Archive - Tuesday, 8 June 2004


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Monmouth snubbed in rail plan

MONMOUTH'S long held dream of being included in an integrated public transport timetable has hit the buffers.

Arriva Trains Wales, who operate trains throughout the country, originally pledged to include Monmouth in their publicity material when they were seeking to obtain the franchise to run the train network in Wales.

The company has decided not include the town in their plans to introduce a through ticketing price structure.

Geraint Morgan, the company's liaison manager with the Welsh Assembly said: "Whilst we have proposals to introduce 30 new through ticketing schemes across the network, these will be where existing services are available and there are no plans to introduce an Arriva service between Abergavenny and Monmouth."

Two of the area's local politicians have been campaigning for improvements to be made to Monmouth's poor public transport system.

MP Huw Edwards said: "Arriva Trains Wales have been innovative in providing bus-rail links in other parts of South Wales and the North East of England, which also have large populations and dismantled railway lines. The response is very disappointing.

"Such a link would benefit Monmouth enormously since the current public transport to and from this town is poor only connecting Monmouth with two cities- Birmingham and Aberdeen.

"I hope Arriva will look at this situation again to provide us with a service that can connect with national rail services which would also encourage inward tourism and give local people the opportunity of better employment."

Only last year Andrew Davies AM the Minister for Economic Development and Transport said that the future of railway services in Wales, including bus links to railway stations was a priority for the Assembly.

Assembly Member Mike German said: "I will keep campaigning to restore Monmouth's links with the outside world with Arriva Trains Wales, because this is what they promised in their franchise.

"I am a firm believer in Integrated Public Transport links and this is the only way for land locked Monmouth to take advantage of other destinations across Wales and the UK."