Anger As Arriva Train Fares Skyrocket by 34% - Eleanor Burnham Comments

3.44.17pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 9th May 2007

Eleanor Burnham has slammed the severe impact of Arriva Trains Wales fare increases on North Wales residents since her successful return to the Senedd as regional Assembly Member.

From May 20, ATW will no longer offer SuperSaver tickets, introduced in the 1980s for cheap travel on any trains except on Fridays and summer Saturdays.

The highest increase is on return tickets from Bangor to Cwmbran or Abergavenny, which will increase by 34% to £66.20.

Eleanor Burnham, Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for North Wales, said: "Shouldn't we have a bit more say? How is this going to affect tourism and conferences in a place like Llandudno, where huge investment has been made in Venue Cymru?

"You've got to wonder about who is watching what's going on. Are we getting value for the huge amount we're shoving into Arriva Trains Wales? I wouldn't say we are. We're talking about the dire state of the connections between North and South.

"People in North-East Wales don't have a clue what we're doing in the Assembly. Look how many of them voted for the BNP.

"With the train to Cardiff costing so much, they're still going to think it's cheaper or better to go to Manchester, Liverpool or Birmingham."

Ms Burnham, who lives near Wrexham, said the new air service was no consolation.

"We're spending £1.2m subsidy on this nonsense of an air service which is only going to be any use to people in a very small area. We should spend that on upgrading the train service and getting a proper partnership with Arriva."

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