Train leaders accept plan to improve rail services across South West of England and Wales

Passengers can expect to have "more reliable journeys" thanks to plan

Author: Rory GannonPublished 26th Sep 2024
Last updated 26th Sep 2024

Rail leaders have accepted a plan from Network Rail to improve train services and performance across the West of the UK.

Passengers from Wales and the West of England are set to benefit from "more reliable journeys" connecting the regions to London's Paddington station.

A detailed report from Network Rail was submitted in the wake of an investigation looking into the reliability of services to the area, which first launched in autumn of 2023.

In the report, a number of practical solutions to issues raised were proposed - with over 50 potential options to explore being suggested to improve journeys for both rail passengers and freight.

The plan is set to last until 2029, with the final draft of the plan having input from rail companies and passengers themselves.

Significant investment is already being made into the network in the area, with new train stations being built, as well as the replacement of areas with up-to-date technology throughout 2024.

According to Network Rail, four key themes underpin the plan – sufficient planning for cumulative change, understanding the factors that are driving delay, learning from incidents, and making sure our leadership, structure, culture and governance is right.

In a statement following the agreement, Network Rail's Regional Managing Director the West of England and Wales, Rob Cairns said they are always looking for improvements.

"We are determined to do everything we can to provide a more reliable railway for passengers and freight and are already underway with delivering our far-reaching performance improvement plan," he said.

"There are encouraging signs that that this is having a positive impact across the region, but there is much more to do.

"Working closely with our industry partners, we will not rest until we consistently deliver train performance at the levels that passengers rightly expect.

"We've engaged openly and transparently with the Office of Road and Rail throughout their investigation and are pleased that they have now accepted our performance improvement plan."

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