Transport for Wales reports service improvement with boost in train services
Transport for Wales has announced significant progress in service improvements over the past year. New data from the Office of Rail and Road reveals that the reliability and punctuality of Transport for Wales’ services have shown remarkable improvement. Between April and June 2024, Transport for Wales noted the most significant improvement in punctuality in the UK, with an increase of 8.1%. Additionally, there was a 3.2% decrease in cancellations compared to the previous year. The company also leads in the increase of planned trains, with a 26.7% rise in the number of trains scheduled between April and June this year compared to the same period last year.
Moreover, customer satisfaction with Transport for Wales’ rail service has seen a notable increase to 88%, marking a 16% rise over the past 12 months, as per recent figures released by Transport Focus. Colin Lea, Planning and Performance Director at Transport for Wales, attributed these improvements to the introduction of their £800 million fleet of new trains. Lea highlighted that these new trains have helped enhance reliability, punctuality, and capacity across the network.
Lea also mentioned that significant engineering work on the Core Valleys Lines as part of the South Wales Metro delivery has reduced the need for rail replacement services. To offer customers more travel options, Transport for Wales has introduced additional services on various routes across Wales, including Wrexham – Bidston, the Ebbw Vale line, and Cardiff – Cheltenham. Lea acknowledged that while there are still areas for improvement, Transport for Wales is committed to ongoing enhancements with the introduction of more new trains and improved service frequency in the coming years.