CRAMMED ON THE SCHOOL TRAIN
PARENTS have voiced their anger after a photo showed pupils “crammed” onto a train and even standing on seats to make space.
The picture, posted by Rhondda mum Donna Mcginness on Facebook on Tuesday, shows children from Treorchy Comprehensive School on an overcrowded Arriva Trains Wales carriage.
Ms Mcginness, whose three children use the service to get to school, said her daughter took the picture on the train travelling between Treherbert and Cardiff.
Ms Mcginness said overcrowding was a “regular” occurrence.
Arriva Trains Wales apologised for the “discomfort”, and said extra staff are employed at Treorchy to supervise on the platform to make sure they arrive and depart safely.
But Ms Mcginness said it was an “unacceptable” way to transport children home from school.
She said: “It’s absolutely terrifying to see. The children are just crammed on. It’s so scary my daughter was telling me there were children crying. It is happening regularly – almost every day.”
She said too often the company allocated just two carriages instead of four, and that in the past, children have fainted.
She added: “Arriva Trains don’t seem to care I’ve rang endless times complaining, and I know a load of other parents that have too. It’s a very serious accident that’s waiting to happen so something needs to be done. It would help if they put more carriages on to enable the children to travel safely home from school.
“It’s absolutely shocking that it’s been left to carry on for so long putting our children in danger.”
Rhondda Assembly Member, Leanne Wood, called the situation “distressing”.
She said: “Overcrowding is a familiar problem for anyone who uses the Valleys Lines. I know it is also nothing new for the many pupils of Treorchy Comprehensive school who rely on the service on a daily basis. When you see children pressed up against each other because carriages are so full it is distressing for all concerned, especially for parents of the children.”
The Plaid Cymru leader said these problems and “subsequent customer dissatisfaction” underlined the need for the next franchise to be “absolutely spot on”, adding: “The last franchise did not have any provision for passenger growth or extra train capacity, and that is big part of why we are where we are now.”
Lynne Milligan, customer services director for Arriva Trains Wales said: “Due to a mechanical issue with a train, yesterday’s afternoon’s school train was changed from four to two carriages.
“On those occasions where this does occur, we have a method of working where the safety team managing the platform will only fill the train to a safe capacity.
“Those pupils who are not able to board the first train, are able to wait at the station under supervision to board the next train in 30 minutes.
“We apologise for the inconvenience and discomfort caused yesterday.”