Sir, December 11 sees the biggest change in our trains since 1906 (when Fishguard replaced Neyland as the Irish Ferry Terminal). Arriva Trains Wales have completely remodelled the timetable; all train times have changed. They have introduced a 'Standard Pattern Timetable', with most trains one or two hours apart. Also, Saturday times are almost identical to those on Monday to Friday. The basic train pattern for most of the day is this: 1. Between Carmarthen and Manchester every hour. Alternate trains are extended to or from Milford Haven, which thus has a train to or from Manchester via Cardiff every two hours. 2. Between Pembroke Dock and Swansea every two hours. 3. Fishguard has just the two trains as before. 4. Local all stations trains between Swansea and Cardiff every two hours. 5. Between Cardiff and Bridgend, on the Vale of Glamorgan line, serving Cardiff Airport at Rhoose, every hour. 6. First Great Western run trains between Paddington and Swansea every hour; there are also extra trains to and from Cardiff, which thus has a London train every half-hour for much of the day. For Paddington, trains from Pembroke Dock connect at Swansea; most from Milford connect at Cardiff going up (but at Swansea coming back). Curiously, Arriva's pocket timetables do not mention these Cardiff trains, mistakenly making the journey seem to be half-an-hour longer. Unfortunately, the main advantage of the 1990s (through trains to/from Portsmouth, Waterloo, Birmingham, Brighton and Penzance as well as Manchester), has been eliminated over the last few years. Arriva's highly-paid consultants thought this great amenity was a disadvantage! Connections between Pembrokeshire and Paddington trains are much improved. Connections with the Swansea-Cardiff local trains are awful; day trips from much of Glamorgan to Tenby will be a thing of the past. Connections with Vale of Glamorgan trains at Bridgend, while better than previously, are not good. There may be scope to improve these later in 2006. Sundays from January 9 see buses replacing all trains beyond Swansea, due to trackwork between Swansea and Bridgend. Overall, the Pembroke line has perhaps the best winter timetable it has ever had. The Milford line service, while better than for several years, is still not as good as in 1993. Arriva's own pocket timetable (130 pages!) is now available. It is rather confusing, as besides the omission of the Milford-Paddington links, many trains are listed in the wrong order, which can lead to missed connections unless you study the timetables very carefully. The Pembrokeshire Rail Travellers Association has prepared a 16-page summary of our new train services, which has already gone out to members. It is available free to anyone sending a stamped addressed envelope to me, or calling at the house at 102 Priory Rd, Milford Haven. D. G. Watts, Pembrokeshire Rail Travellers Association
