Welsh are top – for disliking our trains
PEOPLE in Wales rate their local train services worse than any other area in Britain, a new survey has indicated.
The YouGov poll of 55,000 adults seen by the PA news agency suggested that 22% of Welsh residents think rail provision in their area is bad.
Some 11% responded that they do not have any local train services, while 22% said services are good.
The release of the figures comes after a fresh round of criticism of conditions on rail services following high-profile sporting events in Cardiff.
Problems with overcrowding on trains were highlighted after Wales’ football World Cup qualifier against Belarus at Cardiff City Stadium two weekends ago.
And despite assurances that “lessons would be learnt”, there were further complaints following Wales’ autumn international rugby match against Australia on Saturday, with passengers complaining of overcrowding as well as the lack of maskwearing on services.
As reported in yesterday’s Echo, a director at Transport for Wales said the law may need to be beefed up to enforce mask-wearing, otherwise travellers could expect “similar” circumstances during next year’s Six Nations.
Reacting to the survey results, Welsh Conservative shadow minister for transport Natasha Asghar said: “The results of this YouGov poll sadly come as no surprise for people living in Wales.
“Transport for Wales, which is owned by the Welsh Labour Government, has consistently failed to address the problem of overcrowding on Welsh trains which is becoming more frequent.
“As shadow minister for transport I have regularly called for more carriages to be put on trains and for action to be taken to address the regular delays and cancellations to services that cause anger and frustration to commuters.”
A Transport for Wales spokesperson said: “Transport for Wales has started implementing an investment programme that will transform transport in Wales and the Borders, including an £800m spend on brand new trains to run throughout the network.
“TfW is also developing metro schemes in North, West and South Wales which will provide more integrated transport networks for the people of Wales and improve connectivity.”
The survey indicated that other nations and regions with low satisfaction ratings include Scotland (19% think services are bad), Yorkshire and the Humber (18% bad) and the northwest of England (18% bad). By contrast, people in London are the least likely to say their services are bad (10%).