Train services inadequate after big events - report

Queues of people can be seen waiting outside Cardiff Central Station after big events in the city

People attending big concerts or sports events are being let down by rail services run by Transport for Wales (TfW), according to a group of Senedd politicians.

Train services are "simply inadequate" for major events like Sunday's Bruce Springsteen’s concert at Cardiff's Principality Stadium, according to a report by the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee.

It has urged TfW to improve its planning ahead of other large concerts, with Taylor Swift and Foo Fighters due to perform at the stadium and the Manic Street Preachers playing at Cardiff Castle.

TfW said it would "consider all recommendations and then officially respond in due course".

The report by a cross party group of Members of the Senedd said there was a lack of trains leaving Cardiff later in the evening after gigs had finished.

It’s singled out Wales football matches as an example of poor service with the last train from Cardiff often leaving minutes after the full-time whistle.

Bruce Springsteen performs in Cardiff on Sunday and Taylor Swift's gig takes place next month

Past criticism led to TfW arranging special late trains with extra carriages for the Euros play-off double header against Finland and Poland.

The committee said TfW must also discuss with Network Rail about rescheduling engineering works when they clash with concerts or big sporting events.

It has also called for the rail operator to pay passengers to get to their destination in a taxi if a train is cancelled and no rail replacement service has been arranged.

Between January and July 2023, stations in Wales had the highest rate of cancelled services in Britain.

TfW also scored bottom of a rail satisfaction survey by Transport Focus, an independent watchdog for transport users.

However, David Beer, its senior manager for Wales, said passengers have been "welcoming the wider introduction of new trains, providing much-needed capacity, and addressing cancellations".

"It is good to see evidence of this recovery reflected in our rail survey now showing improvements in satisfaction with all aspects of the journey," he said.

New timetables will be introduced on the South Wales Metro network from 2 June.