Welsh-language Services
The Welsh Language Act 1993 requires all public bodies to provide services to the public through the medium of Welsh as well as English. As a private company and not a public body, Arriva is not legally required to provide service in Welsh but it does conduct some business in Welsh. All stations in Wales where the Welsh and English names differ have both names displayed, with a few minor omissions. ATW does not display Welsh names in the English stations which it manages, such as Chester (Welsh:Caer) or Hereford (Welsh:Henffordd) but includes the Welsh names in its printed timetables and other publicity material.
Arriva Trains Wales has introduced bilingual display screens and announcements in at least 46 stations, but these do not include some stations such as Bangor in traditionally Welsh-speaking areas. Long-distance services on Class 175 trains now show both Welsh and English names on their on-train display boards (e.g. Manceinion/Manchester Piccadilly), but the audio announcements are in English only.
In 2004, ATW introduced a Welsh-language telephone line. Its website was named the "Best Website of The Year in the Technology Wales Awards 2004". Arriva reports that approximately 4% of its customers use the Welsh website.
Read more about this topic: Arriva Trains Wales
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