Railway Infrastructure in Wales

Welsh Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 4 Dec 2020 Closed: 15 Nov 2021 Parliament page
We will look at where responsibility lies for the management of rail infrastructure in Wales, how funding is allocated to rail infrastructure projects across the UK and the share of investment Wales has received since 1994. We will also look at the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the rail … Read more
14 Recommendations
5 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
1 Letter
4 Events
Activity timeline 7 events
22 Sep
2021
Report published
14 Jul
2021
Report published
11 Mar
2021
Oral evidence
25 Feb
2021
Oral evidence
11 Feb
2021
Oral evidence
9 Feb
2021
Correspondence
21 Jan
2021
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
11 Mar 2021
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Oral evidence
Chris Heaton-Harris · Department for Transport David T C Davies · Wales Office
25 Feb 2021
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James Hooker · Welsh Government Ken Skates MS · Welsh Government Simon Jones · Welsh Government Sir Peter Hendy · Union Connectivity Review and Chair of Network Rail
11 Feb 2021
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Bill Kelly · Network Rail James Price · Transport for Wales Mark Hopwood · Great Western Railway Richard Scott · The West Coast Partnership Sarah Kelley · CrossCountry
21 Jan 2021
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Julian Glover · Department for Transport Professor Mark Barry · Cardiff University Professor Stuart Cole · University of South Wales
Title HC No. Published Items Response
First Report - Railway Infrastructure in Wales HC 438 14 Jul 2021 19 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
19 results
1 Conclusion Accepted
First Report - Railway Infrastruct…
There is a strong environmental and economic case for substantially enhancing the rail infrastructure that...
There is a strong environmental and economic case for substantially enhancing the rail infrastructure that serves Wales, and the passenger experience of slow services and inadequate stations only underlines the need for an upgraded network. The South East Wales Transport … Read more
Government Response
The UK Government notes the committee's conclusion and details ongoing work, including Network Rail's development of an Outline Business Case for increasing speeds on the South Wales Relief Lines, which aligns with Lord Burns' findings and is expected for approval this year.
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2 Recommendation Deferred
First Report - Railway Infrastruct…
Improving transport infrastructure within Wales must be a priority and should focus on how infrastructure...
Improving transport infrastructure within Wales must be a priority and should focus on how infrastructure initiatives can remedy deprivation, boost the Welsh economy and contribute to meeting decarbonisation targets. Enhancements should include a focus on improving connectivity within Wales, such … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the recommendations and describes ongoing work from the Union Connectivity Review, including a £20m development fund and current review of proposals. It will consider funding for schemes as part of a forthcoming Spending Review after the final UCR report is published.
Wales Office
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3 Recommendation Accepted
First Report - Railway Infrastruct…
A number of potential infrastructure upgrades suggested by witnesses to our inquiry are cross-border in...
A number of potential infrastructure upgrades suggested by witnesses to our inquiry are cross-border in nature, reflecting the relatively short distance between key urban areas such as Cardiff and Bristol in South Wales and Wrexham and Merseyside in the North … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the recommendation and confirms that the independent Union Connectivity Review is ongoing, highlighting key concerns relating to Wales and establishing a £20m Union Connectivity Development Fund for promising schemes, with engagement continuing with the Welsh Government.
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4 Conclusion Acknowledged
First Report - Railway Infrastruct…
The Union Connectivity Review represents a significant opportunity to establish priorities for rail infrastructure which...
The Union Connectivity Review represents a significant opportunity to establish priorities for rail infrastructure which will not only support economic development and decarbonisation in Wales, but improve the experience of those passengers for whom cross-border travel is simply local commuting. … Read more
Government Response
The government made £20m available for a Union Connectivity Development Fund, is reviewing proposals from Transport for Wales, and will consider funding for schemes as part of the forthcoming Spending Review following the final UCR report.
Wales Office
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5 Recommendation Accepted in Part
First Report - Railway Infrastruct…
The Williams-Shapps White Paper sets out comprehensive reform of the British rail network and makes...
The Williams-Shapps White Paper sets out comprehensive reform of the British rail network and makes a strong case for electrification as the main mechanism for decarbonising rail travel. The Government’s analysis and commitment to technological upgrades is welcome and the … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees in part, reaffirming its commitment to a net zero rail network by 2050 and an ambitious electrification programme guided by Network Rail’s Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy (TDNS).
