Transport for Wales

[JamesWales]

For the second time in as many weeks, the now only hourly Cardiff Bay service is cancelled at the last minute..as is the one after it. Dozens stranded, women walking into town in the dark, no announcements whatsoever...

It's unbelievable how bad it is.

Why do we put up with this shit in Wales?

[splott parker]

Re: Transport for Wales

I’ll tell you what is a dreadful transport situation in Cardiff. The National Express Sophia Gardens set up. Me and the missus got back from Liverpool about half six yesterday evening, no taxi rank there, which is shocking with town being a bit of a walk. Walking alongside the Taff in Sophia Gardens in the dark isn’t a very nice experience. Two elderly ladies kept up with us towards Cardiff Bridge. They remarked how daunting it would have been if they’d been alone.

I’ve suggested today to National Express that a shuttle mini bus into town should be provided, even if they added a quid to the fare to fund it. I’d be wary walking the route alone in the dark, it’s very inhospitable, a mugger’s dream.

[Eric the Half a Bee]

Re: Transport for Wales

For the second time in as many weeks, the now only hourly Cardiff Bay service is cancelled at the last minute..as is the one after it. Dozens stranded, women walking into town in the dark, no announcements whatsoever...

It's unbelievable how bad it is.

Why do we put up with this shit in Wales?

You think it's worse than other parts of the UK?

[JamesWales]

Re: Transport for Wales

I absolutely do. I think our motorway network into Wales is dire. I think our national airport is dire, and I think - particularly at the moment - our train system is dire. One train an hour between Cardiff Bay and Cardiff City centre, which then gets cancelled with no information leaving people stranded. It's absolutely embarrassing.

Splott Parker is right too on the bus station, which has been there for about 5 years now. It's extremely intimidating in the evening.

Honestly, at the moment I think the service is worse than Arriva Trains Wales who at least seemed to care about customers. It's incredible how bad it is at the moment.

We are so backward on getting over covid, it's extraordinary

[dandywarhol]

Re: Transport for Wales

Six bells Abertillery to Cwm a distance of 3.5 miles takes 1.50 hours by stagecoach.Six bells to Brynmawr to Ebbw Vale to Cwm.Change three ties.
Pontypool to cardiff bus via Cwmbran reduced to a three hour service.

[Organ Morgan.]

Re: Transport for Wales

I absolutely do. I think our motorway network into Wales is dire. I think our national airport is dire, and I think - particularly at the moment - our train system is dire. One train an hour between Cardiff Bay and Cardiff City centre, which then gets cancelled with no information leaving people stranded. It's absolutely embarrassing.

Splott Parker is right too on the bus station, which has been there for about 5 years now. It's extremely intimidating in the evening.

Honestly, at the moment I think the service is worse than Arriva Trains Wales who at least seemed to care about customers. It's incredible how bad it is at the moment.

We are so backward on getting over covid, it's extraordinary

I agree with all your remarks. The Welsh government provide a worse train service than Arriva did. Those who rely on it to get to and from work use it more than most and suffer to a higher degree. As you noted, they can't be arsed to offer an explanation or an albeit perfunctory apology much of the time which equals a further kick in the nuts to their victims stood on platforms.

[lennybluebird]

Re: Transport for Wales

there,s no incentive for labour to do anything, as there,s no opposition, labour get voted in all the same.

[Hilts]

Re: Transport for Wales

Ive said it before. Transport by me has suffered due to Brexit.

Lack of drivers.

Maybe theres an issue with staffing on the trains as well.

[LeningradCowboy]

Re: Transport for Wales

Six bells Abertillery to Cwm a distance of 3.5 miles takes 1.50 hours by stagecoach.Six bells to Brynmawr to Ebbw Vale to Cwm.Change three ties.
Pontypool to cardiff bus via Cwmbran reduced to a three hour service.

The Cwmbran to Cardiff service used to run every 20 minutes a few years ago. Surely that change can't be permanent?

