Transport for Wales has issued an apology following a series of incidents that resulted in ‘significant’ disruption to train services. The disruptions included a person lying on the railway tracks, missiles being thrown at a train, and a trespasser on the tracks, all contributing to major delays for Welsh trains throughout the week.
On Tuesday, only 9% of services were running on time, causing frustration for commuters across the network. The day began with deliberate damage to signalling cables near Abergavenny, affecting approximately 22 services and leading to delays and cancellations. Many routes had to be terminated short due to the damage, impacting services to Manchester and Holyhead.
In the afternoon, three separate incidents further exacerbated the disruptions. These included a person obstructing the train at Hengoed, missiles being thrown at a train near Llanbradach, and a trespasser between Cardiff and Newport. The trespasser was first spotted at 3pm, causing a temporary closure of the tracks, and then again at 4.10pm before being escorted away by the British Transport Police.
The resulting backlog of trains led to a cascade effect, with services having to run fast to catch up and others being cancelled altogether to minimize the disruption. Even by 8pm, the impact of these incidents was still being felt, with only 9% of services running on time during the evening peak. Transport for Wales expressed their apologies to all affected customers for the inconvenience caused.
The incidents serve as a reminder of the challenges faced by transport services in ensuring smooth operations and the importance of safety measures to prevent disruptions. Transport for Wales continues to work towards improving services and ensuring the safety and efficiency of train operations across Wales.