Train Services - 10th Dec, 2007

Swansea East MP Sian James is confident that rail services to South Wales will improve following a meeting with First Great Western.

Mrs James organised a meeting between First Great Western Trains and South Wales MPs so that they could raise a number of concerns about services between London Paddington and South Wales.

Now she is launching a campaign to get an all-party parliamentary group on rail in Wales established to formalise links between MPs and the rail industry.

Speaking after the meeting, Mrs James said: "I met Mr Haines shortly after he was appointed to his new post of chief operating officer and I expressed the need for the company to meet South Wales MPs, to discuss concerns across the South Wales route.

"Concerns mainly focused on performance, cancellations, overcrowding and late-night security on trains.

"I am confident that the new management will establish new initiatives and make a greater effort to improve the situation with performance, which has risen in the last year, but certainly needs to be improved further.

"As a result of the meeting, it has been decided that I will take forward the need for an all-party parliamentary group on rail in Wales so that we may formalise the meeting between MPs and the rail industry.

"This will help to improve communication and facilitate opportunities to raise matters that are of concern to our constituents, and hear of what progress is being made by train companies."