Dispute over plans for train service extension

THE Welsh Government has criticised Great Western Railway after the rail operator expressed concerns about Transport for Wales’ plans to extend services between Bristol and West Wales.

- RUTH MOSALSKI

Transport for Wales wants to run new services for passengers from either Milford Haven or Pembrokeshire to be able to travel straight to Bristol Temple Meads without changing at Cardiff as they currently have to.

But Great Western Railway (GWR), which already runs Cardiff to Bristol trains, said the proposals would have a “significant effect” on its revenue.

The Welsh Government deputy minister for transport, Mark Hooper, said it was “extremely disappointing” that GWR would seek to “disrupt these plans to improve things for passengers on both sides of the Severn”.

In a document as part of the consultation process, GWR says it worries the plans could affect train services in the Bristol area and were “likely to have a significant effect on GWR's revenue income”.

It also said the new services are a “large risk" to UK Government money.

Transport for Wales (TfW) is owned by the Welsh Government.

Documents show TfW plans are for a service which is broadly for a two-hourly route with nine services each way per day.

Two will start from Cardiff in the morning but all the others will be through services between West Wales and Bristol.

All bar two of the through services will be achieved by combining the new Cardiff-Bristol portions with existing West Wales services at Cardiff Central, and two weekday trains will be entirely new services between Cardiff and Carmarthen then extending to/from Milford Haven or Fishguard Harbour in place of existing services.