Transport minister’s damning verdict on Wales rail strategy
Aleaked letter has revealed the major issues that remain to be resolved before Wales’ ambitious plans to improve the rail network can become a reality.
The Western Mail has obtained UK Transport Minister Chris Grayling’s response to his Welsh counterpart Ken Skates’ claim earlier this year that Westminster was to blame for delays to selecting a new operator for the Wales and Borders franchise from 2018.
New rolling stock, electrification of the Valleys and North Wales lines and the Metro projects are all priorities for the next franchise.
The Welsh Government has already announced a six-week delay said further delays will cost “tens of millions of pounds”.
But Mr Grayling’s letter reveals that major issues still remain unresolved, including the Welsh Government’s request for an extra £1bn, the details of how ownership of the rail infrastructure will be transferred and how Welsh ministers will exercise control of some English railway stations.
Welsh Conservative transport spokesman Russell George described the letter as “damning” and warned that commuters “are going to pay the price”.
ADISPUTE between the governments in Cardiff Bay and Westminster risks throwing into jeopardy plans to bring in a new rail operator to Wales next year, we have learned.
The Western Mail has obtained a letter from UK Transport Secretary Chris Grayling blaming civil servants in Cardiff for failing to address major issues needed to move forward with the new franchise, whose operator would be responsible for implementing key parts of the Welsh Government’s ambitious vision for rail services in Wales.
New rolling stock, electrification of the Valleys and North Wales lines, a South and North Wales Metro and widespread structural improvements are all priorities for the next 10 years under the next Wales and Borders franchise.
The Welsh Government has already put back its plan to formally launch its search for a new operator by six weeks from this Friday, August 18, to September 26.
It has warned that further delays to the franchise, which does not include mainline high-speed services, could cost “tens of millions of pounds”.
Yet the major unresolved issues detailed in Mr Grayling’s letter, which he says make the “scale of the challenge” clear, raise questions over whether the new date is achievable.
Welsh Conservative transport spokesman Russell George described the letter as “damning” and warned that commuters “are going to pay the price”.
“The timeline for completing the next franchise seems some distance away,” he said.
Mr Grayling’s letter is a response to Welsh Economy and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary Ken Skates, who blamed the UK Government when he revealed the six-week delay in June.
In the letter, Mr Grayling refuses to go along with the Welsh Government’s request to allow it to issue the final documents needed before the bidding operators can submit their proposals. He writes: “I recognise your concerns regarding the timings of the tender process.
“But I hope you understand that I cannot cut corners on the level of information or assurance required.
“To do so would present significant risk to Network Rail, taxpayers and most importantly the passengers served by the Wales and Borders franchise.”
He refuses to accept Mr Skates’ claim that the holding of the General Election was to blame for the delay and says his officials warned Welsh civil servants on May 26 that the major issues still to be agreed meant their planned timeframe was unachievable.
He cites seven areas that are still unresolved, including:
■ A finalised written document setting out how the transfer of ownership of the Core Valleys Lines has not been received, and the Welsh Government and Network Rail are in dispute over the plans;
■ Welsh and UK civil servants have not agreed a protocol over how the Welsh Government will exercise powers over English railway stations served by the Wales and Borders franchise;
■ The Welsh Government is asking for an extra £1bn over the course of the franchise for which Mr Grayling says “I see no basis”; and
■ A remaining dispute over payments [the letter does not make clear the nature of the payments].
The letter also refers to other issues that remain to be agreed including a “funding and outputs principles document” and an agreement on how Welsh Ministers will undertake their “operator of last resort” responsibilities”.
The new operator is due to take over the franchise currently run by Arriva Trains Wales from October