In his latest blog for Caerphilly Observer, Caerphilly AM Hefin David shares details of his meeting with Arriva Trains Wales, and talks raising awareness of mental health.
Concerns with rail service
Over the last few months I’ve been actively pursuing concerns people have about the rail services on the Valleys line.
Since November 2016, I’ve held four separate meetings with Arriva Trains Wales in successive months. Last December I invited constituents to a meeting to put our concerns to Arriva management. Firstly, on a positive note, I’m happy that a £500k investment will be taking place to refurbish the interior of the trains early this year.
The most important issue raised however was overcrowding.The truth is there aren’t enough carriages (rolling stock) to eliminate crowding.
When Arriva were awarded the franchise to operate the line in 2003, no provision was made to fund the procurement of new or additional rolling stock. In 2003 there were 18 million annual journeys on the route. In 2015 this number was in excess of 32 million customers and rising.
Passenger growth is rising and more carriages are needed on trains operating on the Valleys Line. Arriva inform me a potential solution could be to obtain more diesel trains; but due to passenger growth across the entire national rail network, all train operators are holding onto any trains that are compatible with the existing fleet.
A chronic shortage of diesel trains presents us with a problem. Few diesel trains are being built so it’s a case of managing the supply more effectively.
I’m pushing the Welsh Government and Arriva to increase capacity by getting diesel trains on the Valley lines whenever they’re not being used elsewhere. For instance, I’ve asked whether trains serving the Gatwick to Victoria line could be transferred to the Valleys line.
For the longer term, growing demand will be met by the electrification of the Valley Lines Network, but this doesn’t solve the problem here and now.
I’ll keep pursuing this very important issue.
Time To Talk
Time to Change Wales’ Time to Talk Day took place on Thursday February 2.
Time to Talk Day is about encouraging people to have a conversation about mental health, with the aim of reducing stigma and breaking down some of the taboos that can often be associated with mental health.
One in four people will experience a mental health problem, and nine out of ten of these are reported to have experienced stigma and discrimination regarding their condition.
Stigma and discrimination around mental health causes unnecessary additional distress for people of all ages living with mental health problems.
This movement to increase awareness of mental health means a lot to me as it can change thousands of people’s lives for the better.
I feel it is something we must all work at for the long term in order to deliver lasting change for people young and old across Wales.
—-Time to Talk Day is about encouraging people to have a conversation about
mental health, with the aim of reducing stigma
And just why would they provide support for any “stigma”? They seem determined to promote that word. It is time to talk without that disrespect.
I think the question is Hefn, will you be supporting the renewal of the rail franchise with Arriva? I certainly would not.
I am disappointed that the Welsh Government has not drawn up its own plans to take the franchise in house, however that is no surprise after Labour’s disaster acquisition of Cardiff Airport.