Arriva Trains Wales | FREE RAIL TRAVEL PILOT SCHEME TO START

FREE RAIL TRAVEL PILOT SCHEME FOR BUS-PASS HOLDERS

Concessionary travel pass holders on Conwy Valley and Heart of Wales Railways are to benefit from a free travel pilot scheme. The pilot scheme will start on Sunday 20 May and will run for twelve months.

It means that Cerdyn Cymru concessionary pass holders who are residents of Swansea, Carmarthenshire and Powys can travel free on the Heart of Wales line between Swansea and Shrewsbury via Llandrindod Wells. Concessionary pass holders resident in Conwy and Gwynedd can travel free on the Conwy Valley line between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog.

The Heart of Wales Line scheme will also allow a half-fare discount on other Arriva Trains Wales services between Swansea and Llanelli and the Conwy Valley scheme will allow free travel for concessionary pass holders between Llandudno Junction and Llandudno on ALL Arriva Trains Wales services.

The scheme has been made possible with funding from the Welsh Assembly Government of £100,000 and funding from local authorities in the Conwy Valley Rail Initiative and the Heart of Wales Line Forum. Half the Assembly Government funding will be used to run two-car trains on the Conwy Valley line in place of the current single-car operations in the busy summer peak periods. There is funding to match partnership funding from local authorities in the Heart of Wales Line Forum.

The remainder will provide for the community rail partnerships to promote the scheme and to meet Arriva Trains Wales costs for issuing tickets and analysing the ticket data which will be vital to the evaluation process.

The pilots will be evaluated early 2008 to see what impact free travel has had including on people’s travel patterns and on train capacity.
Councillor Trevor Roberts, Gwynedd council said.

“As Chairman of Taith, the North Wales Transport Consortium, and a board member of TraCC I am delighted to learn of the free pilot schemes on both the Conwy Valley and HOW railway lines. Both the Mid and North Wales transport consortium welcome these pilots and at long last local people are going to have a greater choice of free transport along the Conwy Valley. This pilot is giving residents of both Gwynedd and Conwy a wonderful opportunity to sample both Bus and Train travel between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Llandudno. This is a big boost to our local economy with travel by public transport being made easier and providing a real choice for people.

Larry Davies, community rail officer for the Conwy Valley Rail Initiative said:
“CVRI Members are absolutely delighted that this free travel concession to the Conwy Valley Line, which affords a level playing field for eligible residents in their choice of mode of travel.
“We welcome the increased capacity that the new rolling stock will allow in the busy summer period as it is from the trains that the beauty of this Valley can be best appreciated. We look forward to working closely with our partners to ensure the success of this pilot scheme.”

Cllr Mansel Williams, Shrewsbury and Atcham council said:
“As Chairman and on behalf of The Heart of Wales Line Forum (Swansea/Shrewsbury Railway Line) I wish to thank all parties who have worked together to provide a trial Concessionary Fares Scheme on the ‘Heart of Wales’ Railway line. The Concessionary Scheme will provide much needed assistance to local people, often on a low income, in area that has sparse public transport.

Bob Holland, managing director, Arriva Trains Wales added: “Arriva Trains Wales is looking forward to encouraging more people on to our services via these concessionary travel schemes. We are delighted that has been made possible by co-operation with our partners in the local authorities and the Welsh Assembly Government.”

Ends

Notes to Editors:

1. For background information on Arriva Trains Wales visit www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk
2. More than 90 per cent of Arriva Trains Wales services arrive on time according to current performance figures.
3. The Conwy Valley scheme will be available on ALL trains between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog.
4. The Heart of Wales scheme will only be available on Heart of Wales line trains between Shrewsbury and Swansea via Llandrindod. Free travel will NOT be available for journeys wholly between Llanelli and Swansea and Broome and Shrewsbury.
5. The Free Travel Scheme on Heart of Wales line will not be available for the week of the Royal Welsh Show.

For further information contact the press office on 07071 881278
Am fanylion pellach cysylltwch â Swyddfa’r Wasg ar 07071 881278