Rail passengers facing uncertainty

Repairs have caused chaos on the railways

Rail passengers are facing further uncertainty over timetables as the emergency Christmas schedule comes to an end.

Services across Britain are still being disrupted by the repairs in the wake of the Hatfield crash and the early winter storms.

On the whole, Welsh rail passengers have escaped some of the worst disruption caused by Railtrack's massive repair programme and the recent bad weather.

But travellers on Virgin's west coast mainline between Holyhead and Euston are still facing the misery of long delays and changes at Crewe.

We have had absolutely unprecedented weather across Wales which has seriously disrupted railways here

Chris Gibb

The only consolation is that Virgin ticket prices are to remain frozen - while above inflation increases have now come into force on some routes in England.

Meanwhile, Wales and West trains are promising to run a "full normal" service from Monday - implementing a new timetable.

Chris Gibb, the managing director of Wales and West railways admitted recent disruptions have upset passengers.

"We have had absolutely unprecedented weather across Wales which has seriously disrupted railways here, " said Mr Gibb.

He said the company had maintained a fares freeze for two years, and was only now implementing a two and a half per cent increase on some services.

Mr Gibb said Wales and the West had also carried out track repairs and improved facilities in Wales over the last three years.

Jonathan Bray from the pressure group, Transport 2000 said there needs to be a "root and branch" review of the fares structure in Wales, following the example of countries such as the Netherlands.

"If there is a consensus that people do want to see a shift from road to rail and bus, we have to see a more flexible system of fares as part of the picture, " he said.

First Great Western has been forced to amend its schedule for the coming week because of engineering work and has also increased its fares from Sunday by 2.3 per cent.