Senedd member, Russell George MS raised public transport in mid Wales, telling the First Minister that ‘it’s pretty abysmal’
The promise of hourly train services between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury won’t start for another two years and will only operate in the summer.
A consultation released on Transport for Wales' website states that the planned hourly service will go ahead from May 2026, 14 years after they were first mooted.
Mr George raised mid Wales transport issues with the First Minister Vaughan Gething MS in the Senedd this week (20/04/2024). The Montgomeryshire MS highlighted to the First Minister that Transport for Wales informed him in 2021 that the hourly service would be operational in May 2024, but now it has been delayed by another two years to 2026.
Mr George also highlighted poor service on the Cambrian, Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth line, with trains not arriving on time, or not at all. He further highlighted to the First Minster a recent rail user survey that outlined that Transport for Wales has the worst customer satisfaction for any train operator in the UK.
Commenting after First Ministers questions, Mr George said:
‘This fiasco has been going on for over a decade. If the Welsh Government want to reduce the number of car users, then they need to make serious improvements to public transport and they can start by ensuring Transport for Wales stop delaying the operation of a true hourly services between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury.
I asked the First Minister to give a commitment to me and my constituents as to when we can expect a service with trains arriving on time and not cancelled at short notice, and when can we really expect that true hourly service, as was promised many, many years ago.
Transport for Wales is wholly owned by the Welsh Government, and it was disappointing that The First Minister simply tried to deflect the blame and the responsibilities of his Government.
