Wales’ transport minister slammed over ‘simply embarrassing’ tweet apologising for train problems

The Welsh minister with responsibility for transport has been slammed over an “embarrassing” tweet in which he apologised for problems on rail services.

Deputy Minister for Climate Change Lee Waters today shared a pictured of himself on board a busy train which he later revealed had also been delayed.

It was posted alongside the message: “Not a great experience on some trains at the moment. Sorry. It will get better.”

However, the Welsh Conservatives have criticised the Labour Senedd Member over what the opposition described as his party’s “abysmal handling of the rail network in Wales”.

https://twitter.com/Amanwy/status/1605162785465303040

Shadow Minister for Transport, Natasha Asghar, said: “This is simply embarrassing and utterly shameless. Labour’s contempt and failure to grasp the seriousness of their failings knows no bounds.

“Labour’s deputy minister, who is apparently responsible for transport, has previously admitted that ‘we don’t know what we are doing on the economy,’ and it is clear that Labour is no better with Welsh transport.

“People in Wales need genuine accountability and action, not insincere tweets. The deputy Labour minister must stop burying his head in the sand, take a good look in the mirror and deliver a public transport system fit for the 21st century.”

Explaining the situation on the train he was travelling on, Mr Waters said several services before it were cancelled because of a broken down freight train further down the line. He said it had left his fellow passengers “frustrated”.

He also defended the government’s record in a series of follow up tweets by highlighting that new carriages were due to be introduced soon, with staff being trained to use them from January.

Responding directly to the criticism from the Welsh Conservatives, the deputy minister said: “You have no credibility on transport. We are still dealing the fragmentation of privatisation in rail and bus, as well as a structural underfunding of rail in Wales.

“And now you’ve blown up the economy causing us to have to manage huge inflationary cost rises.”

In response to a tweet by Deeside.com, Mr Waters said TfWs new Class 197 trains will be “coming your way soon”.

It should! These are now on the Conwy Valley line and coming your way soon pic.twitter.com/M3b3h4wtM2

— Lee Waters MS (@Amanwy) December 20, 2022

Despite rumours the new ‘made in Wales’ Class 197s would be deployed on the Wrexham – Bidston line from the December timetable change, TfW said it will continue to run the Class 150s at present.

“The Class 197s will be introduced on the Wrexham-Bidston line at a later date, once further testing of the new trains on the line has been completed.” TfW said.