Last night it was announced by Transport for Wales that they will be closing the train line from Pontypridd to Treherbert from 29th April 2023 to late January/early February 2024. No other line has been subject to anything near an 8-month suspension of services.
Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Transport Minister, Natasha Asghar MS said:
“This long closure of the route is completely unacceptable and the short notice is indefensible. This all comes whilst the Welsh Government are encouraging commuters to use public transport, following their road building ban.
“The minister must explain why this line cannot be upgraded and electrified in a phased way in order to maintain some services and reduce disruption to a minimum. This has been done on all other valley lines.
“People in the Rhondda will be forced off the railways by Labour-run Transport for Wales, yet their alternatives are a crumbling road network and an underfunded bus network.
“The minister has a lot to answer for, I submitted a topical question on the issue so the minister could explain to the people of the Rhondda why their railway will be subject to such calamitous disruption. It was rejected by the Presiding Officer.
“Labour have been in power for over 25 years, it is about time they stop blaming everybody else, these rail failures are their responsibility, they must sort out their own mess, the people of the Rhondda deserve better.’’