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Welsh Rail Services 'Facing Buffers'

Posted on: Thursday, 16 March 2006, 12:00 CST

By RHODRI CLARK Western Mail

A rail plan announced yesterday raises the prospect of Welsh lines being axed, according to a passenger watchdog. Transport Secretary Alistair Darling said the Government would next year set out plans for rail services over the next 20 to 30 years. He said resources could be focused on improvements such as double-deck commuter trains in metropolitan areas of England and a possible high- speed railway north from London.

'We cannot be in the business of carting fresh air around the country,' he told a rail conference in London.

'Any healthy, confident business should be prepared to look at the services it provides and consider where there is demand and how best to meet it.

'That's not Beeching - it's common sense. And it frees up trains and resources for where they are needed to meet the real demands of a growing network.'

Railfuture, a campaign group for passengers, said Mr Darling's words implied cuts in West and Mid Wales.

Guy Hardy, chairman of Railfuture South Wales, said, 'The Treasury isn't happy with the cost of the railways. In 2009 they're looking to make a substantial reduction in the pounds 6bn they put into the railways. That's six times more than the cost under British Rail.

'Mr Darling has got the idea that if you chop some little branch lines out, then you're going to save loads of money. He obviously thinks we don't need to build more trains because the rolling stock from the branch lines will help him beef up other services.

'It's redolent of a mean and difficult approach to public transport for the next 20 to 30 years.'

He claimed railways under threat included the Fishguard branch, the Heart of Wales line from Swansea to Shrewsbury via Llandrindod, and the Cambrian Coast line to Pwllheli.

Although powers over the Arriva Trains Wales franchise have been devolved to Cardiff, decisions about Network Rail - which owns and maintains the infrastructure - are taken centrally in London. In Scotland, the Scottish Executive specifies and funds what it requires from Network Rail.

Mr Darling said, 'It is for government to set the strategic direction of the railway because only government can decide how much to spend.

'The decisions that we take now will shape the railway for generations to come.'

Answering questions after his speech, he said he would not have mentioned a north-south high-speed railway if he felt it did not deserve serious consideration.

He said if double-decker trains were introduced to the UK they would probably be in major urban areas.

Source: Western Mail

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