Ex Welsh Rail Minister to leave Politics

[merlodlliw]

Ieuan Wyn Jones, the ex Plaid Welsh Government Minister who had travel in his portfolio and will will be remembered for starting open access trains between Holyhead and Cardiff, is to retire from Politics with immediate effect.

Some of his Ministerial rail decisions included,

"Gerald Of Wales" the premier 1st class dinning service via Crewe.
"Wag 2" the 175 service via Wrexham.
Guarantee of ring fenced funding to Double track Wrexham to Saltney and speed up rail services North to South.
£3.5M to refurbish mark3 carriages/DVT/class 67 locos to run via Wrexham.
The highly controversial "Wagair" Holyhead/Cardiff air service.

This is what Tom Bodden of the local regional Daily Post reports.

Ynys Mon AM Ieuan Wyn Jones today triggered a by-election on the island by announcing he will stand down "with immediate effect".

The former Plaid Cymru leader had said earlier this week he planned to wait before leaving front-line politics after 26 years, despite starting a new job on July 22.

But after talks with Presiding Officer Rosemary Butler, a by-election is likely to be staged as early as August 1, with a new AM in place before the start of the next Assembly term.

Mr Jones said on Tuesday that he was standing down to take up the post of leading the new Menai Science Park on behalf of Bangor University.

At first he said he wanted to give party workers on Anglesey a breather after efforts in the recent campaign for the council election.

But today he said: “As I will begin working in my new role in the summer, and following discussion with people locally and in the Assembly, it is my feeling that an early by-election would be preferable.

“It is for these reasons that I have today given the Presiding Officer notice that I will be standing down from the Assembly with immediate effect.

“This would allow a new AM to be elected early and for that AM to settle in over the Summer Recess period and be ready for the start of the busy Assembly term in September.”

Mr Jones added: “I am grateful for the many messages of support that I have received for my new role. I am fully committed to working hard in order to ensure that the project realises its full potential for the economy of north west Wales.

“I’d like to thank everyone for the support that I have received this week, and for their warm wishes as I take up my new role. My decision to take on this new challenge is driven by my desire to take an active role in improving the economic prospects of north-west Wales, and I can now begin that work as quickly as possible.”

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/former-plaid-cymru-leader-ieuan-4687894

 

[anthony263]

I think he did an ok job although I certainly disagreed with his decision to subsidise an air link between Cardiff and Valley. Gerald whilst nice for enthusiasts is a waste of money which could be used to invest in other schemes and the stock (Mrk2's) could have been used on other routes where the extra cpacity would have been welcomed if the WG were willing to pay.

WAG2 now that was really stupid since it took a 175 from use elsewhere.

The Wrexham double tracking and speed increases on the other hand are a very good investment

 

[TDK]

He was of course in favour of WSMR so easily forgotton by some

 

[merlodlliw]

He was of course in favour of WSMR so easily forgotton by some

IWJ opened the WSMR service, then modeled the WG open access service "Gerald Of Wales" on WSMR stock, later using 67 & DVT.

I was also very aware of IWJ behind the scenes assistance to get the funding for refurbishment of Wrexham Generals bays when I was involved with others in getting WSMR into Wrexham,


Bob

 

[Gwenllian2001]

If his decisions over the air service etc were so bad, why have his Labour successors continued with them?

He was also responsible for the resurrection of Fishguard and Goodwick.

 

[jones_bangor]

Moved rail forward in Wales.

 

[anthony263]

I agree he moved railways in wales forward as I stated in my previous post !!.

If the air link is proftable and doesnt require a subsidy then by all means continue it and I am sure if he had more money available he perhaps would have come up with many more interesting schemes especially if as hoped the WG gets borrowing powers.

I would have been interested on his thoughts on the Cardiff Metro proposals

 

[merlodlliw]

If his decisions over the air service etc were so bad, why have his Labour successors continued with them?

He was also responsible for the resurrection of Fishguard and Goodwick.

The contract was made under IWJ stewardship for another four years,so the Airline route would have to be bought out.
I don't think the next Minister would have axed the route due to Cardiff Airports poor state of health.
I have yet to meet anyone in favour of the airlink, to me this was poor judgement and should have been scrapped when the first Airline went bust.

Bob

 

[TPJ]

Plaid Cymru are certainly supportive of the South Wales Metro

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

If his decisions over the air service etc were so bad, why have his Labour successors continued with them?

Because he signed a 4-year contract.

 

[Gareth Marston]

Because he signed a 4-year contract.

The extras to Fishguard he announced just before the 2011 Assembly election have a three year contract i understand so as they started in Sep 11 the funding will run out in Sep 14- interesting to see if there kept or not.

 

[merlodlliw]

The extras to Fishguard he announced just before the 2011 Assembly election have a three year contract i understand so as they started in Sep 11 the funding will run out in Sep 14- interesting to see if there kept or not.

That is correct Gareth, I recall the condition "Continuation of the service will be dependent upon use of the line and will be reviewed after three years trial"
IWJ awarded funding of £1.4M annually to ATW to run the five extra services each way.

No doubt Mrs Hart (WG Minister with rail/Air/Roads in her portfolio) will be looking at costings on continuation of WG open access services.