Party of Wales Gwynedd Councillors' Group

At a meeting of the full council in Caernarfon today (Thursday, 1 December) Councillor Huw Rowlands who represents the residents of Llanwnda on Gwynedd Council is calling for the support of his fellow councillors to push for improving the area's train services and standards.

The people of Gwynedd have had to suffer in frustration due to an unacceptable train service for many years.

That is the opinion of Councillor Rowlands, who is calling on both governments and the relevant train companies to raise the standard of the services provided by Avanti West Coast and Transport for Wales in Gwynedd.

The reasons standard of train services in Gwynedd is unacceptable:

• there is a significant reduction in the number of trains that run directly from Bangor to London
• trains run late
• trains are being cancelled
• trains are dirty
• overcrowding in trains because of a lack in carriages
• poor customer service
• ticket complexities, high prices and the unavailability of certain types of tickets

“Banded together they are having a negative impact on Gwynedd residents and the economy. The services were reduced during the Covid period, and although many months have passed, we are still awaiting these services to be re-established to the level they were before the pandemic.”

The number of direct train services between Bangor and London provided by Avanti West Coast has been significantly cut, and there is no clear date for when the service will be restored.

“Since Transport for Wales was established by the Welsh Government to provide the train service in Wales, things have not improved. In fact, Transport for Wales' train service standard has been described as the worst in the UK.

“All the problems have a detrimental effect on the county's economy and on the well-being of the people of Gwynedd. It is not good enough in this day and age. It does nothing to encourage visitors who come here and use the service.

“Amidst this backdrop, we also note that the new HS2 line service in England will cost over £100 billion, but the people of Wales and Gwynedd will see no benefit from this investment. Instead, we will have to continue to receive a second rate service where the standard and customer care is wholly inadequate.

“The people of Gwynedd deserve better than to receive, without question, a service that is among the worst in the whole of Europe.

“I sincerely hope that this notice of motion is passed by Gwynedd Council in the hope that the correspondence will stimulate the relevant governments and the train companies to improve the service for the residents of Gwynedd.”