North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called for the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure to ensure that he puts his responsibility to passengers first in the future development of the Wales and Borders rail franchise.
Speaking in today’s Debate on ‘the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee Report: On the right track? The Rail Franchise and South Wales Metro’, Mr Isherwood, who is a member of the Committee, referred to the Report’s statement that “for the Welsh Government to be letting a franchise for the first time represents a big challenge” and asked the Cabinet Secretary to respond to a number of concerns raised by his response to the Committee’s recommendations.
He said; “As the Welsh Government response states “Passengers expect a high quality and efficient service that is affordable and accessible to all”.
“In this response, the Cabinet Secretary states “that if the Welsh Government secured the repeal of section 25 of the Railway Act 1993 … they would take steps to ensure that future franchises are developed on a not for profit model”.
“I spent my previous career working in the mutual “not for profit” sector. They must be allowed to compete on a level playing field. However, they are just as capable of inefficiency, poor service, and financial failure as any other model. How, then, can the Cabinet Secretary justify putting such a monopolistic approach before his responsibility to passengers and tax payers?”
He also said that it is “concerning” that the Cabinet Secretary only accepted in principle recommendation 15, that ‘the Welsh Government should establish robust passenger and stakeholder engagement structures including strong representation from the English regions”’.
He said: “In July, I hosted an Assembly event, organised by ESP Group, highlighting the importance of inclusion and wellbeing in the design and delivery of transport services in Wales.
“They work in the area of inclusion and well-being in transport, including dementia and transport, older people and car cessation, rural transport and younger people accessing jobs and training. What engagement has the Cabinet Secretary therefore had, or will he be having, with organisations such as this?”
Mr Isherwood also questioned the Cabinet Secretary over rail freight, emphasising that the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport has stated that “Rail freight is an important component of the Welsh economy, keeping 4000 maximum weight HGV's off the roads each day and reducing carbon emissions by 76% - this must, of course, be protected in any enhancements to passenger services under the new franchise. There is potential for increasing further the use of the Welsh rail network for freight, notably for slate waste and timber in the north and intermodal traffic along both the A55 to Holyhead and the M4 from the Thames to South Wales”.