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6 Conclusion Rejected
First Report - Railway Infrastruct…
Both the South East Wales Transport Commission and the Williams-Shapps White Paper make a powerful...
Both the South East Wales Transport Commission and the Williams-Shapps White Paper make a powerful case for the role rail, and in particular electrification, can play in the decarbonisation agenda. It underlines how short-sighted and regrettable Railway Infrastructure in Wales … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the conclusion, reiterates electrification's importance for decarbonisation, but defends its 2017 cancellation of the Cardiff-Swansea electrification due to cost and poor value for money, stating future decisions will be guided by Network Rail’s TDNS.
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7 Recommendation Rejected
First Report - Railway Infrastruct…
Bringing forward new proposals for greater connectivity between Swansea-Cardiff- Bristol, which would include completing electrification...
Bringing forward new proposals for greater connectivity between Swansea-Cardiff- Bristol, which would include completing electrification on the mainline between Cardiff and Swansea and a Swansea Bay Metro to integrate the public transport network westwards to Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire and feed … Read more
Government Response
The UK Government notes the recommendations but rejects the call for electrification between Cardiff and Swansea, citing previous cancellation due to high costs and poor value for money, and defers future electrification decisions to Network Rail's technical review. It does not commit to producing draft proposals for broader connectivity by the end of 2021.
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8 Recommendation Accepted in Part
First Report - Railway Infrastruct…
A number of witnesses to our inquiry suggested that a more joined-up and clearer approach...
A number of witnesses to our inquiry suggested that a more joined-up and clearer approach to Wales’s infrastructure needs was required in order to unlock investment. We therefore recommend that the UK Government should establish a Wales Rail Board, consisting … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees in part, proposing to establish a senior-level Board with director-level representation from relevant bodies, with Terms of Reference under discussion for an initial meeting this calendar year.
Wales Office
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9 Recommendation Not Addressed
First Report - Railway Infrastruct…
While we welcome the positive working relationship between the Welsh and UK governments on rail...
While we welcome the positive working relationship between the Welsh and UK governments on rail infrastructure projects, we are concerned that the UK Government’s Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline (RNEP) is too slow and hampers, rather than helps, the evaluation of … Read more
Government Response
The government's response, identical to the previous one, details plans to establish new governance boards to develop and deliver rail enhancements, but does not explicitly set out plans to reform the RNEP process itself.
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10 Recommendation Accepted in Part
First Report - Railway Infrastruct…
Network Rail’s revised structure has helped Network Rail respond to incidents in Wales, build relationships...
Network Rail’s revised structure has helped Network Rail respond to incidents in Wales, build relationships with Transport for Wales (TfW) and sharpen its focus on Wales and borders services. However, Network Rail should be alive to concerns that its regional … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the recommendation and states that while Network Rail operates at arm’s length, DfT will work with Network Rail and ORR to ensure its regional structure remains flexible and can prioritise operations for local requirements in Wales.
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11 Conclusion Accepted
First Report - Railway Infrastruct…
If clear benefits for both passengers and freight users could be delivered by devolving rail...
If clear benefits for both passengers and freight users could be delivered by devolving rail infrastructure to the Welsh Government then the case for further devolution would be compelling. However, few benefits to rail users have been identified and the … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees in part with the Committee's conclusion regarding the benefits of existing management structures. It commits to establishing a new senior-level Board with Welsh Government, DfT, TfW, and Network Rail representation to develop a shared vision for rail infrastructure, and a Programme Delivery Group to steer enhancement schemes.
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12 Recommendation Accepted
First Report - Railway Infrastruct…
However, even if one puts aside the question of affordability and liabilities, there is the...
However, even if one puts aside the question of affordability and liabilities, there is the issue of how closely connected and densely populated the border between Wales and England is. The mainline connecting north and south Wales runs through England … Read more
Government Response
The UK Government agrees in part with the recommendation and proposes to establish a new senior-level Board, comprising DfT, Welsh Government, TfW, and Network Rail, to develop a shared vision and prioritised project pipeline for rail infrastructure in Wales, with terms of reference under discussion.
Wales Office
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13 Recommendation Accepted
First Report - Railway Infrastruct…
The Williams-Shapps review said that the UK Government wishes to establish a new working agreement...