[LeningradCowboy]

Re: Transport for Wales

I absolutely do. I think our motorway network into Wales is dire. I think our national airport is dire, and I think - particularly at the moment - our train system is dire. One train an hour between Cardiff Bay and Cardiff City centre, which then gets cancelled with no information leaving people stranded. It's absolutely embarrassing.

Splott Parker is right too on the bus station, which has been there for about 5 years now. It's extremely intimidating in the evening.

Honestly, at the moment I think the service is worse than Arriva Trains Wales who at least seemed to care about customers. It's incredible how bad it is at the moment.

We are so backward on getting over covid, it's extraordinary

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2022/01/convenience-stores-to-sell-transport-for-wales-train-tickets.html

What are you complaining about?! Soon you'll be able to buy a ticket for your nonexistent train at the corner shop.

[tforturton]

Re: Transport for Wales

There are two issues here. The first is the transport policy in Wales, which is appalling - it's barely third world standard. We don't have any motorways in Wales. If you're restricted to driving at fifty mph, then it's not a motorway, it's an A-road. And if you can't get a bus or a train, you have to use your car, but the roads are strangled by bus routes and cycle lanes.

The second is Covid, and the way that certain people continue to rip the piss out of it, taking leave after leave. It only seems to affect unionised or nationalised businesses, did you notice? That's because no-one else would put up with all that lead-swinging. Farcical.

[LeningradCowboy]

Re: Transport for Wales

there,s no incentive for labour to do anything, as there,s no opposition, labour get voted in all the same.

Exactly. The Welsh Government is incompetent, but the opposition are even worse.

[driver blue]

Re: Transport for Wales

Exactly. The Welsh Government is incompetent, but the opposition are even worse.

welsh government need anyone say anymore

[Eric the Half a Bee]

Re: Transport for Wales

I absolutely do. I think our motorway network into Wales is dire. I think our national airport is dire, and I think - particularly at the moment - our train system is dire. One train an hour between Cardiff Bay and Cardiff City centre, which then gets cancelled with no information leaving people stranded. It's absolutely embarrassing.

Splott Parker is right too on the bus station, which has been there for about 5 years now. It's extremely intimidating in the evening.

Honestly, at the moment I think the service is worse than Arriva Trains Wales who at least seemed to care about customers. It's incredible how bad it is at the moment.

We are so backward on getting over covid, it's extraordinary

Our rail network is mainly as a result of underinvestment. I find your comment that ATW cared about customers to be laughable. It's also worth noting that it's only relatively recently that our trains left the hands of Keolis/Amey after they realised how much money they'd lose over the course of the franchise.

Our airport was run into the ground by its previous owners and hadn't the WG stepped in, we might not have kept our airport. Some might say there's not much point in it given its location and given that Bristol airport has far better fares and destinations.

I agree about the bus station - Cardiff council should hang their heads in shame over it.

I spent 10 years using public transport to get around (I didn't need a car when I lived in Canton and got used to not having one when I moved to the valleys). I've been on a customer panel with a major bus operator as Fingers on here would testify (he was on the same panel). Privatisation of public transport has been a balls up. Train operators get government money if they make losses but keep any profits. Bus operators operate where they can make money rather than where some services are needed. Council run services plug some gaps. Traws Cymru operate a reasonable long distance bus network where these services wouldn't have existed.

Public transport is a bit of a chicken and egg scenario. People want frequent, regular, cheap services. Operators will provide them if they are well used. If they don't get used, frequencies get cut. Once services get cut, less people use them. It can be a vicious circle. I'm surprised trains to the bay are only hourly but that can only be because of patronage. People would complain if we had a bay train every 10 minutes that was nearly empty all the time.

[Eric the Half a Bee]

Re: Transport for Wales

Six bells Abertillery to Cwm a distance of 3.5 miles takes 1.50 hours by stagecoach.Six bells to Brynmawr to Ebbw Vale to Cwm.Change three ties.
Pontypool to cardiff bus via Cwmbran reduced to a three hour service.

I'm sure if there was a market for a regular service between Abertillery and Cwm Stagecoach would have considered it. As for the X3, I'm not surprised. Before Covid I caught that at various times between Cardiff and Cwmbran and it was always virtually empty.