CONCERNS have been raised about the chaos being caused by what train users have described as “frequent” train cancellations at Barry Island railway station.

Arriva Trains Wales had previously acknowledged that sometimes train services are terminated in Barry, following disruptions elsewhere, as a means of “restoring the advertised timetable as quickly as possible”.

Passengers have said this week that the ongoing issue has become a “nightmare”

Julie Jones, 43, who lives near the train station, said: “I commute from Cardiff and my journeys are always chaotic. A couple of times a week my train journeys will be cancelled and I don’t end up seeing my family until gone 7pm. We need more trains going to and from the station.”

Train user Joe Skinner, 30, said: “It is happening far too often so I try to avoid catching a train now.”

Councillor Nic Hodges, who represents Baruc ward, described the situation as “dreadful”.

He said:”All of my sympathy is with the passengers who have had their journeys stopped. A train cancellation is the last thing someone wants after a hard day’s work.”

He added that it was time for a “radical rethink to sort out the problems”.

MP for the Vale Alun Cairns said he had received complaints of the train service has been a long time campaigner for a solution to the problem, which he says he continues to receive complaints about.

He said: “My main concern is for those elderly people, and parents with children often left stranded at Barry station when the cafe is closed.”

Following a meeting with the Vale MP, Arriva Trains Wales have agreed to introduce a range of measures to attempt to improve the situation, including passengers being able to use their rail tickets on certain Cardiff buses.

A spokesperson from Arriva Trains Wales said: “We were pleased to meet Alun Cairns to discuss the feedback from his constituents.

“The meeting was very constructive and we have since reviewed and improved the way we will recover disrupted services on the Barry line, aiming to minimise disruption to customers using Barry Island station wherever possible.

“We will look to improve the customer information, both on board and on the CIS screens when there is disruption and endeavour to make alternative travel arrangements when there is not a following service due within a reasonable amount of time.

“We will also liaise more closely with the conductor on board in order to understand how many customers are affected and if any customers on board require any specific assistance.”