Wayne David, MP for Caerphilly, has had a constructive meeting with Arriva Trains Wales, following concerns from local people about the quality of the train service from the Rhymney Valley to Cardiff.

Arriva Trains acknowledge that the service was not as good as it ought to be but provided reassurances that the service would improve in the near future due to additional work being undertaken by their engineers.

In October, the rail franchise will go to a new company, KeolisAmey.  They have a good reputation as a train operator in Manchester and elsewhere and will provide increased investment in the Rhymney Valley train service, in cooperation with Transport for Wales.

After the meeting, Wayne David said “In the autumn, a new chapter will open for the Valleys Lines when the new company takes over.  I have been assured that we will see a steady improvement in the service to the public of the Rhymney Valley.  There will be bigger, cleaner and better trains.  Punctuality will improve and there should be more trains travelling further up the Rhymney Valley beyond Ystrad Mynach and I have strongly urged that more use should be made of the new station at Energlyn, Caerphilly”.

Wayne David added “Nobody expects that all the changes will happen overnight but I am encouraged that from October we will see a steady improvement in the service.  This is what I and Hefin David AM will be continually pressing for”.