STATEMENT
BY
THE WELSH GOVERNMENT
TITLE
Transport policy
DATE
28 January 2014
BY
Edwina Hart AM CStJ MBE, Minister for Economy, Science and Transport
This statement provides an update to Members on recent developments in relation to transport.
We all recognise the importance of bus services to communities and the challenges for service provision, particularly in rural areas. I am clear that this is an area where Welsh Government should take a greater lead and this is reflected in my decision last autumn to step in to ensure continuity of service for communities in West Wales when a major bus operator pulled out.
The regional bus strategies that were consulted on last year provide a starting point to make progress but it is clear that we have more to do to ensure that bus services are sustainable in the context of challenging budgets.
I have announced interim changes to bus funding for the next financial year and I will be using this period to refresh our policy in relation to bus services and develop a new approach to funding.
In advising on the development of a sustainable, long-term approach to bus policy, the Group will be asked to look at service provision as whole. I want to draw on good practice across the UK to inform our thinking. For example in the South West of England, they have focused on systematically integrating general bus services with services that enable access to education and to health to generate efficiencies.
To make improvements, it is clear to me that we need to be absolutely explicit about our objectives for bus services. A priority must be to maximise the number of fare paying passengers and the coverage of the commercial network. The new Group will advise on the practical steps that can be taken to attract and retain fare-paying passengers and to remove barriers enabling services to run efficiently.
I am keen to move quickly to secure real, practical improvements on the ground for those communities that rely on bus services or suffer due to a lack of provision. I will be working with local authorities in Ceredigion and the Vale of Glamorgan to trial new, integrated solutions to the provision of bus services.
There is also a role for community transport in delivering some services and this is emerging as a priority from work that I commissioned jointly with the Minister for Health and Social Services. Progressing this will be part of the remit of my new advisory Group.
The process of agreeing arrangements for reimbursement of the concessionary fares scheme in future is nearing completion and I will update Members when that process has concluded.
At the same time, the smart ticketing back-office system for the concessionary bus scheme is being re-tendered and will help reduce administration costs. I am also looking at a range of options for harnessing the benefits of smartcard technology for transport.
My department is also working with a number of bus operators to explore the potential to introduce pilot young persons concessionary fares initiatives. I hope to be able to make an announcement very shortly on this.
My recent Written Statement set out the changes I am making to the arrangements for grant funding for local transport projects and road safety activity. Local authorities will receive funding direct from Welsh Government rather than working through an additional layer of bureaucracy with the Regional Transport Consortia.
My statement also confirmed I intend developing a new National Transport Plan that also reflects regional priorities. The City Region Boards will advise me on priorities for inclusion in this new Transport Plan and develop their role in coordinating transport delivery.
The Metro is a key focus for the South East Wales City Region Board and there is already good progress on this complex £2billion transformational project.
Following the report from Mark Barry, I have appointed a Metro Implementation Group to make detailed recommendations on an implementation plan by the summer. Progress is already being made, with an initial investment of £77million in transport improvements.
I established the Cambrian Railways Implementation Group to report on the implementation of improvements on the Cambrian rail line by 1 February 2014. The Groups work is being informed by a report produced by the Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury Railway Liaison Committee.
I have also asked the Heart of Wales Line Forum to submit further advice on a review of the costs and benefits of the additional services timetable and proposals for resources to progress community rail development and longer term service and local management aspirations.
Electrification of the Great Western mainline and the Valley Lines is progressing.
We are engaging with the supply chain to ensure that Welsh businesses are in a position to benefit from the substantial investments being made in rail infrastructure and rolling stock across the UK over the next ten years.
Last week, Bombardier Transportation UK Ltd, Hitachi Rail Europe and Alstrom Transport hosted a rail industry supply chain event in Cardiff in conjunction with the Welsh Government.
The event at Cardiff City Stadium was targeted at companies already active in the rail industry as well as businesses in other sectors to raise awareness of diversification opportunities.
The Ministerial Task Force on North Wales Transport, chaired by Lesley Griffiths AM, Minister for Local Government, is making good progress. In its first two meetings the Task Force has focused on building the case for North Wales rail electrification and identifying broader transport priorities for the region.
Following the discussion in the Task Force, I have written to the Secretary of State for Transport asking him to ensure the North Wales mainline should form an intrinsic part of any further assessment of the case for electrification.
