First Minister deflects questions over train services

The First Minister has failed to respond to questions over delayed plans for an hourly service on the Cambrian Railway, as well as continued delayed and cancelled services on the line through Newtown.

Vaughan Gethin was asked by Montgomeryshire's Senedd Member to provide a reason why the planned hourly service has been delayed until May 2026 instead of this May. It was originally proposed 14 years ago.

Russell George MS also asked Mt Gethin to provide reasons why Transport for Wales services were often not arriving or were delayed.

However, in a response at the Senedd, Mr Gethin deflected his answers.

"This fiasco has been going on for over a decade. If the Welsh Government want to reduce the number of car users, then they need to make serious improvements to public transport and they can start by ensuring Transport for Wales stop delaying the operation of a true hourly services between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury.

"I asked the First Minister to give a commitment to me and my constituents as to when we can expect a service with trains arriving on time and not cancelled at short notice, and when can we really expect that true hourly service, as was promised many, many years ago.

"Transport for Wales is wholly owned by the Welsh Government, and it was disappointing that The First Minister simply tried to deflect the blame and the responsibilities of his Government."

In his response at the Senedd, Mr Gethin stated: "There are two broad points to mention, and they're factual points here: the factual point is that Transport for Wales is the best-performing franchise in Wales by a distance; by a significant distance.

"It performs better on timeliness and on the lack of cancellations compared to every franchise that is run and managed through the UK Government departments. That's a matter of fact, not a matter of opinion, and it's a shame that the Member can't recognise that, even if he would choose not to celebrate it.

"The second point, of course, is that rail infrastructure is not devolved, and the challenge that the Member faces is on the one hand regretting and complaining about the challenges that lack of investment in rail infrastructure causes, without willing the means for that to happen.

"I'd have a deal more respect for the Member if he was prepared to stand up and call out the fact that the UK Government has not invested in rail infrastructure in equitable terms, and it is the rail infrastructure that is a direct cause of the challenges that the Member points to on this part of the rail network. I'd have a great deal more respect if he was prepared to call that out.

"I look forward to a UK Labour Government that will invest in rail infrastructure. I look forward to making and willing the case for real investment in rail infrastructure here in Wales and I hope the Member will then recognise that in the future, even if he is not prepared to call out the shameful Tory failure to invest in our rail infrastructure in Wales."