The Williams-Shapps review said that the UK Government wishes to establish a new working agreement between Great British Railways (GBR) and Transport for Wales. We believe that the Wales Rail Board we have recommended would be the correct setting in … Read more
Government Response
The government recognizes the benefits and proposes to establish a senior-level Board with director-level representation from key bodies, with Terms of Reference under discussion for an initial meeting this calendar year, including aspects relevant to GBR and TfW arrangements.
Wales Office
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14 Recommendation Accepted
First Report - Railway Infrastruct…
We welcome the changes announced in the 2021 Spending Review which will reform the process...
We welcome the changes announced in the 2021 Spending Review which will reform the process by which the Treasury evaluates infrastructure projects. It is imperative that the Treasury’s approach to evaluating rail infrastructure proposals takes account of a broader range … Read more
Government Response
The DfT states it continues to ensure HMT's review principles are integrated, having published revised Transport Business Case guidance that accounts for strategic priorities like levelling up, decarbonisation, distributional analysis, and place-based impacts for transport.
Wales Office
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15 Recommendation Rejected
First Report - Railway Infrastruct…
HS2 is one of the largest infrastructure projects ever undertaken in the UK.
HS2 is one of the largest infrastructure projects ever undertaken in the UK. It is a project of unprecedented size and complexity and has already created several thousand jobs as part of a supply chain that spans the country, including … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the recommendation but rejects reclassifying HS2 or recalculating Wales' funding settlement, stating that heavy rail is a reserved matter for which it spends directly in Wales. It also asserts that Wales has already received a significant Barnett uplift due to HS2 spending.
Wales Office
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16 Recommendation Accepted in Part
First Report - Railway Infrastruct…
The development of the HS2 programme in England could yield direct benefits to Welsh rail...
The development of the HS2 programme in England could yield direct benefits to Welsh rail passengers if it is accompanied by enhancements to the North Wales mainline, including the upgrades at Chester and Crewe stations which will be required for … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the recommendation and is developing an Outline Business Case with Network Rail for journey time improvements on the North Wales Coast Main Line, aiming to increase line speeds and improve journey times, with work expected to conclude in February 2022. This addresses part of the recommendation for an upgrade, but not explicitly the 'full strategic case for electrification'.
Wales Office
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17 Recommendation Accepted
First Report - Railway Infrastruct…
Efforts should be made to develop synergies between climate mitigation efforts, such as protecting against...
Efforts should be made to develop synergies between climate mitigation efforts, such as protecting against rising sea-levels, and measures to protect transport infrastructure. Noting that significant Welsh transport infrastructure lies either adjacent to the coast or runs along valley lines … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the recommendation to develop synergies between climate mitigation and transport infrastructure protection. Network Rail is engaging on Shoreline Management Plans, has commenced a Whole Industry Strategic Plan workstream on Resilience and Climate Change, and has undertaken specific works to enhance infrastructure resilience.
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18 Conclusion Accepted
First Report - Railway Infrastruct…
COVID-19 has posed an unprecedented challenge to the rail network and rail operators across the...
COVID-19 has posed an unprecedented challenge to the rail network and rail operators across the UK. Significant investment has been required from governments to keep services operational at a time when many workers have had to work from home as … Read more
Government Response
DfT has implemented a new business planning process for TOCs and established a Rail Revenue Recovery Group to analyse demand and develop initiatives to stimulate industry and revenue recovery post-COVID. This includes encouraging passengers to return to rail and introducing initiatives like flexible season tickets.
Wales Office
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19 Recommendation Accepted in Part
First Report - Railway Infrastruct…
We are concerned that Covid-19 should not be used as a pretext for halting investment...
We are concerned that Covid-19 should not be used as a pretext for halting investment which, in the long term, would only further cement the car as the transport mode of choice in Wales. Instead this should be an opportunity … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees in part, recognizing the benefits of the proposed Wales Rail Board and proposing to establish a senior-level Board with the specified remit. However, it notes that rail enhancement budgets were redirected due to COVID-19 and difficult circumstances persist.
Wales Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 19 of 14 classified
Accepted 8
Accepted in Part 5
Acknowledged 1
Deferred 1
Not Addressed 1
Rejected 3
Total 14 recs + 5 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
9 Feb 2021 To committee Letter from James Price, Chief Executive, Transport for Wales, re Future of Rail update, 8 February 21
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