Disruption to Rail Services

Part of 3. Topical Questions – in the Senedd at 3:33 pm on 15 June 2022.

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Photo of Andrew RT Davies Andrew RT Davies Conservative 3:33, 15 June 2022

Minister, thank you for your answers so far. What is disappointing from your answers so far is that you're deflecting to say that you can't plan for peaks and troughs. These events are well advertised, well understood, because Cardiff hasn't suddenly become a destination city; the Principality Stadium has been there since 1999, and hosted many major events. There are simple things like the flow of information to customers at Cardiff Central railway station, which wasn't evident during the Ed Sheeran event, and people just standing in queues oblivious to what could happen—frustration is bound to be created in that situation. It is not acceptable for people to have to wait two to three hours to get out of car parks. I accept the point that you've made, that you wouldn't expect to get out in a minute or two—no-one would expect that—but two to three hours, Minister, that is not acceptable.

For people to come from London and other parts of the country and arrive in our capital city after allowing extra time to travel here, but only arriving at 9.30 p.m. or 9.45 p.m. after leaving London at midday, that clearly is unacceptable. So, from these benches, what we're asking is what lessons have been learnt, what measures can be put in place. I appreciate there's a limit on how much rolling stock is available, but when TfW say they're going to run rolling stock and that rolling stock does not materialise, that adds to the exasperation that people feel when they're in those queues at Cardiff Central station. So, please, can we have something positive to take away from this session that shows that there will be better messaging, that where the timetable is published it will be kept to, so that people can have confidence that they can make a reasonable journey in and out of our capital city?