TfW pulling back on commitments to increase Vale trains

Conservative MP for Vale of Glamorgan Alun Cairns described it as a “slap in the face” for people of the county as proposals looked to reduce the frequency of train services between Bridgend, Llantwit, Rhoose and Barry.

However, TfW have now hit back, saying they are committed to increasing service frequency at peak times. They also say the proposals are in response to changing customer demand post pandemic.

On the proposals, Colin Lea, TfW planning and performance director, said: “Travel patterns and demand on our network have changed post the pandemic so we’ve completed a review of our rail services.

“It’s fundamental that we provide a rail service that serves new patterns of customer demand and our proposed timetables will help deliver this, whilst carefully balancing value for money for the taxpayer.

“We’re strengthening popular routes, providing more resilience across our network during winter and have had to defer some earlier commitments.

“The additional peak time services on the Vale of Glamorgan line will go ahead by 2026, however we’ve currently deferred our commitment to increase to two trains per hour all day. 

“TfW is a not-for-profit organisation and all revenue generated on our services will be reinvested into the network.”

Mr Cairns has condemned these proposals to cut services between Bridgend and Barry

Mr Cairns says half-hourly trains were intended to have started by the end of 2023 as part of the Metro project, but the service may not arrive until the end of 2024, if it goes ahead at all.

Mr Cairns went on to say: "This is yet another slap in the face for the Vale of Glamorgan by Transport for Wales and the Labour-run Welsh Government.

"Half hourly trains on the Vale of Glamorgan line has been a long-standing commitment and to scrap this is utterly outrageous."

"The proposal to scrap half hourly trains on the Vale of Glamorgan line has proven the lack of consideration towards the Vale despite a clear need for two trains an hour.

"This is just further proof of how TfW and the Welsh Government have left the Vale behind time and time again."

Are less train services going to be departing from Barry to Bridgend? (Image: Google Maps)

• Read more: Vale of Glamorgan's half-hourly train service faces scrap

Transport for Wales is requesting feedback from key stakeholders and customers about the proposed changes.

Their aim is to spur further usage of public transport, as part of a review open for feedback until May 13, 2024.

Submissions can be made via the feedback section of their website.