Urgent action needs to be taken to ensure the next Wales and Borders rail franchise is not ‘left behind’, the Welsh Government’s infrastructure secretary has warned.
The comments come in a response from Ken Skates AM, the Welsh Government’s cabinet secretary for economy and infrastructure, to the Welsh Affairs Committee’s report on the upcoming franchise.
An Arriva operated train passes along the North Wales coast
In its response, the UK Government turned down a recommendation from MPs that it reconsider devolving responsibility and funding for rail infrastructure in Wales to its Welsh counterpart.
The Government said the issue had been considered as part of the 2015 St David’s Day process of further devolution for Wales, ‘but there was no political consensus to take it forward’.
Mr Skates said: ‘It is clear that a greater degree of control in Wales over the delivery of rail infrastructure as well as a fair allocation of funding is now required to deliver the improvements we need to speed, reliability, capacity and safety.’
He added that following ‘historical underfunding’ of the Welsh rail network, ‘the short-term priority must, therefore, be to ensure that the railway network in Wales receives its fair share of funding for the 2019–24 period (Control Period 6)’.
Mr Skates said he was ‘pressing the UK Government to confirm a fair allocation of funding’ for a list of ‘much needed infrastructure enhancement schemes’ in Control Period 6.
He added that key decisions need to be taken on rolling stock in the near future.
In somewhat pointed comments, he said: ‘The combination of a [previous] no-growth franchise contract, delays and de-scoping of the electrification programme, and our position in the franchise schedule now makes it very difficult to rely on a market-led response to upcoming compliance pressures.
‘I consider that urgent action needs to be taken in conjunction with the Department for Transport to ensure that the next Wales and Borders franchise is not left behind and discussions will continue on that basis.’
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