Pollen blamed for rail delays

Pollen has been blocking radiators on Class 158 trains on the Cambrian line to Aberystwyth, causing breakdowns over the summer. Arriva Trains Wales engineers are trying to solve the problem.

The problem is particularly bad on the Talerddig incline, near Machynlleth, where trains have been reduced to a crawl because of overheating engines.

Rail watchdogs say trains have regularly been delayed for up to an hour, causing a headache for passengers.

During the first four weeks of the summer, Arriva only managed to run trains along the line to within 10 minutes of the scheduled time on just five days.

Gareth Marston, chairman of the Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth Rail Passengers Association, said the Cambrian line was the worst performing line in the UK.

"There was a problem back in June and July with the engines cutting out and failing, it was in the really hot weather," he said.

"It is something about the pollen in the Dyfi Valley, there are great clumps of it. It has happened before and it is one of these things that can be prevented with maintenance."

Mr Marston said Arriva had cut back on maintenance staff, which had meant the pollen problem had got worse.

"Come next summer it could be interesting to see if they remember and write it into their maintenance regimes," he said.

Mike Bagshaw, spokesman for Arriva, said engineers were working toward a solution, adding: "Daily cleaning of the radiators failed to prevent thick pollen from blocking the air flow. We are now looking at the design of the radiators and cooling systems."

Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough councillor Mansel Williams, who is involved in a number of rail liaison groups, said: "This year has been particularly bad and it has meant major maintenance overhauls have had to be undertaken to solve the problem."

By James Holt

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