Welsh Government managed Transport for Wales is breaking its own legal requirements for passengers to wear face masks on its services after hundreds of rugby fans were seen squeezed onto trains after the Wales v Australia match.
It follows similar incidents on rugby and soccer fans’ trains operating across South Wales in recent weeks and opposition Senedd members have again said Transport for Wales chiefs are failing customers and risking their health.
Nearly 70,000 people were in the Principality Stadium on Saturday evening watching Wales take on Australia, with more watching from the city’s pubs.
TfW put on two-carriage trains on serivces and these were packed with returning spectators in the evening.
Passengers told media they felt unsafe, claustrophobic and anxious with one 12-year-old boy “visibly overwhelmed” with the experience.
Welsh Conservatives have long called for the Labour Government-owned Transport for Wales to take urgent action to clampdown on overcrowding.
Now it has repeated its calls following shocking incidents in the last few weeks, including one which forced a blind woman to step over people.
Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Transport, Natasha Asghar MS, said in a statement, “Despite bosses at Transport for Wales saying only last week that they’ve learnt lessons about overcrowding, it is abundantly clear that was not true.
“Yet again passengers were herded onto trains like cattle over the weekend with the overcrowding so bad that many were pressed up against each other and windows.
“I am sick and tired of pushing Labour ministers and Transport for Wales to take action to tackle overcrowding. It is high time bosses just do the right thing for their customers and run more carriages, especially when big events are happening.
“Passengers deserve to travel comfortable and feel safe at all times, but sadly at the moment Labour and Transport for Wales are letting them down big time.”
