5. Statement by the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales: Future of Rail — Details of the new arrangements

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:22 pm on 3 November 2020.

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Photo of Rhianon Passmore Rhianon Passmore Labour 5:22, 3 November 2020

Thank you; it's not showing. I'd like to thank the Minister for his statement today updating the Welsh Parliament on the vital matter of the future of the railways in Wales. I welcome the joint delivery unit and what has been said about mutual principles.

Everybody in this Chamber and throughout Wales knows that the last few months have been extremely challenging for public transport in Wales and across the United Kingdom. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted passenger revenue, but it remains absolutely critical for the workforce and our economy. Minister, let there be no timidity in supporting your swift intervention and sustaining services, because we know that the majority of the Welsh and British public support the principles of nationalisation of the railway system in Britain. And let us not forget that this was a privatisation of John Major's Tory Government in the early 1990s, continuing the Thatcher British sell-off legacy—once again, a step too far—or, as the Minister reminds us, the Wales infrastructure consequential, with great missing millions lost, or the ongoing great train robbery of HS2, once again denuding Wales of its due and legitimate finance. 

Minister, you and the Welsh Government have, despite this, committed £1 billion to build new trains and the south Wales metro. So, when do you envisage the new line from Ebbw Vale running through Islwyn to Newport will become operational? And secondly, Minister, isn't chief executive of Transport for Wales, James Price, absolutely spot on when he asserts that this allows us to reduce the profits we pay to the private sector massively over time, and make sure that when that revenue comes back, it comes back to the taxpayer, and shouldn't every Member of the Senedd welcome that? Thank you.