- 30/10/2022
- Posted by: Mike Hedges MS
- Categories: Assembly Questions, Latest News
MIKE HEDGES MS QUESTIONS MINISTER REGARDING TRANSPORT FOR WALES SERVICES TRAIN SERVICES TO AND FROM LLANSAMLET
Following Business Questions, local Swansea East Senedd Member Mike Hedges said…. ‘I have had residents and local Councillors contact me regarding what they see as a poor service to and from Llansamlet, especially in the afternoon. We all need to be thinking of using the train and encouraging others to do so but it is difficult when there seems to be service reductions and long gaps between services.
I welcome the Statement by the Minister and await her checking if the service reduction my constituents fear is confirmed.
I hope that Transport for Wales do indeed deliver an Hourly Swans line service in the near future as it will make the issue of traveling by train that much more appealing. I also hope that the Swans line plans link in with the wider Swansea Metro proposals currently under development.
When thinking of traveling over the coming weeks and months I would urge everyone to consider letting the train take the strain!’
I’m asking for two Government statements. The first is an update on transport proposals for the Swansea bay city region. I’ve been told that, from December 2022, timetable changes for west Wales to Cardiff mean that there are no trains calling in Llansamlet station from 2.06 p.m. until 4.58 p.m. on Monday to Friday. How are we supposed to attract passengers to the service? Also, can the statement include when the hourly Swanline service is going to start?107
Thank you. Transport for Wales absolutely recognise the importance of attracting more passengers onto rail services. As you know, they’re introducing brand-new trains across Wales in 2023, and I think some new trains have already been introduced. I’m not aware of any reduction in Transport for Wales services calling at Llansamlet station. I will certainly check that that is the case, but I’m not aware of that. In relation to the Swanline service, Transport for Wales are currently working on the business case to introduce an hourly Swanline service. As I say, the business case is currently being put together.
