Part of 1. 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:08 pm on 14 February 2017.
First Minister, the renewal of the Wales and west border franchise is fast approaching. Has the Welsh Government at least begun the process of ordering or considering ordering new rolling stock for that franchise? I ask the question because, given that it takes up to four years to commission new rolling stock—it’s not like buying a car at the local garage—do you share my concerns that there’s a danger that the new rail operator will have no choice but to rely on existing stock at the start of the franchise, will almost certainly end up refurbishing it, and that would hardly be the fresh start for the new franchise that the public would be hoping to see?