The Tory Transport Secretary got a taste of what its really like to be a commuter today when his policy launch descended into a PR nightmare straight from the Thick of It.

Chris Grayling launched a new fleet of trains on the Great Western line and boarded the first service – the 6am from Bristol Temple Meeds to London Paddington – to mark the occasion.

Speaking ahead of the journey, he promised the new trains will “give passengers the faster, more comfortable trains and the better journeys that they expect.”

But things didn’t quite go to plan.

First, the departure was delayed by 25 minutes and it then broke down 22 miles outside London, according to Independent travel writer Simon Calder, who was also on board.

The service eventually arrived 40 minutes late, but only after causing significant rush-hour delays for other trains on the route.

And somehow it got worse.

Tory Wales Secretary Alun Cairns (pictured right) was hoping the launch of the new trains would help people forget about the Government’s decision to cancel rail electrification to Swansea.

But the first new train due to depart from London for south Wales was cancelled.

Passengers on new trains that did run not only had to put up with delays, but faults like a leaking air conditioning unit:

#GWRNewTrains Raining on GWR's parade. Air con unit fail. Led to a sweaty morning's work. Punters impressed overall. But want punctuality. pic.twitter.com/P5tMJSmUmZ — scottellisbbc (@scott4sarah) October 16, 2017

Some of the things I haven't seen you tweet about yet @GWRHelp are the sectioned off wet seats due to leaks on your new train #GWRNewTrains pic.twitter.com/FSxkfvHrQK — Craig McCrum (@craigmccrum) October 16, 2017

And there was still no more space:

I bet everyone standing from Reading on these “amazing” #GWRNewTrains from @GWRHelp is really enjoying the new ergonomic seats… pic.twitter.com/jKLnNXcTrH — Gumpy Commuter (@GumpyCommuter) October 16, 2017

The Government has spent £5.7 billion on the new fleet of ‘bi-mode’ trains – meaning they can run on both electrified and non-electrified track.

Not from the goodness of their hearts – but because they cancelled rail electrification in south Wales, the Midlands and the north of England.

The breakdown on the maiden voyage this morning was reportedly caused by problems when the train switched from non-electrified to electrified track. That bodes well.

Even Tory ‘improvements’ make things worse…