🚄💷 **Did You Know? TfW’s £8m ‘Spare’ Driver Dilemma!**
Transport for Wales (TfW) is under the spotlight for spending over £8 million annually on “spare” train drivers and conductors! Each day, around 11 drivers and six conductors are on standby, ready to step in if needed. But concerns are rising about whether these numbers are justified, as it’s much higher than when Arriva ran the lines.
Rhys ab Owen, a concerned Senedd member, recently highlighted that TfW has 89 drivers and 70 conductors more than necessary, which he believes impacts value for money. Drivers wait in the depot for a call to action which often doesn’t come. Could these ‘unutilised’ hours be wasted resources?
🚂 On the other hand, TfW claims these spares are crucial for preventing cancellations and delays, which does make sense. But with rising costs, transparency and budget oversight are hot topics in the Senedd. Plaid Cymru’s Llŷr Gruffydd and other politicians, including Sam Rowlands, are pushing for clearer TfW financial practices to maintain public trust.
🔍 Another major concern is TfW’s lag in meeting its 2025 goal of operating 95% of journeys on new trains, currently hitting just 77%.
**TfW’s Response:** Julie James from the Welsh Government acknowledges the imperfections but insists on big wins: a 19% passenger increase and significant revenue growth. TfW even boasts the UK’s best punctuality improvement!
So, here’s the debate: Is TfW’s spending a necessary step for reliability or a sign of inefficiency? As they push to modernise our rails, they must balance progress with financial responsibility to inspire confidence among passengers.
Let us know your thoughts on TfW’s spending in the comments! 🚉💬