merlodlliw
Established Member
M[/QUOTE]
here it is Press release /
Datganiad i’r wasg
Tel: 07728090861
Email: Justine.Evans@wales.gov.uk
www.markisherwood.com
February 23 2010
ISHERWOOD: AM FIGHTS TO KEEP POPULAR TRAIN OPERATOR IN WREXHAM
AN ASSEMBLY Member has slammed the Welsh Government for failing to grant his request for a statement on matters threatening the future of a popular Wrexham train operator.
During yesterday’s Business Statement in the Assembly, Welsh Conservative, Mark Isherwood, asked for a Welsh Government statement in respect of plans by the Welsh Government franchise Arriva Trains Wales to operate a new Marylebone-Aberystwyth service.
He told the Minister for Business and Budget, Jane Hutt, that he has been informed the Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone Railway (WSMR) Company is likely to withdraw from the market if Arriva Trains Wales is granted permission to run services out of Marylebone station.
He said: “A letter from Network Rail to the Office of Rail Regulation seems to suggest that the Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone Railway Company is happy with the Arriva Trains proposed London train, but checks with WSMR suggested that it had been seriously misquoted and that it continues to object fully to the Arriva Trains service.
“In fact, Network Rail has published those comments without being present at the meeting between Arriva Trains and WSMR when this matter was discussed and without checking with WSMR first as to the correctness of the quotation attributed to it.
“In this context, concern has also been raised as to whether Arriva Trains Wales should use its all-Wales franchise stock out of area between Birmingham and London when there is a chronic shortage of train stock in Wales.”
The Minister refused a Government statement stating it is an “operational issue”.
Speaking outside the Chamber Mr Isherwood condemned the Minister’s failure to recognise the importance of the matter.
“These matters are of such seriousness that they demand a ministerial statement and the Minister’s response is simply not acceptable,” he blasted.
“However I will now write to the Deputy First Minister, as Minister for Economic Development and Transport, in the hope he may now engage constructively on this issue.
“We fought hard to bring WSMR to Wrexham against opposition by the last Welsh Government and we will fight to keep it there now.”
ENDS
North Wales AM Mark Isherwood, Shadow Minister for Social Justice and Housing
The question of ERTMS was raised by another A.M and will recieve a written responce, which will be published.
M
here it is Press release /
Datganiad i’r wasg
Tel: 07728090861
Email: Justine.Evans@wales.gov.uk
www.markisherwood.com
February 23 2010
ISHERWOOD: AM FIGHTS TO KEEP POPULAR TRAIN OPERATOR IN WREXHAM
AN ASSEMBLY Member has slammed the Welsh Government for failing to grant his request for a statement on matters threatening the future of a popular Wrexham train operator.
During yesterday’s Business Statement in the Assembly, Welsh Conservative, Mark Isherwood, asked for a Welsh Government statement in respect of plans by the Welsh Government franchise Arriva Trains Wales to operate a new Marylebone-Aberystwyth service.
He told the Minister for Business and Budget, Jane Hutt, that he has been informed the Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone Railway (WSMR) Company is likely to withdraw from the market if Arriva Trains Wales is granted permission to run services out of Marylebone station.
He said: “A letter from Network Rail to the Office of Rail Regulation seems to suggest that the Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone Railway Company is happy with the Arriva Trains proposed London train, but checks with WSMR suggested that it had been seriously misquoted and that it continues to object fully to the Arriva Trains service.
“In fact, Network Rail has published those comments without being present at the meeting between Arriva Trains and WSMR when this matter was discussed and without checking with WSMR first as to the correctness of the quotation attributed to it.
“In this context, concern has also been raised as to whether Arriva Trains Wales should use its all-Wales franchise stock out of area between Birmingham and London when there is a chronic shortage of train stock in Wales.”
The Minister refused a Government statement stating it is an “operational issue”.
Speaking outside the Chamber Mr Isherwood condemned the Minister’s failure to recognise the importance of the matter.
“These matters are of such seriousness that they demand a ministerial statement and the Minister’s response is simply not acceptable,” he blasted.
“However I will now write to the Deputy First Minister, as Minister for Economic Development and Transport, in the hope he may now engage constructively on this issue.
“We fought hard to bring WSMR to Wrexham against opposition by the last Welsh Government and we will fight to keep it there now.”
ENDS
North Wales AM Mark Isherwood, Shadow Minister for Social Justice and Housing
The question of ERTMS was raised by another A.M and will recieve a written responce, which will be published.
M
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