Future of Wales & Borders Franchise

[merlodlliw]

I have been sent the following Agenda by Welsh Government for the future of the Wales & Borders rail franchise, to be debated next Wednesday in Cardiff Bay by Assembly Members in Plenary, this will be of interest to RF members within the ATW network,I have attached all links.

Annwyl Bawb/Dear all
The Enterprise and Business Committee’s report on the Future of the Wales and Borders Rail Franchise will be debated in the Assembly on Wednesday 19 February. Please find below a link to the Plenary agenda.

http://www.senedd.assemblywales.org/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=153&MId=2295&Ver=4

Also, please find below a link to the Welsh Government’s response to the Enterprise and Business Committee’s report on the Future of the Wales and Borders Rail Franchise.



http://www.assemblywales.org/bus-ho...bly-laid-docs.htm?act=dis&id=253712&ds=2/2014

 

[Llanigraham]

Which I read as: We want to Nationalise the rail network in Wales. (I think)

 

[WatcherZero]

I dont see anything about nationalisation for Wales (Scotland did try and push it but was refused point blank by Westminster). There is a desire in the response to be in charge of franchising but I thought there was already a agreement in principle that it would occur when the Cardiff Metro was launched.

 

[Gareth Marston]

Welsh Government response to committees recommendations fails to mention "not for profit" is this now a dead duck?

The gist of the Ministers response is clear Westminister must transfer more powers and more money so we can manage the franchise 100%. Whether this is the right approach as far as passengers and development of the rail network remains unknown.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

It will all depend on the political makeup of the Westminster government at the 2015 election, and the scale of the subsidy needed.
Primary legislation would be needed to change anything significant.
In the meantime, "Rail North" appears to be the model of choice.

 

[merlodlliw]

Welsh Government response to committees recommendations fails to mention "not for profit" is this now a dead duck?

The gist of the Ministers response is clear Westminister must transfer more powers and more money so we can manage the franchise 100%. Whether this is the right approach as far as passengers and development of the rail network remains unknown.

I dont hear any more mention of "Not for Profit", any longer, the local AM Ken Skates also a Minister, who backed the idea,is also silent,it will be interesting
to see how cross Border will operate from Cardiff,especially the lucrative paths into Manchester from Cardiff & Chester.
I dont think the Marches/Cheshire etc will be too happy if they remain kept out of input with Cardiff Bay,but we will have a new set of WG Ministers in a couple of years.

 

[TDK]

I dont hear any more mention of "Not for Profit", any longer, the local AM Ken Skates also a Minister, who backed the idea,is also silent,it will be interesting
to see how cross Border will operate from Cardiff,especially the lucrative paths into Manchester from Cardiff & Chester.
I dont think the Marches/Cheshire etc will be too happy if they remain kept out of input with Cardiff Bay,but we will have a new set of WG Ministers in a couple of years.

The WG realise that ATW currently are one of the most profitable rail franchises so therefore would never mention not for profit unless they are honest, reputable and wish to reinvest ALL profit back into the railways.

 

[Gareth Marston]

I dont hear any more mention of "Not for Profit", any longer, the local AM Ken Skates also a Minister, who backed the idea,is also silent,it will be interesting
to see how cross Border will operate from Cardiff,especially the lucrative paths into Manchester from Cardiff & Chester.
I dont think the Marches/Cheshire etc will be too happy if they remain kept out of input with Cardiff Bay,but we will have a new set of WG Ministers in a couple of years.

Folk I speak to in Marches are very determined that it will not be "what Cardiff decides".

 

[merlodlliw]

The WG realise that ATW currently are one of the most profitable rail franchises so therefore would never mention not for profit unless they are honest, reputable and wish to reinvest ALL profit back into the railways.

However it was open for discussion within WG,some AMs were wanting to compare a not for profit railway with Dwr Cymru(Welsh Water).
One person who was keen for it was a WG employee in charge of rail franchise at Cardiff Bay,he had been appointed a Director of Dwr Cymru.
However its all gone silent now,lots of previous threads on this.

Folk I speak to in Marches are very determined that it will not be "what Cardiff decides".

Well Cardiff control all the stations on the Marches line,(ATW manage them) Marches folk had no input on that,I agree it all needs better dialog,which is sadly lacking.

 

[WatcherZero]

In that vein, this response was a bit disturbing. Its like Cameron at PMQ's!

Recommendation 5: Protect and enhance cross-border routes within the
current franchise map and ensure the needs of the English domains of the
franchise area are reflected in the development and delivery of the next
franchise.

Response: Accepted. The Welsh Government agrees that the current Wales
and Border franchise map should be taken as the starting point for the next
franchise. Any proposed changes to the franchise map in advance of the new
franchise being awarded would be subject to consultation by the Department
for Transport with the Welsh Government

(They put Accepted to every reccomendation, rest of the response totally fails to address the point in question)

 

[PHILIPE]

The Marches Line would have to be controlled by any Welsh rail body as it is the only link between the South and North. Perhaps Shrewsbury to Birmingham or routes to Manchester at the top end could be hived off.

 

[mister-sparky]

All this made me think about was the franchise that ceased to exist in December 2003. Can the title not be changed?

 

[swt_passenger]

All this made me think about was the franchise that ceased to exist in December 2003. Can the title not be changed?

The franchise area still is the 'Wales and Borders' as far as DfT are concerned, so the title appears perfectly correct:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa..._data/file/170565/rail-franchise-schedule.pdf

Do you have the same issue with the term Thameslink?

 

[Gareth Marston]

The franchise area still is the 'Wales and Borders' as far as DfT are concerned, so the title appears perfectly correct:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa..._data/file/170565/rail-franchise-schedule.pdf

Do you have the same issue with the term Thameslink?

The Borders folk view the deletion of the Borders bit from the trading name of the franchise as signicantly suspicious.

 

[swt_passenger]

The Borders folk view the deletion of the Borders bit from the trading name of the franchise as signicantly suspicious.

Can't disagree. I think continuing to use '& Borders' in discussion is probably quite important...