Historic day as new rail operator takes over service
A NEW era for rail passengers in Wales begins today as Transport for Wales takes over from Arriva Trains Wales.
With the end of the much-criticised Arriva franchise, it is the first full day of the new Wales & Borders rail service.
The company decided not to bid for the 15-year contract, which has been awarded to KeolisAmey.
First Minister Carwyn Jones said the service can be the best in the UK and chief executive of Transport for Wales James Price has pledged to create a service that “puts customers first”.
Their comments will be music to the ears of commuters and other railusers. Cancelled trains, too few carriages leading to overcrowding and delays were all regular complaints about Arriva’s service.
Earlier this year, the Welsh Government announced it had chosen a joint venture between French transport giant Keolis and Spanish infrastructure management consultancy Amey to replace German-owned Arriva.
Welsh Government Transport Minister Ken Skates said many of the changes, costing nearly £5bn, promised by the new operator will transform rail services across Wales.
Some of the improvements will be immediate, while others will be introduced as soon as possible.
These plans include spending £194m on station improvements, including the building of five new stations, and the deep cleaning of stations from this December.
All staff working for Arriva Trains Wales – totalling 2,356, of whom 610 are train drivers and 512 guards – will transfer over to KeolisAmey.
Launching the new contract, First Minister Carwyn Jones will be at Pontypridd station today to mark the first full day of the new service.
Mr Jones is due to say: “This is an important moment for rail in Wales – indeed for devolution itself.
“Led by Transport for Wales with our partners KeolisAmey, this will be the very first ‘made in Wales’ rail service, designed and delivered by the Welsh Government.
“The opportunity to redesign and repurpose our railway network in Wales is a once-in-a-generation opportunity and I am confident that by 2033 it can be the best passenger rail service in the UK.
“The chance to develop an integrated transport system that encourages economic growth and better supports our public services is supported across all political parties, and the opportunities to develop Metro systems here in south-east Wales, in the north-east and around Swansea Bay are drawing attention from across the globe.”
The First Minister will also pay tribute to staff: “It is important to understand that our bold ambitions will take time to bring to fruition and won’t be achieved overnight. However, when I talk to the drivers, the guards, the maintenance crews or ticket hall staff across Wales, I’m always struck by their enthusiasm and their belief in what our rail network can be in Wales.
“We are lucky to have so many people, who come to work for a service every day, genuinely wanting to make it better – and who see in it the potential for growth.
“We need to harness their ideas and make our railway the envy of the world.”
At an earlier event in North Wales, Mr Skates will outline improvements passengers can expect to see in the next few weeks, months and years.
“With investment totalling almost £5bn over the next decade and a half, our network will be transformed,” he is due to say.
“We have committed £800m to deliver new trains across the network, which by 2023 will see 95% of rail journeys made on new trains.”
Transport for Wales chief executive James Price said: “Transport for Wales has innovative plans to revolutionise transport across Wales and ambitions to create a rail service that puts customers first.”
Kevin Thomas, chief executive of Transport for Wales Rail Services, added: “Our customers, the people of Wales and border areas, deserve a rail service that matches Welsh Government’s vision.
“We know people have high expectations of the transformation that will happen in the coming years. We’re determined to win their trust and develop a rail service that exceeds their expectations.”
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