Rhodri's 'ironic' train journey

FIRST Minister Rhodri Morgan yesterday crossed Wales by train as part of an election publicity stunt - at the same time as up to 22,000 commuters were caught up in more chaos on one of the nation's busiest lines.

The timing of Mr Morgan's train ride could not have been more embarrassing for the First Minister. He tried to highlight investment in the rail network in Wales while it came to a standstill across much of the country.

Work on the Cardiff to Swansea line has overrun from the bank holiday weekend, forcing rail passengers on to replacement buses for the whole week.

Network Rail has since apologised and promised a "full investigation" into why the work was not completed on Easter Monday as planned.

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Rail passengers travelling between Cardiff and Swansea face more delays on Sunday after a week of disruption./b]

Thousands of people travelling across south Wales have been forced to rely on replacement buses this week after signalling work overran.

That work has now been completed, but another batch of maintenance work will be carried out on the line on Sunday.

Network Rail said it was "unfortunate timing" but that the track should reopen as normal on Monday morning.

The initial problems were caused after signalling work on a 22-mile stretch of line running from Llantrisant to Baglan was not finished by Easter Monday as planned.

See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6554253.stm