Y Dirprwy Lywydd / The Deputy Presiding
Officer: Before I call the next item on the agenda,
many of you will know that there has been a fatal incident on our
rail network, involving two members of staff. I therefore agreed
that the Deputy Minister will make a short statement, before the
debate on the committee report. .
AM (Deputy Minister for Economy and
Transport): Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd.
Earlier today, a Great Western Railway train struck two people
between Port Talbot and Bridgend at Margam. The Welsh Government,
and I'm sure the entire National Assembly, is deeply shocked by
this tragic incident involving railway workers and our thoughts are
with their families, their friends and their colleagues. I know
this will send shockwaves through the whole industry and my thanks
go to the emergency services and all those involved in the
response.
The impact and the ramifications of this incident will
reverberate across the rail industry. No-one goes to work to lose
their lives. The incident now needs to be investigated, its
causes understood and necessary measures put in place so that the
appropriate lessons are learnt. It's testimony to how rare an
incident like this is—that people lose their lives on the
railways—that it's hard to understand how this could have
happened this morning just 20 or so miles away from us.
Network Rail, Great Western Railway and Transport for Wales will
be working to advise customers on alternative arrangements for
travel. Customers should check via social media online for the
latest travel advice. Diolch yn fawr.
