Ministers in Wales and Westminster commit to ‘partnership’ to reform railway
Ministers in Wales and Westminster say they have pledged to “work in partnership” to reform the railway, improve infrastructure, and deliver better services for passengers.
At a meeting in London this week, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, and UK Government Rail Minister, Lord Hendy, discussed the Welsh Government’s priorities for UK rail reform.
These include developing a locally driven business unit for Great British Railways in Wales, creating a Welsh enhancements programme and giving Wales a greater say on the specification of cross-border services.
Transport Secretary, Ken Skates said: “I’m excited about the UK Government’s plans for rail reform. We’ve committed to working in partnership, alongside industry, to shape a bright future for rail in Wales.
“The decision which finally calls time on the broken rail franchising system was an important step. It means the Wales and Borders rail service will remain in public hands – making it easier to integrate rail with bus and deliver on our vision of One Network, One Timetable, One Ticket.
“We’re also working closely with the UK Government to develop a jointly agreed programme of future rail infrastructure enhancements in Wales.”
Reform
Rail Minister, Lord Hendy said: “We are determined to reform our railways to deliver better services for passengers across all of Great Britain and create a new long-term strategy for a modern, integrated network with passengers at its heart.
“I look forward to working closely with the Welsh Government on its transport priorities and our shared ambitions for rail, delivering infrastructure improvements across the country to boost opportunities and economic growth.”
Plaid Cymru says there’s a cap on Labour’s aspirations for Wales “with no mention of devolving rail nor giving Wales the £4bn owed from England’s HS2 project”.
A spokesperson said: “We welcome bringing rail across the UK into public ownership, ensuring that the Wales and Borders rail service will remain in public hands.
“Rail passengers in Wales experience frequent cancellations, delays and expensive fares. Despite promises from the Labour Welsh Government that a majority of journeys would be on new trains by 2023, passengers are still waiting for this much needed overhaul of old stock, now promised by the end of 2024.
“If Labour are serious about improving passenger outcomes, then we cannot see any further delay in securing the devolution of rail nor the billions owed to Wales.”
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Hopefully this isn’t the thin edge of the wedge and Trafnidiaeth Cymru trains being sucked into Great British Railways – ych a fi!
Rail needs to be fully devolved and the HS2 payments yielded so that Welsh railways can be improved.
We hope, but given that the Bay regime is heavily into being Starmer’s little helpers I can’t see much good coming out of this in terms of delivering an imaginative “all-Wales solution”. Trains may run a bit more smoothly between Cardiff and London, maybe even Swansea, and Bangor may link a bit better with Manchester, Merseyside and possibly Birmingham but joining up the various bits of Cymru will not be a priority at all, at all.
What’s the parameter of the so-called political partnership I wonder? The UK Government says, jump. And the Welsh Government replies, how high? I don’t see any similar language used by UK Labour to the SNP in Scotland? Oh no. Only Wales it seems. It’s like they are referring back to the Act of Union Wales 1535 manual where Wales had an English overseer assigned by Westminster to watch our every move. I ask this probing question of Rail Minister, Lord Hendy. Who oversees UK Labour? Nobody. They mark their own homework. What Labour could do is fund infrastructure as they… Read more »
Of cursee Westminster Labour will ‘talk’ more nicely with Welsh Labour than with the SNP.
Well, we’ll just have to make sure we give Welsh Labour a bloody nose come the 2026 Senedd elections and vote in a Plaid Cymru led government.
UK Gov are creating National Partnerships. Manchester, York etc/. What’s stoping them creating South Wales and North Wales as partners instead of classifying Wales as a whole? This new rail partnership seems to be classified on population instead of area which it should be which will no doubt affect Wales level of investment.
I expect it will all end in tears, if you look at projects Ken Skates has been involved in as a minister many have failed with major losses to taxpayer.
Yeah, my heart sank a little when I realised that the grinning idiot has been allowed back in charge of things with rather large budgets. Mind, you the way that Starmer & Co are going, there is going to be an almighty upsurge in Reform UK support, which I’m not happy about, but Starmer has been told, and told and told…