PassVoice Sept07 (Wales) insert v6:Layout 1 30/8/07 12:34 Page 1 Autumn 2007 Passenger Voice Wales Independent national rail passenger watchdog What do the D fT proposals mean for Wales? This is our first Passenger Voice Wales and it coincides is, has the Government listened to what passengers are saying with the Government’s announcement of its plans for and what improvements will the future of the railway. We asked passengers in Welsh passengers experience Wales what improvements they wanted to see and as a result of HLOS and the White Paper? The promise of they told us their priorities are value-for-money fares, extra trains to Cardiff is good punctuality and greater frequency of services. news and should help reduce overcrowding particularly in the Valley network. Many passengers s part of our research, we ensure resources are travelling out of Wales will also A spoke to over 670 Welsh properly focused. benefit from the investment at rail passengers who also Our research in Wales, Birmingham New Street and Simon Pickering highlighted the importance of part of a wider survey across Reading stations which will improving capacity to ensure all of Great Britain, was reduce the bottlenecks in these they are always able to get a commissioned to feed into areas. However the major worry seat and ensuring that trains are the Department of Transport’s for passengers is what will consistently well maintained. High Level Output Statement happen to unregulated fares? The findings highlight (HLOS) that has set out the I hope you enjoy the first areas that are falling short Government’s proposed Passenger Voice Wales. of passengers’ reasonable spending plans for rail in Please tell me what you think: expectations and provide ranked England and Wales from simon.pickering@ Simon Pickering priorities for improvement to 2009-2014. The question passengerfocus.org.uk Passenger Focus for Wales Arriva Trains Wales has used the Saver review to correct price anomalies across ‘Saver’ fares slashed different routes in Wales that have largely arisen from the number of different franchises Arriva Trains Wales has cut the price of many that have operated rail franchises since of its longer distance ‘turn up and go’ Saver privatisation. The company has now placed fares by up to 38% following concerns raised a cap of £65 return on Saver fares between by Passenger Focus. Welsh stations. Examples of the reductions The move follows Arriva Trains Wales’s include the Saver return from Bangor to earlier decision to remove its ‘SuperSaver’ Swansea now costing £65 compared to the ticket in favour of greater use of discounted old price of £82.70, and the Newtown to advance-purchase tickets. While the expansion Carmarthen fare dropping from £61.10 to £42. of advance purchase tickets was welcomed, Due to the complexities of the fares system, Passenger Focus was concerned that the the new prices have initially been introduced as SuperSaver’s removal had resulted in ticket promotional fares, but Arriva Trains Wales has price increases of up to 34% for passengers confirmed that the adjustments will be made without the flexibility to book prior to their day permanent at the next industry-wide fares of travel and/or fix their exact time of travel. round in September. PassVoice Sept07 (Wales) insert v6:Layout 1 30/8/07 12:34 Page 2 WALES News roundup • Regional transport plans Passenger Focus is continuing to Event management work with all four of Wales’ regional transport consortia to help them develop their regional transport plans. at Cardiff Central • Wales RUS We are also involved in the development of the Wales Route Arriva Trains Wales is currently trialling a number of Passenger Focus Utilisation Strategy, a document suggestions to improve event management at Cardiff Central station. that will form the basis of Network Large numbers of passengers pass through the station on their way Rail’s work for the next 10 years. to concerts and events at the adjacent Millennium Stadium. • Passenger priorities Simon Pickering will be presenting a paper on the satisfaction and mong the led by its board member and the Welsh Assembly expectations of Welsh rail passengers recommendations for Wales Stella Mair Government. A at the 3rd Transport Applications that will be examined during Thomas, to take a strategic Among the successful Cymru conference to be held in the trial include the colour view of the provision of rail outcomes of that work Llandudno on 30 November 2007 coding of the dedicated services to the Millennium has been improvements queuing lanes used during Stadium. This brought in the sharing of information • Bus integration special events and greater together representatives between industry partners Passenger Focus has been invited use of ‘voice vest’ staff. from Arriva Trains Wales, that has led to better to join the management board of The first initiative is aimed First Great Western, coordination of engineering TrawsCambria, the long distance at helping passengers British Transport Police, works around major bus network in Wales. Our role will access the station quickly Network Rail, the Stadium events. be to bring an understanding of rail and easily, while the Millennium Stadium passenger issues to help improve latter effort is designed to integration between the two provide more information transport modes. to people about train departures. • NPS Other suggestions The next National Passenger for improvement include Survey (NPS) which assesses service the provision of more pre- aspects important to rail users, travel information about begins fieldwork later this month. the special arrangements in place at Cardiff Central during Millennium Stadium events, making use of both websites and press releases. Passenger Focus’ report on event management follows Cardiff Central on from its earlier initiative, • Annual Report Arriva Trains Wales passenger Passenger Focus' 2006-2007 annual report is available in English and in Welsh. Both versions can panel off to a good start be downloaded from www.passengerfocus.org.uk Train users now have a greater say in the operations of Arriva • Let us know what you think Trains Wales following the company’s development of a If you have any comments about Passenger Panel. anything you have read in this issue Members of the panel, recruited from across ATW’s network, of Passenger Voice or anything you provide direct feedback to the company on its performance, as would like to see in the next issue, well as reviewing specific areas such as station facilities and contact: Simon Pickering at information provision. Passenger Focus, PO Box 114, Passenger Focus assisted in the development of the Panel Chepstow NP16 6DW; and continues to support its operation by attending meetings simon.pickering@ and providing information and advice to its members. passengerfocus.org.uk.