4. Will the Minister make a statement on train services on the Cambrian line? OAQ54198

Yes. Transport for Wales is committed to improving services on the Cambrian line. Current trains are being modified to improve access for disabled people, with the entire fleet to be replaced with brand new trains by 2022. Service frequency improvements are also planned along the line.

Thank you, Minister. I'm pleased to hear that answer. A member of the Montgomeryshire access group has contacted me to say that they've received yet another complaint from a wheelchair user that they could not use a toilet on the Cambrian line, which means that, in some cases, people have resorted to, in their words, wearing adult nappies. Following, of course, the Equality Act 2010, Transport for Wales has to put in place reasonable adjustments for disabled people. A reasonable adjustment for a train, where you could sit for three hours and 20 minutes from Aberystwyth to Birmingham International, is simply a properly-designed disabled toilet. For disabled people who are normally using the toilet, it is, I'm sure you would agree with me, totally unacceptable, inappropriate and degrading that they cannot do so on the train. So, I'm wondering if you would liaise with Transport for Wales to improve access to toilets for disabled people on the Cambrian line with immediate effect rather than waiting for new rolling stock with the appropriate facilities for disabled people.

Can I thank the Member for his question? I'll be pleased to take that matter up with Transport for Wales. It is worth noting, I think, that, across the Wales and borders network, Transport for Wales is currently completing modifications to its trains to make sure that they are accessible for disabled people and that work has to be completed by the end of this calendar year.

I'm also pleased to be able to tell the Member that, with regard to the area that he's identified, Machynlleth station has been proposed to trial a dementia-friendly environment. I'm also pleased to inform the Member that, through Transport for Wales, we are now working with Disability Wales and the Royal National Institute of Blind People to assist the customer-facing-staff within TfW. And, of course, we are ring-fencing £15 million for accessibility improvements at stations. One of the key principles underpinning the development of Transport for Wales is that it must ensure delivery of integrated transport for people who are disabled or able bodied, and we are determined to deliver on that principle.