Transport for Wales 'breaks Welsh language rules'

Transport for Wales took over the rail franchise from Arriva

Transport for Wales (TfW) has broken Welsh language rules six times, according to a Welsh Language Commissioner's draft report.

It said the Welsh Government quango has failed to provide some services in Welsh and treated the language less favourably than English.

TfW claimed no rules have been broken.

It said the company it has contracted to run the Wales and Borders franchise is going further than asked. The report is yet to be finalised.

TfW oversees most of Wales' train services, and awarded the Wales and Borders contract to KeolisAmey in 2018.

The Welsh Government said it took its language commitments seriously and expected TfW to do the same.

The commissioner's office began a probe following complaints last year. It is not clear when the final version of the report will be published.

• The Crown praised for using Welsh in show

• Welsh learners on language app up by a third

• Welsh language 'risks becoming like Irish'

TfW says it recognises it has "more to do"

The draft report said six complaints were received by the commissioner from members of the public and other issues were investigated following reports in the media and by officers.

Welsh ministers were given notice of the proposed scope of the investigation in January 2019.

The draft report has made findings which include that Welsh was treated less favourably than English on TfW self-service machines, its website and on its mobile app which is a breach of language standards.

Ministers have been asked to act within three months of the final judgment being published.

If they fail to do so, the commissioner's office can make an application to a county court to makes it compulsory for ministers to comply with recommendations.

David Williams from Cymdeithas yr Iaith, the Welsh language society, said: "We've received lots of complaints from members and supporters because of these failings on our railways - it is obvious why people are so angry about the situation.

"It's not acceptable for the government to break the law and allow the company to deprive people of basic rights to see, hear and use Welsh in their everyday lives."

What are the concerns?

The draft report said the company was found to be in breach of standards by:

• Failing to provide announcements bilingually

• The Transport for Wales app was only available in English

• Its website was automatically set to English, and not fully functioning in Welsh

• Self service machines were automatically set to English and not fully functioning in Welsh

• Train tickets were only printed in English

• Correspondence was not all bilingual

Suzy Davies AM, Welsh Conservatives spokesperson on the Welsh language, has criticised the way TfW is run by the Welsh Government.

"It seems that not only is this Labour administration incapable of running a rail service in Wales, but it is also incapable of providing services in both official languages of this nation," she said.

A spokesperson for the commissioner said its investigation was "not yet finalised, so it is not appropriate for us to make a further comment at this stage".

Transport for Wales said the agreement between Transport for Wales and KeolisAmey has "clear Welsh language requirements".

"These requirements are all either being met or there are agreed plans and timescales for implementation," a spokesman said.

"On that basis no rules have been broken as the contractual commitments are being adhered to and, in some cases, TfW Rail Services are going further than required by the grant agreement."

'More to do'

TfW north Wales development director Lee Robinson said: "We recognise that there is more to do and [we] have ambitious and exciting plans, which we will share once the commissioners' report is finalised and agreed.

"Updating our plans in line with the... recommendations will enable us to make sure that everything we publish is as comprehensive as possible and addresses all the remaining gaps.

"As a fully bilingual organisation, we recognise and support the importance of a thriving Welsh language and culture and believe that our customers should always have the opportunity to interact with us, equally, in both Welsh and English."

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: "We take our commitment to Welsh language very seriously and expect Transport for Wales to do likewise.

"We will be monitoring TfW's response closely along with regular updates on Welsh language compliance."