Written question WQ84699
- Asked by
- Natasha AsgharConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Climate Change
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 10 days
Question
Will the Minister provide the monthly number of train services run by Transport for Wales for each month between January 2018 and March 2022?
Answer
Answered by Deputy Minister for Climate Change
The table below shows the number of train services operated by Transport for Wales from October 2018, when Transport for Wales began operating services, to March 2022 noting that the data for March is not complete.
The table demonstrates the increase in services that were operated in the first year of the new rail services contract managed by TfW. When the Covid pandemic struck in March 2020, and restrictions were imposed to reduce the spread of the virus, we took the active decision to reduce the number of services that were being run but also to maintain a core level of service to enable key workers to be able to travel. We also provided free travel in this period to NHS staff on TfW services. As the Covid restrictions were eased through the summer of 2020 we instructed TfW to increase the number of services, especially on busy tourist routes. As Covid restrictions were tightened again during the winter months we again asked TfW to reduce the provision.
The pattern was similar in 2021, with the reduced timetable imposed in December 2021 now being unwound, with more services being returned across Wales and the Borders by TfW each week. TfW plan to restore the service level to similar to that prior to the Covid pandemic later this year with further increases in services in December and through 2023.
Year
Month
Services Operated
2018
October
27,684
November
25,572
December
24,400
2019
January
27,523
February
24,797
March
27,320
April
26,387
May
27,884
June
25,845
July
28,294
August
28,746
September
26,731
October
28,006
November
26,468
December
25,182
2020
January
28,562
February
25,736
March
25,435
April
14,543
May
14,399
June
15,089
July
19,961
August
20,089
September
20,080
October
20,359
November
19,662
December
18,303
2021
January
17,439
February
14,644
March
17,465
April
19,917
May
20,542
June
20,220
July
20,189
August
19,741
September
21,300
October
23,133
November
20,913
December
19,919
2022
January
20,424
February
17,973
March
7,356