MPs to examine Wales’ railway infrastructure

Monday 07 Dec 2020 @ 16:28
Parliamentary Committees and Public Enquiries

The inquiry will look into how levels of funding for Welsh railway projects are decided, infrastructure projects and needs identified and how the UK and Welsh Governments currently work with one another on managing Wales’ rail infrastructure. It will also examine whether Wales has attracted enough rail infrastructure investment since privatisation began in 1994, as well as the opportunities for Wales of the recently launched Union Connectivity Review.

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Reform of rail services has been a focus of both Cardiff and Westminster in recent months. In September the UK Government announced that it was ending rail franchising to bring in a new model more focused on service reliability and passenger outcomes, while the Welsh Government will nationalise Transport for Wales services from February next year.

The Rt Hon Stephen Crabb MP, Chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee recently said:

“The need to address long-term weaknesses in the Welsh economy, while also reducing our contribution to climate change, means that investment in rail infrastructure has a key role to play in the post-Covid recovery.

“While daily travel patterns may change permanently as a result of the pandemic, the need to upgrade Welsh rail infrastructure will remain a priority both in terms of ‘levelling up’ and working towards a Net Zero economy.

“Our inquiry will look at how and where decisions about investment in Welsh rail get made. The committee will also examine historic levels of infrastructure investment in Wales and the pipeline of future projects to improve our rail network. The recently announced UK Government review into connectivity between the four nations also provides us with a timely opportunity to shape government thinking on how to improve rail infrastructure in all parts of the UK.”

The Committee invites written evidence submissions addressing the following points via the Committee’s website until 26 February 2020.

Where does responsibility lie for rail infrastructure in Wales?
How effectively do the UK and Welsh Governments cooperate with one another in the management, and funding, of rail infrastructure in Wales?
Should responsibility for railway infrastructure in Wales be fully devolved?
What share of investment has Wales secured in its rail infrastructure since privatisation came into effect in 1994, and how sufficient is that level of investment?
How is funding allocated to rail infrastructure projects across the UK and how are the different infrastructure needs of the regions and nations of the UK assessed?
What will be the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic for the railway network in Wales (including the sustainability of services and potential impact on investment in the railway infrastructure)?
What opportunities are there for Wales as a result of the recently launched Union Connectivity Review?

Further information

Channel website: http://www.parliament.uk/

Original article link: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/162/welsh-affairs-committee/news/136903/mps-to-examine-wales-railway-infrastructure/

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