RESIDENTS have joined Vale MP Alun Cairns to launch a Barry Island railway passenger’s survey in response to service cancellations.

Barry Island resident Andy Green, together with Island Residents Association members Jill and Neil Woodward began surveying rail users earlier this month.

Over the last year, they say 437 trains to Barry Island have terminated at Barry Station or Cardiff Central Station – averaging out at eight times per week.

The survey is designed to measure the impact of the problem.

Results so far show deep frustration with frequent cancellations, Mr Green added.

"Completed surveys also describe how rail service terminations at Barry station are causing Island residents to be late for work, incur taxi fares and miss appointments," he said.

Mr Cairns said the cancellations were primarily a result of decisions made by the rail operators in that Arriva Trains Wales and Network Rail chose to terminate and re-start the service at Barry to make up lost time and reduce delays along the line.

Mr Cairns says he was told by Arriva Trains Wales that “decisions for terminating (Barry Island) services are initiated by our control to recover the service and restore the advertised timetable".

Mr Cairns said he was worried about the impact of this policy on Island residents.

“I have launched this survey so that the impact of the decisions to terminate Barry Island services at Barry station is appreciated," he said.

“Many residents have told me how they have had to shell out for taxis or walk the causeway, often late at night and in wintry conditions. Many more have described how they have been late for work or missed appointments as a result.

“I will be taking this matter up with Arriva and using the findings of my survey to illustrate the case for terminating fewer trains to the Island. In the meantime, I encourage everyone affected by delays and cancellations to seek the available refunds and compensation.”

An Arriva Trains Wales spokeswoman said: “We acknowledge that regrettably sometimes decisions are taken to terminate train services at Barry following disruption, in order to recover the rail service across the Cardiff and Valleys network ,with the aim of restoring the advertised timetable as quickly as possible. We would like to apologise for the inconvenience and difficulties that will undoubtedly have been imposed on our customers when disruptions have occurred. “