Written Response by the Welsh Assembly Government to the Enterprise and Learning Committee report: “Future Railway Infrastructure In Wales”. The Welsh Assembly Government is committed to the development of a modern and sustainable transport network that can support the renewal of our economy and help to develop a more inclusive society. We are also committed to putting transport onto a carbon reduction pathway, so that it can play its full part in meeting the challenge of climate change. The railways form an essential part of our plans for the wider transport network. We want to develop a clean, efficient and effective rail system, which can meet the needs of passengers and the freight market. We will continue to work closely with the UK Government, Network Rail, the train operating companies and other stakeholders to take forward the infrastructure and service improvements necessary to deliver this vision. I am grateful to the Enterprise and Learning Committee for their report. I very much welcome this considered and thoughtful contribution to the debate on how rail can best contribute to the development of a modern and sustainable transport network which is fit for the 21st century. I have set out below my response to the Report’s individual recommendations. Recommendation 1 We recommend that the Welsh Government should make the preparation of Transport Assessments a statutory requirement as part of the planning process for new development. Government response Reject 1 We are undertaking a comprehensive review of the planning application process to see what improvements can be made and will consider the Committee's recommendation as part of this process. However, at present, the Welsh Assembly Government does not consider it necessary to require Transport Assessments on a statutory basis as we believe this would be overly restrictive and inflexible. The Welsh Assembly Government is supportive of the need for the planning system to deliver good decisions and to ensure that the impact of traffic generation is fully considered. It was for this reason that in 2009 we strengthened Planning Policy to require Transport Assessments for a range of major traffic generating uses. This policy also recognised that there may be instances outside of the prescribed categories of development which will have significant impact on traffic generation and local planning authorities are able to require Transport Assessments to accompany any application. Recommendation 2 We recommend that the Welsh Government should continue to lobby for the electrification of the railway network serving Wales. As well as the Great Western Mainline as far as Swansea, the first priorities should be the diversionary lines between South Wales and London, the Cardiff area network - including the Valleys Lines - and the North Wales Mainline. We also recommend that Network Rail ensure that sufficient gauge clearance is provided on any electrified track to take freight as well as passenger traffic, and that the best technology be used to minimise disruption to rail services while electrification work is being carried out. Government response Accept in principle I am already working closely with the Secretary of State for Transport on the delivery of rail electrification for Wales although this is not a lobbying process. The announcement of electrification between Paddington and Swansea to be completed by 2017 was a very welcome first step. My priorities beyond that for south Wales are the diversionary lines for the Greater Western Main Line 2 and the Cardiff Valleys network, including the Vale of Glamorgan, Valleys (Rhymney, Treherbert, Merthyr, Aberdare, Cardiff Bay and City Line) and the Maesteg and Ebbw Valley branches. For north Wales, the priorities are the North Wales Main Line and the North and West (Marches) line. I shall continue to work closely with the Secretary of State for Transport on the delivery of the Welsh Assembly Government’s clear vision on rail electrification. Recommendation 3 We recommend that the Welsh Government work with First Great Western to achieve speed improvements on targeted services between South Wales and London by omitting station stops such as Swindon, Didcot and Reading. Government response Accept The National Transport Plan includes a commitment to improved rail journeys between South Wales London. Initially, the Welsh Assembly Government is working with First Great Western to improve journey times and overall punctuality. For example, support from the Welsh Assembly Government has enabled the 05:58 Swansea to London Paddington to run fast by missing out stops at Reading and Didcot. Recommendation 4 We recommend that to ensure that Wales will not be left on the slow train but will benefit from high speed rail links to the rest of England, Scotland and on to Europe, the Welsh Government should develop a strong case and lobby jointly with other interested partners for a new High Speed Line from London to South Wales, and for the North Wales Mainline to be directly connected to the proposed High Speed 2 Line from London to North West and Scotland. 3 We further recommend that any high speed rail provision should not detract from existing services along classic lines. Government response Accept As I stated in my evidence paper to the Committee, the Welsh Assembly Government’s firm view is that any new high speed west coast line should include connections to Chester and North Wales. I have made the case for the UK Government to invest in High Speed Rail from south Wales and north Wales to Heathrow and London in my discussions with Lord Adonis and will continue to do so. In December 2009, I met Sir David Rowlands, Chair of High Speed 2, which is the UK Government owned company that is working closely with Network Rail to develop proposals for new high speed lines. This was a positive meeting and I understand that the Secretary of State has received Sir David Rowlands’ report and an announcement is expected in March 2010. I also said that we recognise the important economic, environmental and social benefits of electrified High Speed Rail lines and we have asked Network Rail to undertake a study of the South Wales to London transport corridor as part of its "New Lines" initiative. This study is on course for early delivery. To build on this work and Sir David Rowland’s report, we are undertaking a major piece of work with Professor Stuart Cole on the economic and environmental benefits that High Speed Rail services will bring to Wales. Recommendation 5 We recommend that the Severn Tunnel should be adapted for electrification. We also recommend that Network Rail should be commissioned to consider options for renewing the Tunnel in the longer term, linked to the business case for a new High Speed Line from London to South Wales. 4 Government response Reject We do not have the necessary powers to implement this recommendation as DfT and Network Rail are responsible for the rail infrastructure in England and Wales. I understand that the electrification of the Greater Western Main Line, to be delivered by Network Rail by 2017, will include the adaptation of the Severn Tunnel for electrification. Recommendation 6 We recommend that the Welsh Government, Network Rail and the regional transport consortia work together on options to improve the existing North- South Wales rail line and services, including a programme of line speed improvements, additional faster services and a limited stop service on alternate hours during peak periods. Government response Accept in principle I am able to accept this recommendation in relation to the infrastructure only. I have commissioned Network Rail to deliver a major infrastructure improvement, including redoubling the track between Wrexham and Chester (Saltney Junction) to remove the capacity bottleneck. The scope for this seeks improvements to journey times of up to 30 minutes for both express and stopping services, the routing of the current express train (Yr Gerallt Gymro) via Wrexham as opposed to Crewe, and an additional Holyhead to Cardiff service in the gap between the existing two-hourly service. These could be either express or stopping services. However, any commitment for additional services would be a matter for future Welsh Assembly Government budget setting rounds. I shall continue to involve the rail industry and the local authority consortia in the consideration of future improvements. 5 Recommendation 7 We recommend that the Welsh Government, in consultation with Network Rail, should respond individually to the list of recommended rail speed and capacity improvements listed in Appendix 2 of this report, and update its 2008 Rail Forward Programme accordingly. Government response Reject I believe that the rail improvements set out in my Rail Forward Programme and the National Transport Plan are right for Wales and in line with the Assembly Government’s One Wales agreement. They represent a comprehensive and ambitious programme and will result in significantly improved rail infrastructure and services. I have no current plans to review the Rail Forward Programme but will keep other schemes in mind for the future. Recommendation 8 The planning of railway infrastructure needs to be better integrated with the provision of more appropriate rolling stock. We recommend that the Welsh Government should agree with the Department for Transport and Arriva Trains Wales how exactly it will deliver its commitment to provide more rolling stock, including longer trains on the Valleys Lines, and that it should publish this in a rolling stock plan for Wales, as we previously recommended. We also recommend that rolling stock provision and replacement should be integrated with plans for electrification of lines in order to achieve synergies and savings. Government response Reject 6 The provision of rolling stock, within the Wales franchise, is a matter for agreement between the Welsh Assembly Government and Arriva Trains Wales, not the DfT.