This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/6545951.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Anger over delays to rail works | Anger over delays to rail works |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Rail passengers forced to travel by bus after delays on engineering works have criticised the companies involved. | Rail passengers forced to travel by bus after delays on engineering works have criticised the companies involved. |
| Work on signalling on the main line between Swansea and Cardiff should have ended on Easter Monday. | Work on signalling on the main line between Swansea and Cardiff should have ended on Easter Monday. |
| The work has overrun and thousands of passengers on many south Wales routes will continue to use replacement buses until the weekend. | The work has overrun and thousands of passengers on many south Wales routes will continue to use replacement buses until the weekend. |
| Network Rail apologised and said a "full investigation" would take place into the cause of the overrun. | Network Rail apologised and said a "full investigation" would take place into the cause of the overrun. |
| The work is also causing disruption for rail travellers from Cardiff to London with trains only running once an hour - rather than every half hour - as a direct result. | |
| Network Rail, the body which owns Britain's rail infrastructure, is carrying out work as part of a £400m investment in improving train services across south Wales. | Network Rail, the body which owns Britain's rail infrastructure, is carrying out work as part of a £400m investment in improving train services across south Wales. |
| I thought the work was going to be finished on the weekend Passenger Matthew Farnham | I thought the work was going to be finished on the weekend Passenger Matthew Farnham |
| Work on the Port Talbot East signalling project, a 22-mile stretch of line running from Llantrisant to Baglan, was meant to take place across the bank holiday between Good Friday and Easter Monday. | Work on the Port Talbot East signalling project, a 22-mile stretch of line running from Llantrisant to Baglan, was meant to take place across the bank holiday between Good Friday and Easter Monday. |
| But on Monday it was announced that delays in testing meant that buses would still replace trains on Tuesday, before Network Rail announced on Wednesday the stretch would remain closed until the weekend. | But on Monday it was announced that delays in testing meant that buses would still replace trains on Tuesday, before Network Rail announced on Wednesday the stretch would remain closed until the weekend. |
| All Arriva Trains Wales services running between Swansea, Bridgend and Cardiff are continuing to be replaced by bus services, while long distance First Great Western services are starting and terminating at Cardiff Central station, with replacement bus services running to Swansea, Bridgend, Port Talbot and Neath. | All Arriva Trains Wales services running between Swansea, Bridgend and Cardiff are continuing to be replaced by bus services, while long distance First Great Western services are starting and terminating at Cardiff Central station, with replacement bus services running to Swansea, Bridgend, Port Talbot and Neath. |
| Passengers at Cardiff Central station said they were annoyed with the disruption to services, with many complaining of a lack of clear information about the changes. | Passengers at Cardiff Central station said they were annoyed with the disruption to services, with many complaining of a lack of clear information about the changes. |
| Anne Gwynn, who is visiting family in Gower from her home in Milan, said: "I had no idea this was going to happen until I bought my tickets. | Anne Gwynn, who is visiting family in Gower from her home in Milan, said: "I had no idea this was going to happen until I bought my tickets. |
| Many passengers said they were annoyed at the disruption | Many passengers said they were annoyed at the disruption |
| "The bus to Swansea was full when I got here so I had a 40-minute wait to the next one." | "The bus to Swansea was full when I got here so I had a 40-minute wait to the next one." |
| Kate Crowther, 25, a tourist from New Zealand travelling from London to Carmarthen, said: "I've travelled on trains across Europe and it's only the times I've visited Wales I've had problems like this." | Kate Crowther, 25, a tourist from New Zealand travelling from London to Carmarthen, said: "I've travelled on trains across Europe and it's only the times I've visited Wales I've had problems like this." |
| Network Rail apologised for the continued disruption and said continued testing of the new signalling system was required before it could become fully operational. | Network Rail apologised for the continued disruption and said continued testing of the new signalling system was required before it could become fully operational. |
| Robbie Burns, Network Rail's western route director, said: "We can assure passengers that we have hundreds of engineers working around the clock to finish this crucial work. | Robbie Burns, Network Rail's western route director, said: "We can assure passengers that we have hundreds of engineers working around the clock to finish this crucial work. |
| "We will undertake a full investigation into the causes of this overrun once normal services have been restored - that has to be our priority for now." | "We will undertake a full investigation into the causes of this overrun once normal services have been restored - that has to be our priority for now." |
| 'Annoyed' | 'Annoyed' |
| Arriva Trains Wales and First Great Western have both previously apologised to passengers, but many travellers at Cardiff said they had little sympathy with the rail companies. | Arriva Trains Wales and First Great Western have both previously apologised to passengers, but many travellers at Cardiff said they had little sympathy with the rail companies. |
| Matthew Farnham, 25, who travels from Pencoed to work at the Abbey bank in Pontypridd, said: "I thought the work was going to be finished on the weekend and was annoyed when I got to the station early yesterday morning to find I had to catch a bus. | Matthew Farnham, 25, who travels from Pencoed to work at the Abbey bank in Pontypridd, said: "I thought the work was going to be finished on the weekend and was annoyed when I got to the station early yesterday morning to find I had to catch a bus. |
| "They had the bank holiday to do it and now it's going to run five days over." | "They had the bank holiday to do it and now it's going to run five days over." |
| But Julie Gallagher, who had taken her children Marcus Woolley, 14, Karl Wooley, 12, and Chelsie Gallagher, 8, to Bristol Zoo from Swansea, said the work was a "pain" but was necessary. | But Julie Gallagher, who had taken her children Marcus Woolley, 14, Karl Wooley, 12, and Chelsie Gallagher, 8, to Bristol Zoo from Swansea, said the work was a "pain" but was necessary. |
| She added: "It's got to be done - this is better than if a train crashed." | She added: "It's got to be done - this is better than if a train crashed." |
| Details of changes to services are available from National Rail Enquiries on 08457 484950. | Details of changes to services are available from National Rail Enquiries on 08457 484950. |