2. Will the First Minister make a statement on rail services in Mid and West Wales? OAQ51454

Since 2011, Welsh Government has invested around £200 million into a programme of rail improvements, including enhanced infrastructure and additional rail services in mid and west Wales.

First Minister, I've received a large number of complaints from regular travellers on the Cambrian line operated by Arriva Trains Wales. There have been a large number of cancellations or part cancellations with no alternative bus service being provided, leaving passengers totally in the lurch. The cancellations often occur minutes before the train is due to depart, which, of course, makes it near impossible for passengers to make alternative arrangements. One of my constituents, Christopher Banks, is a student living in Newtown, studying in Shrewsbury, and he says in an e-mail to me that, 

'Cancellations of just the 7.38 service in November impacted me on the thirteenth, seventeenth, twentieth, twenty-first, twenty-seventh and the twenty-ninth.'

Can I ask, First Minister, do you think this is acceptable, and, if not, will you take this up, as I have done, with Arriva Trains Wales? 

No, it's not acceptable. Of course, this is a service that is not devolved. There have been some cancelled services on the Cambrian line for various reasons: some are rolling stock shortages, which, when the new franchise starts, is something we want to see end, and there have been repair issues that I understand. But, no, I can understand the deep frustration felt by customers on the rail services, and Arriva Trains Wales have to ensure that they do what they can to avoid cancellations and, if there are cancellations, to put on alternative transport. That's what people would expect and that's the kind of service that we would urge them to provide. 

Of course, the service will be devolved before too long and you will be responsible for the new franchise. As Arriva themselves have withdrawn from that process, what assurance can you give people in mid and west Wales, through me, that the current staffing investment will remain, in terms of the maintenance depot in Machynlleth, and the staff in stations across the rail network? I do know that customers appreciate the fact that staff are available on our rail lines, and, in turn, that has led to greater use of the railways.

We expect Arriva, of course, to ensure that they adhere to the terms of the franchise whilst they are responsible for it, and that there won’t be any kind of diminution in the service, whether that be the railway service or the levels of staff, whilst they are responsible. 

First Minister, the Welsh Government is committed to ensuring that the service from Ebbw Vale to Cardiff is doubled from one train an hour to two. Can the First Minister update— 

I know it's Christmas, but, even in the Christmas spirit, I'm not sure I can allow a question about mid and west Wales to include the Ebbw Vale-to-Cardiff line.   

I can try and link it, Llywydd. 

Try and twist it and I'm sure you'll get an answer. [Laughter.] 

Do you want me to continue? 

Yes, go on. 

Thank you. Can the First Minister update the people of Islwyn on how the work being carried out by Network Rail is progressing and when the scheduled work is due for completion? [Laughter.] 

Yes, we know how important it is to be able to travel across the whole of Wales—[Laughter.]—including Islwyn and including, of course, mid and west Wales. It's hugely important that people are able to use the rail network to travel north-south and up and down and across our country. We want to make sure, of course, as part of the franchise that is agreed from the spring of next year onwards, that services are provided at a much higher level both for her constituency and indeed the mid and west of Wales.