Great Western Railway has cancelled six services in Cornwall because of unreliable trains that are 26 years old. The operator said the services had to be scrapped due to ongoing issues with the fleet it acquired from Transport for Wales last year. Schoolchildren have reportedly been left stranded by the permanent cancellation of one service, while five others have been temporarily cancelled.
GWR introduced 26 of the trains last year to replace older diesel trains, aiming to cut costs and pollution, but they have caused persistent problems. Some users have complained that the trains are not wide enough for prams and wheelchairs, are uncomfortable, and even have all the writing in Welsh. Passengers have been frustrated by the growing number of cancellations on services using the Class 175 trains.
One father shared an email he sent to GWR after the 15:52 service from Penzance to Paddington was permanently cancelled, leaving his children and many others stranded at Truro station waiting for later services, which he said are also regularly subject to significant delays or cancellations. He said: "I am absolutely appalled by the number of cancellations and delays we are currently experiencing. However, the decision to completely remove the 15:52 service is particularly concerning, as this is a vital afternoon route used by hundreds of schoolchildren travelling home.
"Removing the 15:52 service leaves large numbers of children stranded at Truro station waiting for later services, which are themselves regularly subject to significant delays or cancellations.
"We are also well aware of the widely reported issues surrounding the 'new to GWR' trains that have recently been brought into the fleet. These are, of course, not new trains at all, but older rolling stock.
"We understand that concerns have been raised regarding their suitability and safety, including concerns involving the unions."
The father added: "It absolutely amazes me that a decision was made to purchase and introduce these trains if they were not in a suitable condition to provide the reliable service passengers were promised. Who assessed these trains before they were acquired and how has the situation been allowed to reach the point where paying passengers are now facing this level of disruption?
"Whatever the explanation behind the current problems, passengers – and particularly schoolchildren – should not be the ones paying the price for decisions made regarding GWR's fleet."
A GWR spokesperson said the decision to introduce the Class 175 fleet had been necessary to "deliver planned business growth, such as Mid Cornwall Metro and direct Bristol to Oxford services". The spokesperson said the trains also provide an alternative to replace the Castle Class HST sets, which were coming to the end of their useful life and come off lease, were the most expensive trains to operate in the fleet and the biggest contributor of emissions.
They said the 15:52 Penzance-to-Plymouth service will be cancelled, with additional stops put into the 16:15 Penzance-to-Paddington, which will also depart Penzance earlier at 16:13 and will call additionally at Hayle and Lostwithiel.
"We're sorry for the disruption customers have experienced from cancellations linked to our Class 175 fleet which has faced reliability challenges recently," the spokesperson said.
"Since our May timetable, Class 175 issues have accounted for nearly 15 per cent of delay minutes and around 14 per cent
GWR Cancels Cornwall Services Over Unreliable 26-Year-Old Trains