Extract from Delegated Legislation committee debate to consider the Draft Welsh Ministers (Transfer Of Functions) (Railways) Order 2018 - Apr 23
Tuesday, 24 April 2018 08:14
Rachael Maskell (York Central) (Lab/Co-op):...Given that this order
makes it possible for the Welsh Government to lead the procurement
and management of cross-border services, in the light of
the Great Western, West Coast and Cross Country franchise
processes, will the UK Government work with the Welsh Government to
consider how they can lead the delivery of more cross-border
services, so that they can work for the economy and people of
Wales? I look forward to hearing the Minister’s...Request free trial
(York Central)
(Lab/Co-op):...Given that this order makes it possible for
the Welsh Government to lead the procurement and management of
cross-border services, in the light of the Great Western, West Coast and Cross Country
franchise processes, will the UK Government work with the Welsh
Government to consider how they can lead the delivery of more
cross-border services, so that they can work for the economy and
people of Wales? I look forward to hearing the Minister’s
response...
The Minister of State, Department for Transport
(Joseph Johnson):...The hon. Member for York Central asked
about electrification and Cardiff and Swansea in particular. We
remain committed to delivering the right outcomes for rail
transport in Wales. As Ministers have said before, however, we will
only commit to electrifying lines where it will genuinely provide a
real benefit to passengers. A recent reappraisal of electrification
between Cardiff and Swansea found it to be poor value for money,
with a benefit-to-cost ratio of just 0.3. The introduction of the
bi-mode intercity express trains means that we no longer need to
electrify the Great
Westernroute between Cardiff and Swansea. We are
improving journeys for passengers in south Wales sooner than
expected, without the need to carry out disruptive electrification
works along the Great
Western route between Cardiff and Swansea...
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