TfW Chief Exec to face MPs on South Wales Metro cost and train cancellations
Transport for Wales’ Chief Executive will face a grilling from MPs today on cost overruns of the South Wales Metro and the reliability of rail services.
The Welsh Affairs Committee will be holding a one-off evidence session at 10am this morning with Chief Executive, James Price to examine TfW.
When funding for the South Wales Metro was confirmed in 2018, £738 million was made available.
However, more recently, this figure has increased to around £1 billion.
Llyr Gruffydd MS, Chair of the Senedd’s Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee, will be guesting the evidence session where MPs will also likely discuss the reliability of train services across Wales.
Concern
In recent months serious concerns have been raised about TfW rail services.
In the year 2021-2022, 4% of TfW rail services were cancelled, an increase from 2.2% 2017-2020 – this is despite fewer trains operating.
A Transport Focus survey found that there was only a 69% satisfaction with punctuality and reliability.
Concerns have also been raised over maintenance of the fleet which have experienced three fires between February and March 2023 alone.
Members will also be asking witnesses about the South Wales mainline and bus services across Wales.
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I wonder if the MP’s will start the proceedings, by apologising to TFW, for directing their funding into the northern powerhouse line in Manchester, and the HS2 project. While accepting the total underfunding of our railways, maybe some understanding of the problems faced could result in correcting these issues of funding . Or will they just ignore the main issue, and just demand answers anyway.