Trains to Pembrokeshire are rubbish, new MP says

Henry Tufnell is the new MP for Mid and South Pembrokeshire

Labour's new MP for Mid and South Pembrokeshire has complained about the lack of railway services to London from his constituency.

"The trains are rubbish to Pembrokeshire", Henry Tufnell said after his first trip to Parliament from the west Wales seat.

Mr Tufnell was one of several newly elected Labour MPs who complained about train services on social media after journeys to take their seats in the Commons.

Train operator GWR said it has been talking to Pembrokeshire council about options for a service to Milford Haven.

Parliament will sit on Tuesday for the first time since the general election.

There is currently no daily train service between London and Pembrokeshire, with passengers needing to change for GWR in Carmarthen or Swansea.

Mr Tufnell, who defeated former Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb in last week's election, said the trains "stop at Carmarthen and you can't get a direct train to London.

"It's really terrible. It would be really nice if GWR could pull their finger out."

"I think with this issue around getting a direct train to Pembrokeshire to London it's not a devolved matter, we can certainly do stuff in the department of transport so I'll be having a see what I can do there, " he added.

Improving transport connections would have a "big impact on the local economy", he said.

"I know people are having a laugh about me getting the train but it really does impact a lot of my constituents and its really important we try and fix that. "

GWR operates services from South Wales to London Paddington.

Services to London from Wales are run by GWR, a franchise which is governed by the Westminster Department for Transport.

A spokesman for GWR said: "We have been in communication with Henry Tufnell regarding his aspirations for train services and we’re aware of Pembrokeshire Council’s aspirations for year-round direct services to Milford Haven, in addition to our current summer Saturdays services between Pembroke Dock and London, and we’ve been talking to them about potential options and how this could be taken forward."

Mr Tufnell had complained on X about the lack of a train to Pembrokeshire and a delayed GWR train via Gloucester.

Currently trains are diverted from South Wales to Gloucester because of engineering works in the Severn Tunnel, where four miles of track is being replaced.

The Welsh government had complained about the level of railway investment in Wales during the Conservative UK government, and a lack of extra cash for Wales from the HS2 rail project.

Labour declined to commit to knock on funding for HS2 during the election campaign. Jo Stevens, who is now Welsh Secretary, told a TV debate that the "money isn't there".