Press releases - Rail, bus, coach and tram

Passenger watchdog welcomes commitment to improve rail in Wales

29.03.2010

Passenger Focus has welcomed the Welsh Assembly Government’s commitment to develop the rail network in Wales as a cornerstone of its National Transport Plan.

Simon Pickering, Passenger Focus manager for Wales, said: “Passengers will be pleased to see the explicit support for investment in new and upgraded stations, as well as park and ride facilities. Passenger satisfaction with stations and station facilities in Wales lags behind that in the rest of Britain.

“Equally welcome is recognition of the need to invest in new and refurbished trains to tackle capacity issues, to give passengers a more comfortable journey and relief from the old carriages they’re often forced to use."

While welcoming the plan, Passenger Focus would like to see more detail on the timelines and priority attached to the various schemes in the National Transport Plan.

Stella Mair Thomas, Passenger Focus’s Board Member for Wales, said: “In the current economic climate there is no doubt that investment decisions will come under close scrutiny. In addition, there are a number of rail schemes in regional transport plans that are not yet in the National Transport Plan, so we would like to know how and when it will be updated.  It will be vital that passenger priorities are at the centre of the decisions that will be made on the railway."

Ends

Notes to Editors

1. Passenger Focus is the official, independent consumer organisation representing the interests of rail users nationally and from 25 February 2010, bus, coach and tram users across England outside London.  Created by the Railways Act 2005, Passenger Focus is the operating name of the Passengers’ Council. It is a body corporate, executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Transport. We want to make a difference for rail, bus, coach and tram passengers.

We’ll do this by:

• providing authoritative advice for industry based on sound research;
• securing improvements to services – both big and small-scale improvements;
• helping passengers with advice and information;
• campaigning for change;
• acting on rail passenger complaints.

2. For further information please contact:
Amy Stockton
Head of Communications
Tel: 0300 123 0820
or e-mail:amy.stockton@passengerfocus.org.uk