Travellers’ fury over rail carriages move

Feb 27 2008 by David James, South Wales Echo

LONG-SUFFERING South Wales commuters furious that extra carriages for Welsh routes are being shifted to England today said: “They see us as second raters.”

Ten Sprinter carriages earmarked for services on Cardiff’s Arriva Trains Wales commuter routes will go to First Great Western instead to prop up the ailing long-distance carrier. The revelation means that the Welsh Assembly Government’s £32m investment in longer platforms and line upgrades to prepare for the extra carriages will lie idle.

In total, £13.2m has been spent to extend platforms and £18.8m to allow trains on the Merthyr Tydfil line to operate half hourly in preparation for the arrival of new carriages that have been diverted elsewhere.

Rail user’s group Railfuture South Wales’ chairman Guy Hardy said: “It seems the position of Welsh rail travellers is inferior to that of English rail travellers and the Department for Transport look upon us as second raters.”

The 10 Sprinter carriages being leased to First Great Western by Arriva Trains Wales are five of nine two-carriage units that had been secured for the Valley Lines commuter network.

A Department for Transport spokeswoman said the decision had been taken by the Welsh Assembly Government and First Great Western, who are battling to retain their franchise following large numbers of cancellations.

The Welsh trains will be used in England, releasing extra carriages to use on the overcrowded Cardiff to Portsmouth route.

Tory Assembly transport spokesman Andrew Davies said: “It’s taking much-needed rolling stock off already under-pressure Valley lines to supplement the failing First Great Western franchise. That’s a failure on the part of Transport Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones. We learned recently that none of the 1,300 new carriages announced by the Government is coming to Wales.”

First Great Western would not comment but WAG said it was a “short-term” measure.