MORE than a quarter of trains in Wales are currently out of service, rail bosses admitted in newspaper adverts apologising to passengers this week.

Transport for Wales (TfW) and Network Rail took out full page ads in the Western Mail, South Wales Echo and Daily Post on Tuesday (Nov 20).

They said 36 of Wales’ 127 trains are being repaired – causing delays and cancellations in recent weeks.

The cancellations have spread to Pembrokeshire where many services have been cancelled.

The 7.05 train Milford to Manchester had become (at least for a while) the 7.05 to Cardiff, waiting 20 minutes at Swansea and taking the path of a slow train at Swansea, terminating at Cardiff 35 minutes later than timetabled, the connection to London arriving half an hour later, and stations to Manchester requiring a change at Cardiff and arrival a whole hour later than timetabled. A traveller from Pembroke also advised of problems on that line.

The latest information on Wednesday (Nov 21) was that the following trains from Milford Haven were cancelled:  09:08, 11:08, 13:08, 15:08 and 17:11 due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.

In other words, five trains to Manchester were being cancelled, and Milford would see no trains between 7.08 and 19.12.

The real-time situation also appears to be worse than the advertised cancellations, according to website realtimetrains.co.uk

The Herald further understands that all trains from Pembroke Dock run only to Carmarthen, where a change is required, to a train which then fails to make the London Connection at Swansea. Coming back from London, your connection will not be waiting at Swansea, the next train to Carmarthen, where a further change will be needed, will ensure that you are two hours late getting home.

Fishguard has had a cancellation too. Nothing is said about replacement bus services.

One traveller told this newspaper: “This is totally unacceptable. Surely if more trains than usual need repairs at the same time, some more trains can be hired from a rolling stock company meanwhile.

“And it is not enough to apologise that trains won’t run. If I still have a journey to make and have planned it round the timetable, I want to know how TfW will get me there. And I subscribe to journey check. Had I not, I could well have turned up at the station for my train to find it not there.

“Is this how our government wants the new franchise to run?”

This week, Labour Government’s Transport Secretary refused to apologise to commuters across South Wales Central who’ve recently endured chaos, delays and cancellations on the Welsh rail network.

In response to South Wales Central AM, Andrew RT Davies, Ken Skates declined the opportunity to apologise and also refused to answer why additional trains promised back in July 2017 by the Welsh Government had yet to materialise.

The Cabinet Secretary also refused to deny that over half of Wales’ rolling train stock is currently out of action during a topical question at the National Assembly.

Commenting on the shambles, South Wales Central, Andrew RT Davies AM, said: “This is another shambles from the Welsh Labour Government and it’s appalling that the Transport Secretary couldn’t muster one apologetic word to commuters across South Wales who’ve had to endure this chaos.

“Confidence in the Welsh Labour Government’s ability to deliver on transport and infrastructure is reaching an all-time low and his failure to apologise or answer straightforward questions this afternoon speaks volumes.

“Passengers are still waiting for new trains promised some 16 months ago and ahead of what could be a testing winter period, the lack of answers from the Cabinet Secretary indicates further chaos can be expected on the rail network.

“This is clearly a very difficult start for Transport for Wales and whilst immediate improvements were always unlikely, the fact the day-to-day management of services is deteriorating does not bode well for future promises.”