THE deterioration of the rail service operated by Arriva Trains Wales on the Cambrian Line has been raised directly with the First Minister.

Speaking in the National Assembly for Wales, Montgomeryshire AM Russell George drew the First Minister’s attention to the repeated cancellation of services between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury during recent weeks.

One of Mr George’s constituents, Christopher Banks, a student living in Newtown studying in Shrewsbury, reported that cancellations had reached an unacceptable frequency with the 7.38am service cancelled on 13, 17, 20, 21, 27 and 27 November.

After questioning the First Minister, Mr George said: “The odd cancellation once every few months is part and parcel of railway life and whilst aggravating, customers can accept and put up with it.

“But there have been a large number of cancellations or part cancellations recently with no alternative bus service being provided, leaving Cambrian Line passengers totally in the lurch.

“The cancellations often occur minutes before the train is due to depart, which, of course, makes it impossible for passengers to make alternative arrangements.

“The Cambrian Line service is used by a large number of regular commuters and also by students going to Shrewsbury Sixth Form College and Shrewsbury FE College.

“It is therefore unacceptable for Arriva Trains Wales’ performance to slip back to the poor levels of performance which characterised their early years in the franchise on the Cambrian Line."

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