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Wales has worst train services in the UK, according to new survey

24 Nov 2021 2 minute read
Picture by Mattbuck (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Wales has the worst train services in the UK, according to a new survey.

A YouGov poll found that people in Wales rate their local train services worse than any other area in Britain.

According to the survey, which has been seen by the PA news agency, 22% of Welsh residents believe rail provision is bad in their area, with 11% responding that they do not have any local train services at all. Of Welsh residents, 22% said services are good.

Other parts of the UK with with low satisfaction ratings include Scotland, where 19% think services are bad, Yorkshire and the Humber, where 18% think they’re bad, and the north west of England, where 18% think they’re bad.

The area of the UK where people are the least likely to say their services are bad is London, where the figure is 10%.

Welsh Conservative shadow minister for transport Natasha Asghar told PA: “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.”

‘No surprise’ 

She added: “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.

“It is clear that nothing has improved since Welsh Labour nationalised the railway, despite them saying it would protect services and deliver improvements to infrastructure, which is grossly disappointing to me and train users all across Wales.”

In response to recent criticism about overcrowding on trains, a  Transport for Wales spokesperson said: “We are delivering a transformational programme across our Wales and Borders rail network that will see more than £800 million invested in new trains which will start to arrive on the network from next year, providing improved capacity and more frequent services.”


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Andrew
Andrew
2 years ago

Perhaps withdrawing the equivalent Wales pays in taxes to pay for HS2 would help our decrepid rail infrastructure recover from decades of leveling down by Westminster, given that the line passes Wales by. The projected cost of the stretch that recently got cancelled up north would also be very helpful and would go a long way to paying for a South to North line here in Wales.🚝🚅🚄🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Paul Reynolds
2 years ago
Reply to  Andrew

It is from Barnett formula money which Wales doesn’t raise in taxation.

Barry Pandy
Barry Pandy
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul Reynolds

Paul

If Wales is such as a basket case (as tories such as yourself are so keen to believe) then why are you and all the other tories so desperate to keep us in the so-called ‘union’? Surely if we were such a burden you would be falling over yourselves to get rid of us?

Paul Reynolds
2 years ago
Reply to  Barry Pandy

Because the poorest of Wales would lose out.

And there would be immeasurable racism and persecution by Nationalists

Crwtyn Cemais
Crwtyn Cemais
2 years ago

Yn anffodus, fel rhywun sydd wedi teithio’n aml ar y tren rhwng Abergwaun a Chaerdydd, dyw hwn ddim yn syndod i fi o gwbl. Rhaid gweud hefyd ei bod hi’n cymryd tair awr mewn tren (os eith popeth yn iawn) a dim ond dwy awr yn y car! ~ Unfortunately, as someone who has travelled regularly by train between Fishguard and Cardiff, this is of little surprise to me. It must be said also that it takes three hours by train (if everything goes well) and only two hours by car!

David Smith
David Smith
2 years ago

wHo CaReS? tHe ImPoRtAnT PaRt iS sErViNg lIvErPoOl, cHeStEr, CrEwE aNd BiRmInGhAm!

Barry Pandy
Barry Pandy
2 years ago
Reply to  David Smith

Is this some sort of weird code? Do the capitals spell something?

Valerie Matthews
Valerie Matthews
2 years ago

I have lived in London , Shropshire and Wales in my lifetime. The worst experiences were in London where I had the misfortune to work for a number of years. Trains were dirty, overcrowded, often late, ‘sardines’ was what it was like, day in day out. Have not had such an unpleasant experience anywhere else and certainly not in Wales.

Paul
Paul
2 years ago

Conservatives trying to attach the blame for this to Welsh Labour, even though Westminster is responsible for railway infrastructure in Wales, and the Conservatives in Westminster have given Wales only 1% of UK railway investment.

But sure it is all Transport for Wales’ fault: It has only been in existence for 5 years!

Barry Pandy
Barry Pandy
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul

Of course everything was rosy when it was run(down) by You-May-Never-Arriva.

Malcolm rj
Malcolm rj
2 years ago

What do you expect when You’re only given a pittance from London to run the railways

Charlie
Charlie
2 years ago

It always amazes me how the Welsh consistently blame Westminster and the English for all their problems. After 20 years of Labour government, under devolution, I think it is high time the Welsh took some responsibility and realised that until they stop voting for socialism they will always live in a basket case region of the U.K.

David Smith
David Smith
2 years ago
Reply to  Charlie

Devolution serves Westminster masters. It is a British State project.
Deprived areas vote left of centre.
Two simple truths even a real mind like you can grasp!

Barry Pandy
Barry Pandy
2 years ago
Reply to  Charlie

Charlie Rail is not devolved and therefore not the responsibility of the Senedd and therefore not the responsibility of the Welsh government. As it is not devolved it is ultimately the responsibility of the Westminster government. As you pointed out we’ve had devolution for over 20 years so the fact that our rail services are so poor is the fault of both Labour and Tory Westminster governments as rail has been their responsibility for all this time. This is why I support full independence as Westminster will never serve our needs, rail is just one example of this fact. And… Read more »

Dafydd
Dafydd
2 years ago
Reply to  Charlie

Region?

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