Transport for Wales explains current train chaos
In short, local rail transport has been nothing short of ridiculous of late with trains on the Cambrian Line facing regular cancellations and, across the border, TfW trains have been overcrowded.
On Sunday, one incensed MyWelshpool reader contacted us from the Manchester-Shrewsbury train saying that there were just two carriages and they were “packed in like cattle” (pictured).
She told us that one passenger had fainted on board and described the journey as “horrendous, unsafe and diabolical” saying that Transport for Wales needed "to take a long hard look at themselves and how they are treating passengers”.
We put both issues to Transport for Wales senior management and this is the statement they have come back to us with for our readers:
“The problems we’ve seen on the Cambrian line in recent weeks are as a result of a number of trains undergoing heavy maintenance exams and repairs for autumn related defects as well as two units out of service following the incident at Talerddig on October 21. As such we’ve been forced to cancel some services and replace them with road transport.
To give customers more certainty, for the remainder of the week, our Birmingham International services will be terminating at Wolverhampton, with tickets for onward travel accepted on all other operators including the Midland Metro. We would like to apologise to all affected customers.
“In terms of capacity to/from Manchester Piccadilly, we have been increasing the number of carriages that operate on the route over the past year as new trains enter our fleet. But as with the Cambrian Line we have also seen more trains than usual needing repairs recently, meaning we haven’t always been able to run as many carriages as planned.
“Our fleet engineering is working round the clock to get carriages back into service as quickly as possible.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|