2. Will the Minister make a statement on the cost of rail travel in mid-Wales? OAQ53806

Absolutely. We are committed to ensure that Transport for Wales delivers a sustainable fare strategy and the highest level of service for all rail customers throughout Wales that will meet the needs of communities both in rural and in urban areas.  

Thanks for the answer, Minister. I wonder if I could ask you to liaise with Transport for Wales to ensure that my constituents are not put off travelling by rail fares that are inappropriately priced for routes across mid Wales stations, particularly from Wales into England? One of my constituents has done a piece of work that shows that a constituent can buy a ticket in Caersws, Newtown or Welshpool to Telford or Wellington, and the cost is more expensive than if they'd bought a ticket to Birmingham New Street. So, it does seem to be out of context in terms of the miles travelled. I would be grateful for your comments and your commitment to ensure that fares are suitably priced for distance travelled, to encourage rather than discourage rail travel.

Can I thank the Member for his question and also thank him for contacting TfW directly regarding the inquiry that he's again raised today? It was an important piece of work that was carried out by a constituent of Russell George, and I really do appreciate the constructive feedback that we've received regarding fares on the Cambrian line. I should just say, before I move to the broader issue of the fares regime, that TfW have passed this feedback to the team that's responsible for setting rail fares; they're looking into it at this moment in time, in readiness for the next round of fare changes. And TfW, I can assure the Member, will pay particular attention to the fares on this route to ensure that any anomalies are addressed.

Now, the fare regime is, of course, based on decades-old regulations, and there are a number of interventions that TfW will be making, and already are making, to reduce fares for many people, particularly young people, and to ensure the fare regime is more transparent and easier to understand. But this matter is incredibly important for the next 15 years—for the entire period of the new franchise. And for that reason, the rail delivery group, which includes TfW, is looking into delivering an easier-to-use and much better value fare system. It will be underpinned by an easier-to-use range of fares, and it will be delivered by updating that set of regulations that I mentioned. It could see pay-as-you-go, with a price cap, introduced on commuter services right across the country. It could give flexible workers a far better deal as a consequence. It would also enable greater local control over fares, which is something that I know that Members in this Chamber are keen to see. And I think it would also, in turn, lead to better integration of rail fares with those of other modes of transport, for example with buses, where we also intend to give councils more control.

With a fully reformed fares system, for the first time passengers would be able to benefit from a guarantee that they would pay the best fares for their journey, every time, with no need to split their tickets. That is part of our vision for a fully integrated and fair rail, bus and public transport system in Wales.

I'm grateful to the Minister for his answer to Russell George—it's very important, and it's useful to hear what the forward plans are. I travelled last week on the Cambrian coast line—I must say, to my shame—for the first time north of Machynlleth; I'd used the other part of the line frequently. And I was struck there by the very high number of passengers using that train for very short journeys—one or two stops—particularly school students. Can I ask the Minister to ensure that, in this review of fares, he does keep in mind, as he says he will, the need to keep fares affordable for young people, because those young people, if they weren't travelling on that train, their parents would be having to provide transport, or the county council would be having to provide road transport, which we seek to avoid, and also to ensure that regular users of services have got favourable access to season ticket arrangements, so that we can carry on encouraging our constituents to make those short journeys as well as using rail for longer travel?

Can I thank Helen Mary Jones for her questions, and for the important points that she makes about ensuring that we have the lowest possible fares for young people, people who really do depend on rail transport day in, day out? I should just say that, under the previous operator, cheaper fares were only available to purchase on a limited number of routes. Now, with TfW now operating the franchise, advance tickets are single tickets for specific trains, which can be bought from 12 weeks up to 6 p.m. prior to the day of travel. Passengers then purchase another advance single ticket for return journeys. Now, in the longer term, I intend to reform this situation. However, in the shorter term, it should be noted that the average saving, through the advance ticket mechanism, is 48 per cent—a considerable saving. We're also looking at rolling out across the Wales and borders network smart ticketing. And, elsewhere, customers are going to be able to use mobile tickets to ensure that they always pay the lowest fare.

Now, with regard to young people, already in terms of bus travel we've extended the mytravelpass scheme. And we are now examining ways that we might be able to automatically enrol all young people into that vitally important scheme that offers a significant saving to young passengers. But, for rail, TFW plan to extend the current national rail conditions of carriage, allowing free rail travel to children up to the age of 11 years. In addition, Llywydd, TFW are proposing to introduce free off-peak travel for all passengers under the age of 16, travelling with paying adults, on flows where TFW are able to set the fare and which are on the Wales and borders rail service lines. Furthermore, Llywydd, I'm pleased to say that they also plan to extend the age limit up to 18 years for child fares on the Wales and borders services.