8. Plaid Cymru Debate: Rolling Stock Strategy

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:22 pm on 20 November 2019.

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Photo of John Griffiths John Griffiths Labour 5:22, 20 November 2019

Thank you for that support, David, on what is an issue that certainly unites the local community, and I know many Assembly Members have been involved with it. 

I'd also like to echo what Delyth said about the Ebbw Vale to Newport passenger rail link, because this is a matter that is so long-standing, and there's such an obvious gap in local services that, again, communities feel very strongly that progress—timely progress and sufficient progress—needs to be made. Again, I wonder if, Minister, there's any update that you might be able to provide. 

The other matter I'd like to mention is the CAF train manufacturing facility in my constituency. I'm very pleased to say that as part of manufacturing and industry in Wales we now have this train manufacturer here, which I think is very valuable—it's very successful already. It's a tremendous sight to see those trains being built at the plant, and it's very valuable to discuss issues with staff and management there. They take a very obvious pride in what's now taking place in Wales, and I'm sure everybody here would do the same.

But, as ever, there are issues that need to be addressed, one of which is a relief line, which needs to be built to enable the testing of electric trains and is also very important for major events in Cardiff, allowing trains to be on that line waiting to be called upon to provide those additional services and prevent queuing and chaos in our capital city. So, again, if there's any update on when that might be built, Minister, I'd be very grateful, because, obviously, the sooner the better.

Another matter is a forum for rail firms in Wales. I think we're really lucky to have this development now at CAF in Newport. It's felt that if all the players in the rail industry in Wales were brought together in a forum to share experience, to share ideas, to co-operate and to collaborate for mutual benefit, and to be a strong voice for the industry in Wales, that would be valuable, and I wonder what the Minister might do to facilitate that.

A final matter, really, is the skilled workforce that CAF require. It's very noticeable when you walk around the plant that the engineers are very heavily male in gender, and this contrasts greatly to the situation in the Basque Country, where CAF are based, where it's approximately 50/50 between men and women for their engineers. So, we know I know already, but this really illustrates the need to change culture, to change mindsets. I know it's an issue for schools and colleges, but for Welsh Government and for all of us, really. Because there are very rewarding careers that are not being accessed by women to the extent that they should be at CAF and in general, and, of course, firms such as CAF are missing out on half of our population in terms of the skilled workforce that they require and they would benefit from. So, there's work to do on a number of issues, but I just think it's a fantastic asset for Wales to have that plant in my constituency. I'm very lucky to have it there, and I think Wales is very lucky to have it as a country.