TRAVELLERS FACING MORE RAIL MISERY
IF YOUR work commute involves taking the train, the last seven days may have tested your patience. But the coming week won’t be problem-free, either. Train operator Transport for Wales has published its latest list of cancelled services.
Since taking over the rail franchise in October the operator has had to take a high number of trains out of service.
It is partly due to damaged trains needing repairs.
The latest list of cancellations has now been published, and Transport for Wales has apologised again to customers.
“We apologise for the current changes to timetabled services and the decreased capacity of our trains. We are doing everything possible to improve this regrettable situation,” said a spokesperson.
“Due to continuing problems resulting from damage to wheels caused by seasonal conditions, more trains than usual are currently undergoing repair at Transport for Wales depots. As a result, an amended timetable will be in operation until further notice.”
Rail bosses say services across Wales Aberystwyth – Machynlleth – Shrewsbury
6.25am Shrewsbury – Aberystwyth cancelled
6.30am Aberystwyth – Shrewsbury cancelled
8.30am Aberystwyth – Birmingham International will start at Shrewsbury
10.29am Shrewsbury – Aberystwyth cancelled
12:30 Aberystwyth – Shrewsbury cancelled Blaenau Ffestiniog – Llandudno Junction – Llandudno
All trains to be replaced by bus. Swansea/Carmarthen – Pembroke Dock/Milford Haven/Fishguard Harbour
Between 9am and 7pm services between Pembroke Dock and Swansea will only operate between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock.
Between 7.45am and 8pm services between Milford Haven and Carmarthen will be replaced by a bus.
The 8.14am Swansea – Fishguard Harbour will be replaced by a bus.
The 9.53am Fishguard Harbour – Carmarthen will be replaced by a bus. Swansea – Shrewsbury via Llandrindod (Heart of Wales line)
4.53am Carmarthen – Llandovery cancelled.
6.44am Llandovery – Swansea cancelled. Cardiff Central – Cheltenham Spa 6.13am Cardiff Central – and the Borders are set to improve over the next two weeks.
Transport for Wales say its engineers have worked almost 1,000 hours of overtime over the past four weeks to return damaged trains to the tracks.
From tomorrow, services on the Wrexham-Bidston line will be restored to normal levels and other pre-planned cancellations can be reviewed on a daily basis as the week progresses.
The number of available trains in the fleet has increased by more than 10% in the past four days and the number of trains reporting new faults is starting to fall, according to a spokesman.
Network Rail and Transport for Wales have launched a joint investigation to understand why this autumn’s weather caused so much damage to the fleet.
A leading industry expert is conducting a range of scientific studies on the track conditions and how the trains have coped with them to help prevent a similar situation happening again. Cheltenham Spa cancelled.
7.46am Cheltenham Spa – Maesteg will start at Cardiff Central.
3.17pm Maesteg – Cheltenham Spa will terminate at Cardiff Central.
5.46pm Cheltenham Spa – Maesteg will start at Cardiff Central. Other alterations
5.35am Cardiff Central – Milford Haven cancelled.
6am Carmarthen – Manchester Piccadilly will start at Cardiff Central.
6.10am Shrewsbury – Wrexham General cancelled.
7.16am Cardiff Central – Swansea cancelled.
11.10am Cardiff Central – Llanelli cancelled.
12.32pm Holyhead – Maesteg will not operate between Shrewsbury and Cardiff Central.
12.45pm Llanelli – Cardiff Central cancelled.
4.25pm Llandudno Junction – Chester cancelled.
6.39pm Llandudno Junction – Chester cancelled. 7.55pm Chester – Crewe cancelled. 20.23pm Crewe – Chester cancelled.
20.49pm Wrexham General – Shrewsbury cancelled. Valleys lines
Cardiff Valleys services on all of the Cardiff Valleys routes will be reduced.
Additional bus services between Taffs Well/Lisvane and Thornhill – Cardiff Queen Street/Cardiff Central.