“tri-mode” unit on the Rhymney Line
Around £800 million is to be invested in new trains on the Wales and Borders rail network, its incoming operators have announced.
KeolisAmey, the French and Spanish-owned venture, was announced as the new franchisee last month and will take over the embattled Arriva Trains Wales in October.
The company has a 15-year contract with new Welsh Government body Transport for Wales (TfW) and will also be responsible for the development of the South Wales Metro.
It has said its total investment in revamping services will total £1.9 billion. This will include: £194m spent on modernising Wales’ 247 stations; £800m on replacing trains in Wales; an extra 285 services every weekday with an extra 294 services on Sundays – boosting overall service capacity by 65%; and better mobile reception on trains.
From 2023, 95% of journeys will be made on new trains, half of which will be assembled in Wales. Around 600 new jobs will be created with 30 new apprenticeships annually.
The ambitious plans were unveiled at a launch event at Coleg y Cymoedd in Nantgarw on Monday, June 4.
KeolisAmey’s branding will not appear on livery, with trains displaying TfW colours and logos.
Alistair Gordon, Chief Executive of Keolis UK, said: “For too long the railways in Wales have suffered from under investment and, while the changes we need to make will take time, we are creating a platform for future economic growth and prosperity that will benefit all of Wales now and for generations to come.
“In five years’ time, the railway will be unrecognisable from what it is today thanks to the vision of the Welsh Government. We can’t wait to get started.”
Andy Milner, Amey’s Chief Executive, added: “Building on our successful partnership with Keolis, which already sees us deliver two high performing services – the Greater Manchester Metrolink and London’s Docklands Light Railway – we are excited to be taking on the Wales and Borders contract.”
KeolisAmey’s contract, worth a total of £5bn, runs from June 4, until October 14, 2033, with rail services transferring on October 14.
As part of the South Wales Metro development, journey times will be reduced and the frequency of trains will be increased, while new Metro vehicles will bring on-street running back to Cardiff.
And the link from Penarth, Barry and Bridgend to destinations north of Cardiff Central will be maintained using new tri-mode trains which can run on power from overhead electric cables, batteries and diesel engines.
Smart ticketing will be rolled out across Wales making travel easier and fares more flexible, and new cheaper off-peak fares will be introduced, including reductions to fares in North Wales and at the heads of the Valleys.
Caerphilly Assembly Member Hefin David, who has been campaigning for rail improvements since he was elected in 2016, said: “Overcrowding on the Rhymney Line, particularly in the morning, will be tackled with more carriages throughout rush hour. There will be 45% more seats into Cardiff in the morning peak, so this news will be positive for commuters in my constituency. I welcome additional services to Rhymney and the establishment of an Ebbw Vale to Newport line as transport infrastructure in the valleys is crucial to supporting and providing jobs in the region.”
Speaking at the launch on Monday, June 4, First Minister Carwyn Jones said: “This is an important moment for transport in Wales and begins a new chapter for rail services in this country.
“The way we shaped this procurement was different. We put passengers’ priorities at the centre of our thinking and threw out a challenge to all of the bidders to address the concerns they had about seat capacity, journey times and service frequency.
“People said they wanted affordable fares and newer, cleaner trains and we have worked hard to ensure this is reflected in what we are launching today.”
Ken Skates AM, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure said: “This is the first time a rail service has been procured and awarded in Wales, for Wales. It follows over four years of intense work to develop a bespoke, innovative approach and responds to the lessons learned from rail franchising and infrastructure delivery across the UK in recent years.
“Too often in our history, we’ve talked about the ownership models for rail, without also thinking through clearly enough what we wanted to do with the network itself. We now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity here to correct this.”
James Price, Chief Executive of TfW added: “This is more than a significant investment in rail services, it’s also an investment in the future prosperity of Wales. The people and communities of Wales will be better connected by new and improved rail services, opening up a wealth of employment, leisure and other opportunities.”
There have been calls for a nationalised Wales and Borders franchise, but the Welsh Government is prevented from doing so by the 1993 Railways Act.
Islwyn AM Rhianon Passmore AM said: “I would love to see railway under public ownership with the powers for passenger services and infrastructure sustainably and comprehensively devolved to the Welsh Government. Until that is possible, I know that the Welsh Labour government will ensure that it will take every opportunity to guarantee passengers in Wales get the best possible deal.”
Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns MP said: “With the franchising powers we are devolving to the Welsh Government, the UK Government has delivered on a key recommendation made by Sir Paul Silk’s Commission on Devolution in Wales. We now look to the Welsh Government to deliver on our joint ambitions to improve connectivity, cut journey times and create a transport infrastructure that is fit for the future.”
They had better deliver on these promises-we will hold them to account if they fail on ANY of these.
Great to see investment by a private firm, something the public sector will never give us. We need private firms in order to move forward and create competion. I just hope the deliever on their promises.
Despite Labours dream of putting transport services into public ownership – this is something that will never happen
One, because the we would need to increase public revenue to pay for it and and thetefore would never be able to find sufficient funding and two,because the public sector management is too inefficient to be trusted with the responsibility.
Totally agree with you John, the manager/supervisors in the public sector do not have the skills/qualifications to be a manager. All skilled managers are in the private sector. It seems that any old so and so can be a manager in the public sector, just look at our council to see the calibre of managers and supervisors.
Will they run on time will there be enough carriages and the cost of a ticket.
Huh?