The South Pembrokeshire Rail Action Group (SPRAG) is continuing its efforts to secure improved train services for the region, engaging with transport providers and local politicians and the Welsh Government.

SPRAG has met twice in May and September with the West Wales Local Railway Partnership (LRP), with its aim of “bringing track and train together” with Transport for Wales and Network Rail.

As a stakeholder party, SPRAG first attended the TfW group in February.

A spokesperson for SPRAG said: “In the most recent meeting, we met the new TfW Stakeholder Manager for Mid and West Wales, James Nicholas.

“Developments in progress include the 3 ungated level crossings on the Pembroke Dock (PMD) line; to be altered with barriers at the 2 Manorbier roads and a footpath at Llanion.

“The ongoing concerns relating to a PMD hourly service, Sunday timetable, service reliability and capacity improvements were being taken to a LRP workshop with Network Rail the following day.

“Other topics raised were rolling stock updates and bus integration with train connections - particularly T1 bus arrivals from Aberystwyth at Carmarthen for the PMD train,” they explained.

In addition, at the LRP meeting, SPRAG presented a draft document ‘Pembrokeshire Rail 2030’ (A Vision for Rail Travel), which will contribute to the regional TfW Annual Plan process. A further report on Rail 2030 will appear in SPRAG’s next Newsletter.

Since SPRAG’s meeting in March with Member of the Senedd for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Sam Kurtz, the Conservative politician organised an online meeting on September 29 with Ken Skates MS (Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales), whom SPRAG have been writing to since May 2024.

“Five of SPRAG’s organisers attended; and we restated ongoing PMD-line issues about options for an hourly service, the urgent need for an increased Sunday service, poor performance and rail infrastructure,” continued the spokesperson for the campaign group.

“When pressed on when South Pembrokeshire would be receiving some of the funding from the £445 million investment in Welsh rail, announced in the UK Government Spending review, Ken Skates confirmed that the prospectus is being published in the autumn, with short, medium and long-term plans; with a promise that SPRAG would be sent the timetable.

“This should reveal how serious Transport decision-makers in Wales are to provide more frequent train services in Pembrokeshire.”

Following the meeting, Mr Kurtz shared: “As part of my on going campaign to see improvements to rail services in South Pembrokeshire I was delighted to bring together the Cabinet Secretary for Transport Ken Skates and the South Pembrokeshire Rail Action Group to discuss the Pembroke Dock to Whitland line.

“This is one of the worst performing lines in Wales yet has the busiest station in the county, Tenby. It also connects passengers with the ferry in Pembroke Dock.

“There’s a long way to go until hourly services return, but together as a community we’ll keep banging the drum for long overdue investment in west Wales,” he added.

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