The Valleys lines face serious problems on a daily basis, as do lines throughout the south-east of Wales. I know this from my own experience and from the complaints I see from constituents. Just this morning, a two-carriage train was used at peak time between Ebbw Vale and Cardiff, with people complaining on social media of being packed in like sardines and feeling unsafe. My own train in this morning from Abercynon was packed before it arrived at our station so people were standing the whole way down. People weren't able to get on and we arrived in Queen Street nearly 15 minutes late. It's something that happens day after day, and it's true on the Merthyr, Aberdare and Rhymney lines. Morning after morning of being late, only to face the same problems travelling home after work. We're told when we complain that all the carriages available are in use. In other words, Transport for Wales has insufficient rolling stock available to provide an acceptable level of service on too many days.

The Government has committed, as has been said, to introduce four trains per hour on the Rhymney line in 2022. Well, these added trains are needed now, so I'm particularly concerned to learn that this deadline doesn't seem to be reflected in TfW's annual report, which instead says 2023. And they've actually indicated to us that they're looking at December 2023, which means passengers won't feel the benefit for nearly four years. So, I'd appreciate if the Minister can confirm when he expects we'll have those four trains per hour on the Rhymney line. It's worth pointing out as well that we used to have four services per hour on this line past Bargoed when TfW took over the service last year. So, it currently looks like it's going to take five years just to bring us back to square one.

I'm also concerned about the proposed drop in capacity on these trains when the 769s are replaced by new trains in 2023. We expect, I understand, a reduction in overall capacity of 24 per cent during peak times, and a reduction of 35 per cent in seated capacity between Caerphilly and Bargoed. These figures have been confirmed by TfW in a freedom of information request. Given that lines are overcrowded now, it defies comprehension that we're actually looking at a reduction in capacity in the future. I look to the Minister for assurance that he will look into this matter and take action to prevent this drop in capacity from happening. 

Now, looking further east in my region, train passengers face their own problems because of a lack of trains. Work to dual the line between Ebbw Vale and Cardiff was halted until the Welsh Government published a new feasibility study. Now, this was supposed to be published by the summer, but I'm not aware of this having happened, so I'd be grateful for an update on these plans. As I understand it, unless this work is done, it won't be possible to increase the number of trains per hour between Newport and Ebbw Vale from one to two, and there is huge demand for this to happen. 

Staying in this part of my region, I'd also like to ask what's going on with plans to reopen stations at Crumlin and Magor. There are dedicated campaigners in my region who are passionate about reopening these stations, and I'd welcome a meeting with the Minister to discuss their case. The 2017 national transport finance plan makes reference to reopening Crumlin station as part of phase 3 of work surrounding the metro, but this commitment isn't in the equivalent report for 2018. And in terms of Magor, it's referenced in the metro document, but absent from the national transport finance plan since 2015. So, I'd welcome some clarity from the Minister about his plans for these stations. 

Finally, something that all train commuters will be unhappy about is the increasing cost of travelling by train at the precise time of climate emergency when we should be looking to incentivise public transport. People feel they're paying more for an inadequate service. I'd like to query whether the fare reduction that was promised by the First Minister on 12 November will be implemented in January, as he indicated. The Transport for Wales website currently shows no such reduction in fares in January, so I'd be grateful for some clarity on that point.

If the Llywydd will allow me, I think the time will just quickly allow me to raise one final point. The safety of passengers has to be paramount. We've heard reference, and I agree totally, in terms of the heroic staff that we have in Transport for Wales, but I was on a train recently that stopped in Treforest because a passenger had a knife and was behaving threateningly. The staff and the police acted quickly and very efficiently in that case, but it does illustrate how important it is that we have sufficient numbers of conductors on the trains, especially late at night, when people have been drinking and there are concerns about safety. So I'd welcome anything the Minister could say to reassure us on that point.