Welsh language campaigners have picketed at Machynlleth station to protest about the lack of services available in the Welsh language.

Cymdeithas yr Iaith say they have received a ‘large number’ of complaints about the new train provider Transport for Wales, including some about the English-only ticket website, English-only announcements on the trains, a new ticket app in English only and self-service machines that don’t function properly in Welsh.

According to the Welsh Language Commissioner, Keolis Amey, the company that runs the new franchise, should have been complying with the Welsh language Standards from the first day they took over the service back in October last year.

Speaking before going to Machynlleth railway station, David Williams from Cymdeithas yr Iaith said:

“The failings of the new train company are so bad in respect of Welsh-language provision that it is almost unprecedented for a public service. We’re aware of a large number of wide-ranging complaints about services that are not available in Welsh or that treat the Welsh language less favourably than English. Due to the seriousness of the situation, we have asked the Welsh Language Commissioner to use her extensive powers to undertake a general investigation.

“It is a great disappointment that the Welsh Government, Transport Wales and the company that is under contract to them have failed to ensure that these services are in place, despite having sufficient time to do so before the new contract started. They should have made plans to ensure these services were provided properly.”

The group held similar pickets across the country at Cardiff Central, Swansea, Carmarthen, Aberystwyth and Bangor.

Colin Lea, Customer Experience Director Transport for Wales Rail Services responded: “We are fully committed to the Welsh language and to providing services within Wales bilingually. We have an agreed and funded plan over the next 12 months to roll out more and better Welsh language provision for the benefit of our customers.

“We completely agree that our customers should be able to book their tickets in the Welsh language, so we are working with industry partners to find an answer where the technology and systems haven’t caught up.

“Currently, our website and app, including the online train booking facility provided by trainline, use critical data provided from a range of GB wide rail industry systems. 

“At this stage, this data is only interpreted in the English language - for example this includes key elements such as the National Reservation System, which is only available in English.

“Solutions we are exploring may include the use of post-processed automatic translation systems. Please bear with us while we do our very best to put accurate Welsh language functionality in place as soon possible.”