A series of commitments for the next Wales and Borders franchise
have been negotiated between rail unions and Welsh Government,
First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones has announced today. Following
positive and constructive discussions, begun by Wales TUC, the
commitments mean Wales, its passengers and its rail staff can move
ahead with confidence as the Welsh Government's ambitious plans for
the future Wales & Borders Rail Service gathers pace. As a
result of those discussions the First...Request free trial
A series of commitments for the next Wales and Borders
franchise have been negotiated between rail unions and Welsh
Government, First Minister of Wales has announced today.
Following positive and constructive discussions, begun by
Wales TUC, the commitments mean Wales, its passengers and its rail
staff can move ahead with confidence as the Welsh Government's
ambitious plans for the future Wales & Borders Rail Service
gathers pace.
As a result of those discussions the First Minister has made
the following commitments:
* As a result of significantly
increased service pattern, in response to demand growth experienced
in Wales, the expectation is there will be more staff not less
employed on the franchise. There are rapid changes in railway
technology which can improve service and efficiency but the Welsh
Government recognise that passengers value personal service and
want this technology to complement staff and not replace
them.
* The Welsh Government wishes to
improve safety, security, service and also accessibility for
passengers who require assistance. The Welsh Government therefore
commit to keep a safety critical conductor (guard) on all of the
Wales & Borders trains and services including heavy rail Metro
services and the trains will require this second person to operate.
This commitment builds on a clear public response in our
consultations, where over 90% of respondents said that a second
member of staff was either quite important or essential in the
Wales and Borders region, something Age Cymru said was 'essential'.
Disability Wales estimates that disabled people make up more than
20% of the population in Wales.
* Heavy rail infrastructure for the
Wales & Borders franchise outside of core valleys will remain
with Network Rail.
* The exception to this will be the
Core Valley lines where responsibility would transfer to the Welsh
Government through Transport for Wales (TFW) subject to an agreed
evaluation of the assets between Network Rail and the Welsh
Government.
* Therefore the railway
infrastructure will remain in public ownership and effected
employees will also remain in the public sector with Network Rail
or TFW. In the event of any transfer to TFW pensions will be
protected and there will be no changes to conditions without the
agreement of the trade unions.
* Any new Rolling stock will be
maintained by skilled railway people with the maximum number of
staff employed in Wales.
* The Welsh Government recognise
the unions desire to maximise job security and conditions of
employment of catering and cleaning staff and TFW will enter into
constructive dialogue with the unions to explore how these can be
met.
* The Welsh Government also commit
to work constructively with the unions around unions aspirations
for ticket office and station staff.
* There will be a no compulsory
redundancy guarantee throughout the franchise and in respect of
direct sub-contractors.
* There will be continued trade
union recognition and the government will also work to ensure this
also applies through the sub-contractor supply
chain.
* There will be trade union
representation on the Transport for Wales Board.
* If future legislation allows the
Welsh Governments preference is for the heavy rail ownership and
operation of the Wales & Borders services to be part of a UK
national integrated railway under public ownership with
responsibility and powers for passenger services and infrastructure
to be sustainably and comprehensively devolved to the Welsh
Government.
These commitments will underpin further detailed discussions
between the trade unions and Transport For Wales
officials.
The First Minister said
"Our hard working railway staff are a major asset in
delivering a modern and safe railway and it is right that they are
central to our ambitious plans for the new Wales & Border
Services and South Wales Metro.
"I am therefore delighted that we have been able to have such
positive and constructive discussions with the railway trade
unions, something I have been keen to ensure from the
offset.
"These are progressive commitments that will mean a better
service for passengers and a better railway in Wales and I look
forward to this positive dialogue continuing as we develop our
plans."
Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure added:
"I'm delighted that we have been able to make progress in
issuing the tender and also that we have been able to make these
commitments to passengers, rail unions and their
members.
"We want to hold up the Welsh rail network as an example of
where a government can work in effective social partnership with
trade unions to deliver a world class railway for commuters, our
economy and our communities."
Yesterday, Abellio Rail Cymru, Arriva Rail Wales,
KeolisAmey and MTR Corporation (Cymru) Ltd were invited by Welsh
Government to submit final tenders for the next Wales and Borders
Rail Service, which will come into force in October 2018.
