Welsh Government data has revealed that there were around 7,700 fewer services operating in Wales last month than the same time in 2020 before the pandemic. With the easing of Covid restrictions seeing many public settings, workplaces and events opening up to the people of Wales, train services have been plagued by overcrowding and delays in the last few months.
According to a YouGov poll in November of last year, people in Wales were the least likely to say their services were good with 41% in comparison to 51% in London and 44% in East of England. While 22% said that their local train services in Wales were bad.
Recent figures by Welsh Government, which shows the number of train services operated by Transport for Wales from when the company began operating services in October 2018 to March 2022, showed that 17,973 services operated in February this year in comparison to 25,736 in February, 2020.
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In comparison, during the pre-pandemic period services operated by Transport for Wales was 27,684 in October 2018, and increased to 28,006 in the same month the following year. Setting aside this month's data that currently stands at 7,356 but has yet to be completed, the lowest number of services operated stood at 14,399 in May, 2020 - 3,574 less than how many were operated last month.
Back in December, TfW announced an emergency rail timetable, which equated to a reduction of 10-15% of the standard service due to staff absence amid the Omicron wave of Covid-19. However, with staff absences continuing to increase, the decision was taken to further reduce services on January 3, and represented an additional 10-15% reduction in services. But Transport for Wales have said that they have been slowly restoring services since February, with the final services expected to be restored in April.
Recent weeks have seen a few overcrowded trains following Wales' Six Nations rugby matches in Cardiff. WalesOnline asked a spokesperson for Transport for Wales what further measures were being taken to increase the number of train services operating in Wales and provide details as to how and when commuters could expect services to return to pre-pandemic levels.
Q: Welsh Government data has revealed that there were around 7,700 fewer services operating in Wales last month than the same time in 2020 before the pandemic. Why are services still operating at a reduced timetable and when can we expect services to return to pre-pandemic levels?
A: We introduced an emergency timetable in December in response to the increased number of Covid-19 cases resulting from the Omicron variant. We’ve been slowly restoring services since February 12, with the final services due to be restored in April.
Q: In February, we reported that Transport for Wales was to 'start to reintroduce' a full timetable after six weeks of emergency schedule. Has this process begun or when can we expect a fixed date for full resumption?
A: The process began on February 12. This was due to be completed by the end of March. However, due to a recent rise in staff absences as a result of an increase in Covid-19 cases, the final steps in this process have been slightly delayed until April. We’ll also be adding more services across the Wales and Borders network as part of our timetable change in May.
Q: The Cardiff City Line service has also been reduced for a few months, when can commuters expect a regular service and direct trains to locations such as Cardiff Central?
A: Timetables for services in Cardiff have been altered in recent months as a result of essential strengthening work being undertaken on the railway bridge over Adam Street. We’re currently planning to be able to restore direct services between Coryton and Radyr and the shuttle service between Cardiff Queen Street and Cardiff Bay from our timetable change in May.
Q: Public transport will play an important role in combating climate change, what are TfW and the Welsh Government's long-term plans to make trains accessible for the people of Wales?
A: We’re investing £5 billion to transform rail services across Wales and the Borders and develop the South Wales Metro. This will include a fleet of brand new trains, which will provide a better customer experience including improved accessibility – these will begin entering service later this year. The new trains will enable us to run faster, more frequent services across the network, and reduce our carbon footprint. We also have exciting plans to build new stations and develop Metro schemes for North Wales, Swansea Bay and West Wales.
