Transport for Wales (TfW) have published a new timetable from Sunday 15th May that includes the return of several services across North Wales that were cut during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Among the key changes are nine additional services each way per day along the North Wales Coast between Chester and Llandudno Junction, including the return of direct services between Llandudno and Manchester Airport. TfW is also reintroducing two additional return services along the Conwy Valley Line between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog.
Welcoming the new timetable’s publication Aberconwy MP Robin Millar said:
“Since the Covid restriction began to ease last summer, I have been contacted by both residents and businesses from throughout Aberconwy about their frustrations with rail services and connectivity across North Wales.
“In November I prepared my "Aberconwy Railway Users" survey and nearly five hundred residents spared the time to contribute, not just with their concerns but also their ideas. I took the findings of the survey directly to a meeting between Transport for Wales and Conservative MPs in North Wales. The reduced number of services, often leading to overcrowding, was one of the main issues highlighted so I welcome this week's announcement that several services will be restored next month.”
Continuing, Robin said:
“This week, as part of the Welsh Affairs Committee’s inquiry into Wales as a global tourist destination, I highlighted the value of North Wales’ connections with Manchester and Birmingham airports in attracting international visitors. Tourism is crucial to our local economy – and public transport important to reducing carbon emissions – so I particularly welcome the restoration of direct services between Llandudno Junction and Manchester Airport. These services are invaluable in making our fantastic offer here accessible to visitors and in a more sustainable way.”
Finally, Robin said:
“I am also pleased that the May to December timetable period is also expected to include the introduction of the first of TfW’s brand new trains with the first new trains for the Wales and Borders network are planned to enter service on routes in North Wales and the Borders during the summer. For too long we have had to endure unreliable and uncomfortable – often overcrowded – rolling stock and it is encouraging that it now appears that this is beginning to be rectified.”
AS Aberconwy yn croesawu’r cynnydd yng ngwasanaethau rheilffyrdd Gogledd Cymru
Mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru (TrC) wedi cyhoeddi amserlen newydd o ddydd Sul 15 Mai ymlaen. Mae’r amserlen yn cynnwys adfer nifer o wasanaethau ledled Gogledd Cymru a gafodd eu torri yn ystod Pandemig Covid-19.
Ymysg y newidiadau allweddol mae naw gwasanaeth bob ffordd ychwanegol bob dydd ar hyd Arfordir Gogledd Cymru rhwng Caer a Chyffordd Llandudno, gan gynnwys gweld gwasanaethau uniongyrchol rhwng Llandudno a Maes Awyr Manceinion yn dychwelyd. Mae TrC hefyd yn ailgyflwyno dau wasanaeth dwyffordd ychwanegol ar hyd Rheilffordd Dyffryn Conwy rhwng Cyffordd Llandudno a Blaenau Ffestiniog.
Wrth groesawu cyhoeddiad yr amserlen newydd, dywedodd Robin Millar, AS Aberconwy:
“Ers i’r cyfyngiadau Covid ddechrau llacio’r haf diwethaf, mae trigolion a busnesau ar draws Aberconwy wedi cysylltu â mi i leisio eu rhwystredigaethau ynghylch gwasanaethau rheilffyrdd a chysylltedd ledled Gogledd Cymru.
“Ym mis Tachwedd, fe wnes i baratoi fy arolwg “Defnyddwyr Rheilffyrdd Aberconwy”. Cyfrannodd bron i bum cant o drigolion eu hamser, nid yn unig i leisio’u pryderon ond hefyd i roi syniadau. Fe wnes i fynd â chanfyddiadau’r arolwg yn syth i gyfarfod rhwng Trafnidiaeth Cymru ac Aelodau Seneddol Ceidwadol yng Ngogledd Cymru. Roedd y gostyngiad yn nifer y gwasanaethau, sy’n aml yn arwain at orlenwi, yn un o’r prif faterion y tynnwyd sylw ato, felly croesawaf gyhoeddiad yr wythnos hon y bydd nifer o wasanaethau’n cael eu hadfer fis nesaf.”
Aeth Robin ymlaen i ddweud:
“Yr wythnos hon, fel rhan o ymchwiliad y Pwyllgor Materion Cymreig i Gymru fel cyrchfan twristiaid fyd-eang, tynnais sylw at werth cysylltiadau Gogledd Cymru â meysydd awyr Manceinion a Birmingham o ran denu ymwelwyr rhyngwladol. Mae twristiaeth yn hanfodol i’n heconomi leol – ac mae trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yn bwysig i leihau allyriadau carbon – felly rwy’n croesawu’n arbennig y gwaith o adfer gwasanaethau uniongyrchol rhwng Cyffordd Llandudno a Maes Awyr Manceinion. Mae’r gwasanaethau hyn yn amhrisiadwy o ran sicrhau bod yr hyn sydd gan Ogledd Cymru i gynnig yn hygyrch i ymwelwyr ac mewn ffordd fwy cynaliadwy.”
Yn olaf, dywedodd Robin:
“Rwyf hefyd yn falch o glywed bod disgwyl i’r amserlen gynnwys cyflwyno’r cyntaf o drenau newydd sbon TrC rhwng mis Mai a mis Rhagfyr. Bwriedir bod trenau newydd mewn gwasanaeth ar gyfer rhai llwybrau yn rhwydwaith Cymru a’r Gororau yn ystod yr haf. Rydyn ni wedi gorfod dioddef cerbydau annibynadwy ac anghyfforddus – sy’n aml yn orlawn – ers tro byd, ac mae’n galonogol ei bod bellach yn ymddangos bod newid ar dro.”