Calls for Cambrian Line guarantees raised in the Senedd

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00:00Y Dirprwy Lywydd, what assessment has the Cabinet Secretary made of the impact of the

00:05new Cambrian line timetable on local residents?

00:08OAQ52323 Mark Drakeford AM

00:08I thought Wales rail services were more reliable than all other operators in Wales last year.

00:13Service performance has improved further with the introduction of the new timetable in December,

00:18including on the Cambrian line.

00:19Gareth Bennett AM Thanks for the response.

00:22The Cabinet Secretary will be aware of my concerns at the changes to the Cambrian line

00:26timetable following previous questions and engagements on the issue.

00:30It was great to hear earlier answers on improvements to the south and the north

00:34Wales lines, but thatís of scant consolation to the people along the Cambrian line.

00:39The changes that have come into force are proving to be extremely detrimental to my constituents,

00:44people who canít travel to work, canít go shopping or to see their family and friends,

00:48and are essentially pushing people into more expensive and environmentally damaging car use.

00:54The changes were justified at the time based on low passenger use,

00:58something the Cabinet Secretary himself said in a previous answer to me,

01:01but surely the Cabinet Secretary knows that, for most of the last 10 years,

01:05the line has been disrupted, from the reconstruction of Pontbriwet 10 years ago,

01:09a five-month closure because of weather, winter closures due to Barmouth Bridge redevelopment,

01:14Covid and other impacts.

01:15So, youíll understand why I and my electors doubt the case that has been put forward.

01:20We need to see a line that answers the needs of the residents.

01:23So, do you accept that the changes have been detrimental, and will you commit to ensure

01:27that a more regular train service is reinstated on the Cambrian line?

01:32Well, can I thank the Member for his question?

01:34Difficult decisions were made, as I mentioned earlier, regarding the utilisation of rolling

01:41stock across Wales.

01:43I was pleased, though, that Transport Wales did engage with passengers and they amended

01:49some of their proposals as a result of that feedback that they received.

01:55The December timetable change has led to improved punctuality and performance,

02:03and itís my hope that, as a result of that, weíll also see an increase in the number of people

02:07using that particular line.

02:09If we can drive up patronage, that surely helps the argument for increasing service provision.

02:15And so, we will be assessing the impact that itís had on communities, and at further timetable

02:21changes, once we get more trains delivered and we see that huge increase to 483 trains

02:28achieved, then we hopefully will be able to reinstate more services.

02:33But it is finite, the resource thatís available to us, and Transport Wales have had a very,

02:38very difficult task, Iím afraid, in recent times in determining which services can be

02:43maintained against a very, very bleak financial outlook.

02:46Weíve had a much better settlement, obviously, from the UK Government now, so I am hopeful

02:51that, in future years, as we see greater investment, but also as we see the fare box increase,

02:57we will see more services across Wales.

03:01Jane Dodds AM, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Islands

03:07Thank you very much to Mabon for asking this question.

03:09It is really concerning, isnít it, that weíve had these cuts to the Cambrian line.

03:14For example, the early morning Machynlleth to Barmouth return service has been removed.

03:20I myself, when I lived in Welshpool, I had the same experience in terms of not being

03:26able to get to work.

03:27When I went for my usual 6.30 am train, it had been cancelled and the next one was at

03:339 am.

03:35The Welsh Government have been promising an hourly service on the Cambrian line for over

03:4010 years now, and still residents along that line, many of whom use it for work and for

03:47things like shopping and attending appointments, actually rely on it.

03:52So, I wonder if we can press you, or at least press you, for a date when there will be confirmation

03:59about when the new hourly service will be introduced, because I think that, really,

04:05information to residents is what we need here, and the earlier that they know, the better

04:10when that line will actually be running at the service level thatís expected.

04:14Diolch yn fawr iawn.

04:15Mark Drakeford AM I thank Jane Dodds for her question.

04:19As Iíve already said, it was a very, very difficult decision for Transport for Wales

04:23to make, but they did consult then with user groups and passengers, and whilst the 0507

04:30McIntyreleth to Barmouth service was removed and the 0645 Barmouth to McIntyreleth service,

04:37they did retain the 852 McIntyreleth to Pertheli service and the 1137 Pertheli to McIntyreleth

04:44service, so they were listening and they did act on what they heard.

04:48New trains are going to be introduced this year.

04:51Theyíll be more comfortable.

04:52Theyíll be more reliable, and from May of this year, a year-round 1630 service will

04:59be introduced between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury, and TFW are aiming to introduce an hourly

05:05service on this route during the summer months from May of next year.

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