A RHYL resident has said he fears losing his job due to the Transport for Wales (TfW)-operated train he catches to work repeatedly being late.

Carl Griffiths, 54, began working night shifts at a factory in Flint on March 3, and is worried that his lack of punctuality as a result of his train arriving late could cost him his job.

Mr Griffiths, who cannot drive, works from 8.30pm until 8.30am the next morning, and buys a weekly ticket, costing him £37.20.

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He intends to catch the train usually scheduled to depart Rhyl at 7.46pm and arrive at Flint at 8.04pm.

But on the days Mr Griffiths said he worked between March 3 and 21 (March 3-5, March 9-15, March 18-21), ontimetrains.co.uk, a website recording departure and arrival times, said this service only arrived at Flint on time once out of these 14 days.

Of the other 13 occasions, according to the website, there were late arrivals into Flint of:

• One minute (four times)

• Two minutes (once)

• Three minutes (twice)

• Five minutes (twice)

• Nine minutes (once)

• 11 minutes (once)

• 14 minutes (once)

• 31 minutes (once)

The previous service is scheduled to leave Rhyl at 6.56pm and arrive at Flint at 7.14pm, but Mr Griffiths disputes the idea that he should get an earlier train due to a service he labelled “diabolical”.

He has also called for a fine for train drivers for being late, or a 50 per cent reduction on fares for passengers.

He said: “Why should I catch an earlier train when I could catch the 7.46pm service and get to work in plenty of time?

“It’s about a 20-minute walk from Flint train station, and I can get there on time, whereas if it’s late, I’ve got to rush and try to get to work as quick as possible. Why should I lose sleep to catch an earlier train?

“They’re diabolical. It seems to me that TfW run their own timetable. It’s no fun when you’re paying for a public service and it can’t be on time.

“I could lose my job. I haven’t been there long. I’ve spoken to a few people about it and they’re on the verge of losing their jobs, wherever they’re catching the train to.

“If they’re late, drivers should be fined, or people should get a 50 per cent reduction on their tickets. It’s costing me £37.20 a week to travel there.

“The train is the only real mode of transport that I’ve got. I’ve got no family to provide for, but I’m cutting down to the bare minimum now, and if I lose my job, it’ll be even worse for me.

“I’d have to get rid of my dog, because I wouldn’t be able to afford to feed it.

“I don’t want an apology from them; it’s not just happening to me.”

Mr Griffiths said he has already raised the issue with conductors, train guards and other workers at the railway stations, albeit to no avail.

A spokesperson for TfW said: “We understand delays are incredibly frustrating for passengers and would like to apologise to Mr Griffiths for the inconvenience this has caused him.

“When our services arrive at their destination 15 minutes or more later than scheduled, ‘Delay Repay’ applies and we will offer fair and appropriate compensation.

“Passengers can apply for compensation at TfW’s dedicated Delay Repay website within 28 days of completion of their journey.”