1 week Ago By [email protected] (Sion Barry)
Transport for Wales (TfW) has seen the biggest year-on-year rise in passenger numbers of any train operator in the UK, in part thanks to new larger trains and headline Principality Stadium concerts. In a boost to the Welsh Government-owned transport body, passenger numbers soared by 1.6 million to 7.
6 million from April to June compared to Q2 in 2023. According to latest data from the Office for Rail and Road, the 27% rise on TfW's Wales and Borders network was the greatest of any train operator in the UK and ahead of the 18% increase in passengers on the TransPenine Express, up 18%, and the Elizabeth Line in London, up 16%. A number of UK operators experienced year-on-year declines with the biggest, down 12%, on the Heathrow Express.
For the UK as a whole there was a 7% year-on-year rise in passengers from 392 million to 420 million. Completion of the £1bn electrification of the Core Valley lines into Cardiff , will see further passenger growth for TfW, thanks to increased frequency of service and large trains and tram-trains. As well as operating services in Wales, TfW also provides services in and into England, including a south Wales to Manchester route.
Read More: Cardiff Council waiting on Welsh Government Crossrail funding Read More : Bristol Airport deep concerns over Cardiff Airport subsidy plans Like most train operators in the UK, TfW has to rely on public subsidy, which is financed by the Welsh Government . Passenger numbers on the Wales & Borders network are still below the 8.2 million prior to the pandemic in Q2 of 2019.
However, due to longer on average passenger journeys and ticket price inflation, total revenues from the network now exceed the pre-pandemic level. In the latest quarterly figures, TfW were also boosted by additional services on the Wrexham to Bidston line and new services from Ebbw Vale to Newport . Improved performance in terms of punctuality (an 8.
1% improvement) and reliability (cancellations down 3.2%), compared to last year also impacted positively. TfW said the re-opening of the Treherbert line in February this year contributed 316,000 more journeys compared to the previous year.
Key major events in Cardiff also played their part with Bruce Springsteen, Pink, Foo Fighters and Taylor Swift all putting on concerts at the Principality Stadium between May and June. Other positive highlights included a 11% growth on Chester to Manchester/Liverpool services, Cardiff to Merthyr up 10% and Cardiff to Swansea up 8%. Welcoming the strong passenger growth numbers chief executive of TfW, James Price, said; “If you look at the numbers, we’re seeing a rise in lots of different communities, not just one or two areas.
That’s down to the hard work of so many people to deliver a consistent and reliable service. “We’ve also introduced a large number of brand-new trains as our £800m commitment to upgrading our fleet continues. We’re doing what it takes to make the Welsh transport network the best it can be, and it’s encouraging to see more and more people using it for their everyday lives.
” New trimodes trains, built by Stadler, that can operate in battery, diesel and electric modes, are expected to be pressed into service by the end of the year on the Rhymney (replacing existing new diesel trains), as well as the Merthyr, Aberdare and Treherbert lines. Once new tram-trains are ready they will replace the trimodes on the Merthyr, Aberdare and Treherbert lines. The trimodes will then just be used just on the Rhymney Line, with the existing new diesel fleet being deployed on services to Ebbw Vale and Maesteg .
TfW, through the operator of last resort mechanism, took over the running of the devolved Wales & Borders franchise from KeolisAmey at the start of the pandemic. KeolisAmey staff were transferred over to TfW Rail, a newly created subsidy of TfW..
