A nightmare train journey has prompted calls for rail operators to ensure passenger wellbeing is a top priority.
Natasha Asghar MS was one of many passengers caught up in an ordeal on a Transport for Wales train in Carmarthen over the weekend.
The South East Wales politician and her fellow passengers were left waiting on a train at the town’s station for around 2 hours after a driver failed to turn up for work because of traffic issues.
Passengers – including those in wheelchairs, the elderly, and people with children - were told they could get a different train from another platform and rushed over there, only to be sent back on the original train.
It was a particularly hot day when the incident occurred, and despite assurances free water would be provided to passengers – nothing materialised.
Natasha, who is also Wales’ Shadow Transport Minister, described the situation as ‘beyond a joke’ in the Welsh Parliament this week as she called for action.
She told the chamber: “There were people on this train with serious health conditions. Who would’ve taken responsibility if something had happened to them?
“Improvements must be made by Transport for Wales and other operators to ensure the wellbeing of passengers is an absolute priority, firstly by ensuring trains are stocked with water which can be handed out to passengers caught up in these situations through no fault of their own.”
The Welsh Government’s Business Minister, Jane Hutt MS, responded by saying she incident was “regrettable and unfortunate” and vowed to make the Cabinet Secretary for Transport aware of the situation.
She also praised the organisation’s punctuality saying statistics showed “we have turned the corner with our Transport for Wales, which we are very proud of.”
Natasha has also written to the CEO of Transport for Wales, and other operators, calling on them to outline what plans they have in place to deal with incidents like this and to review their customer care policies.
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Mae taith trên hunllefus wedi ysgogi galwadau ar weithredwyr rheilffyrdd i sicrhau bod lles teithwyr yn brif flaenoriaeth.
Roedd Natasha Asghar AS yn un o nifer o deithwyr a gafodd eu dal ar drên Trafnidiaeth Cymru yng Nghaerfyrddin dros y penwythnos.
Gadawyd gwleidydd De Ddwyrain Cymru a'i chyd-deithwyr yn aros ar drên yng ngorsaf y dref am tua 2 awr wedi i yrrwr fethu â dod i'r gwaith oherwydd problemau traffig.
Cafodd teithwyr - gan gynnwys y rhai mewn cadeiriau olwyn, yr henoed, a phobl â phlant - wybod y gallen nhw gael trên gwahanol o blatfform arall a rhuthrodd pawb yno, dim ond i gael eu hanfon yn ôl i’w trên gwreiddiol.
Roedd hi'n ddiwrnod arbennig o boeth, ac er gwaethaf sicrwydd y byddai dŵr am ddim yn cael ei ddarparu i deithwyr – ni welwyd yr un diferyn.
Disgrifiodd Natasha, sydd hefyd yn Weinidog Trafnidiaeth yr Wrthblaid, y sefyllfa fel un 'y tu hwnt i jôc' yn y Senedd yr wythnos hon wrth iddi alw am weithredu.
Dywedodd wrth y siambr: "Roedd yna bobl ar y trên hwn gyda chyflyrau iechyd difrifol. Pwy fyddai wedi cymryd cyfrifoldeb pe bai rhywbeth wedi digwydd iddyn nhw?
"Rhaid i Trafnidiaeth Cymru a gweithredwyr eraill wneud gwelliannau i sicrhau bod lles teithwyr yn flaenoriaeth lwyr, yn gyntaf drwy sicrhau bod trenau'n cael eu stocio â dŵr y gellir ei rannu â theithwyr sy'n cael eu dal yn y sefyllfaoedd hyn heb unrhyw fai arnyn nhw."
Ymatebodd Gweinidog Busnes Llywodraeth Cymru, Jane Hutt AS, drwy ddweud ei bod yn sefyllfa "anffodus a gofidus" ac addawodd y byddai’n gwneud Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Drafnidiaeth yn ymwybodol o'r sefyllfa.
Canmolodd brydlondeb y sefydliad hefyd gan ddweud bod ystadegau'n dangos "ein bod wedi troi'r gornel gyda Trafnidiaeth Cymru, ac rydyn ni’n falch iawn o hynny."
Mae Natasha hefyd wedi ysgrifennu at Brif Swyddog Gweithredol Trafnidiaeth Cymru, a gweithredwyr eraill, yn galw arnyn nhw i amlinellu pa gynlluniau sydd ganddyn nhw ar waith i ddelio â digwyddiadau fel hyn ac i adolygu eu polisïau gofal cwsmer.
