PASSENGERS in Wales and the West of England are seeing fewer train cancellations and slightly better punctuality following action by the rail regulator.

The Office of Rail and Road has formally closed enforcement action against Network Rail after monitoring a long-term performance improvement plan for its Wales and Western region.

The plan followed an investigation in 2024, which found that Network Rail’s infrastructure and working practices were contributing to poor train performance across the region.

Since August 2024, Network Rail says cancellations have fallen by more than a fifth, while the proportion of trains arriving within three minutes of their scheduled time has improved from 77.6% to 79.4%.

The improvements followed work on track, overhead line equipment, axle counters and points in the Thames Valley area, as well as flood resilience work at Chipping Sodbury.

Network Rail has also introduced welfare officers at key Thames Valley stations to help prevent trespass and has made changes to train control, timetable planning, incident learning and the management of stranded trains.

Graham Richards, Director of Planning and Performance at the Office of Rail and Road, said: “Following concerted efforts from Network Rail, and continued engagement by our teams at ORR, I am pleased to see that passengers in Wales and Western are experiencing better, more reliable train services.

“Nevertheless, we know that for many passengers train performance is not what they would expect – so we are continuing to work with train operators and Network Rail across the country on how to further improve performance.”

Mark Killick, Network Rail’s Managing Director for Wales and Western Region, said: “Customers are seeing a more reliable railway, reflecting the extensive improvements we’ve delivered over the last two years.

“We know delays and cancellations still impact journeys, so while this progress is a positive step, we continue to work closely with our industry partners to deliver an ever more reliable railway for our customers.”

PEMBROKESHIRE workers are among the higher earners in Wales, according to new research analysing full-time weekly pay across the country.

The study by CV Maker, using Office for National Statistics data from April 2025, placed Pembrokeshire eighth out of Wales’ 22 local authority areas for median gross weekly earnings.

Full-time workers in Pembrokeshire earn an average of £711.30 per week, putting the county slightly above the Welsh average of £704.

The figure also places Pembrokeshire ahead of Swansea, Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire, Powys and Gwynedd.

By comparison, Monmouthshire was named the highest-paid area in Wales, with full-time workers earning an average of £773.50 per week. Merthyr Tydfil recorded the lowest figure, at £619.20 per week.

That means the gap between the highest and lowest-paid areas in Wales is £154.30 per week, equivalent to more than £8,000 a year.

Pembrokeshire’s average weekly earnings are £7.30 above the Welsh average, but £62.20 below Monmouthshire.

The figures also show a marked difference between Pembrokeshire and neighbouring Carmarthenshire, where full-time workers earn an average of £657.70 per week. That puts Pembrokeshire workers £53.60 per week better off on average, or around £2,787 a year.

Ceredigion sits closer to Pembrokeshire, with average weekly earnings of £675.70 — £35.60 lower than Pembrokeshire.

The research ranked the ten highest-paid areas in Wales as Monmouthshire, Newport, Flintshire, Cardiff, Bridgend, Wrexham, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, Swansea and the Isle of Anglesey.

Nicky Klaasse, CEO at CV Maker, said: “These figures highlight the significant wage disparities across different regions in Wales.

“While the national average weekly earnings sit at £704, there’s a notable £154 gap between the highest and lowest-paying areas.

“For job seekers in Wales, this data provides valuable insights into where the highest earning potential might be found.”

The company said the figures were based on ONS median gross weekly earnings for full-time employees, ranked by local authority.

CARDIFF AIRPORT has welcomed more than one million passengers over the past 12 months, marking a major milestone in its continued recovery.

New Civil Aviation Authority figures also show the airport was the second-fastest growing in the UK in the first quarter of 2026, with passenger numbers up 24 per cent compared with the same period last year.

The airport said the growth reflected increasing demand for flights from Wales, with airlines expanding services and adding more destinations.

New routes boost numbers

Recent developments include the launch of WestJet’s direct Cardiff to Toronto service, offering onward connections across Canada and the United States.

TUI is also basing a fourth aircraft at Cardiff this summer, with new destinations including Hurghada in Egypt, Faro in Portugal, Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands, and Kittilä in Finland.

Crystal Ski has introduced new winter flights to Turin in Italy, following strong demand for Chambéry in France and Salzburg in Austria.

Additional TUI capacity has also been added to Antalya, Gran Canaria, Palma, Enfidha and Tenerife.

Rugby fans add to milestone

Cardiff Airport said more than 19,000 international rugby fans travelled through the airport during the EPCR Challenge Cup Final, Investec Champions Cup Final and Six Nations fixtures.

The airport has also reported a 14 per cent rise in passengers compared with the 2024/25 financial year, while Ryanair is operating its busiest-ever summer programme from Cardiff.

Jon Bridge, chief executive of Cardiff Airport, said: “Welcoming more than one million passengers is a major milestone for Cardiff Airport and a clear sign of the growing demand for flights from Wales.

“To be recognised by the Civil Aviation Authority as the second fastest-growing airport in the UK is a fantastic achievement and reflects the hard work of our colleagues and partners, as well as the confidence passengers and airlines continue to place in Cardiff.

“We are focused on building on this momentum, expanding connectivity and delivering long-term benefits for Wales and the wider economy.”

Push to restore Qatar link

Despite the recent growth, questions remain over whether Cardiff Airport can restore one of its most important long-haul connections — the direct Qatar Airways service to Doha.

The route, which launched in 2018 and provided a key global hub connection to Asia, Australia and the Middle East, was suspended during the Covid pandemic and has yet to return.

Cardiff remains the only former UK Qatar Airways destination not to have seen the service resume after the pandemic.

Efforts to bring the airline back are continuing. The Welsh Government has previously said Cardiff Airport executives remain in commercial negotiations with Qatar Airways over the possible return of the Doha route, with ministers saying they would welcome its resumption when the timing is right for both sides.

The loss of the service has been keenly felt by business and leisure travellers from Wales, many of whom now travel via London, Birmingham or Manchester for long-haul flights.

Before its suspension, the Doha route offered onward connections to destinations across Asia, Australasia and the Far East, including Thailand, Japan and Australia.

Conservative Senedd Member for the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend, Andrew RT Davies, said the airport’s failure to secure the return of Qatar Airways remained a concern.

He welcomed the latest passenger figures, describing them as “promising and encouraging”, but said the absence of the Doha service from the airport’s next steps suggested its return was “looking less and less likely”.

The Qatar Airways service to Doha was suspended at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. While the airline has since resumed services from other UK airports, Cardiff has not yet seen the route restored.

Mr Davies said: “It’s promising and encouraging to see Cardiff Airport attracted over a million passengers last year.

“But it’s concerning that the Airport hasn’t listed the return of Qatar Airways as part of its next steps.

“Qatar have resumed flights at every other British Airport other than Welsh Government owned Cardiff – if it’s to become profitable it needs to attract carriers of this profile.”

Economic impact

Cardiff Airport says it supports thousands of jobs across South Wales and contributes more than £200 million annually to the Welsh economy.

Alongside passenger growth, the airport said cargo remains a major strategic focus, with opportunities to grow freight capacity, attract new commercial partnerships and strengthen the airport’s long-term resilience.