: they certainly don’t represent the Cambrian lines/the Conwy Valley (repeated flooding) or the Borderlands (the Class 231 disaster), or Treherbert/Abadare/Merthyr Tydfil lines (closures for electrification).
Take the Central (Heart of) Wales line: The last time it had trains was on Christmas Eve even then with 50% cancelled. On 27/12 a pair of 153s ran ECS as far as Cynghordy before encountering a tree and turning back and ALL trains have now been cancelled until the New Year with no replacement buses on at least one day.
It has been an ON-OFF service all year to such an extent that you take your life in both hands before travelling in fear that you will be stuck in Llanwrtyd Wells. So people have given up travelling. The last time Llandovery saw all timetabled trains run AND be on time was 20 August 2023!!
If the Welsh Government want people to get out of their cars they’ve got to do better particularly in rural areas. Train services in most of Wales are abysmal but to TfW the area doesn’t seem to exist: only Cardiff is important.