Arriva trains will remain monolingual in England

The Welsh Language Board says it would welcome any move to provide bilingual signs for the whole of Arriva Trains' franchise area, which covers all of Wales as well as English towns like Shrewsbury and Ludlow.

Arriva took over the Wales and Borders rail franchise in December and is committed to using bilingual signs at all its Welsh stations.

But although the company will provide bilingual access by May, it has no plans for such signs as Yr Amwythig (Shrewsbury) or Llwydlo (Ludlow).

The WDA and Wales Tourist Board already advertise in Welsh at Paddington, so providing Welsh language signs in Shropshire would be very similar Rhys Dafis, Welsh Language Board

Rhys Dafis, the board's director of language schemes, said any move by Arriva to set up Welsh language signage for passengers in Shropshire would be welcomed.

"The WDA and Wales Tourist Board already advertise in Welsh at Paddington, so providing Welsh language signs in Shropshire would be very similar," he added.

Mr Dafis said the board were having discussions with Arriva about Welsh language provision.

"It will be more cost-effective for Arriva to provide a bilingual package including timetables for the whole network, including Shropshire," he said.

"Having signs in Welsh would also be appropriate for people travelling from Cardiff to Wrexham who cross the border."

The company has recently completed the installation of a �2.5m customer information system at 46 stations in Wales, which includes both bilingual audio announcements and visual displays.

Rebecca Cadmore, of Arriva, said: "As the national train operator of Wales, it is our policy to positively encourage the use of the Welsh language.

"We are committed to further improve the availability of bilingual information and this will include the introduction of a Welsh language customer service facility.

"It is our policy to listen to our customers and we have received very few negative comments in relation to the use of the Welsh language.

"But there are no plans for special bilingual signage or announcements in the English border stations.

"However, temporary posters and leaflets produced in bilingual format, such as the assaults on staff poster, are posted throughout the Arriva Trains Wales network."