Decision details
Wales and Borders Rail Franchise Follow-up Scrutiny
Decision Maker: Plenary - Fourth Assembly, Enterprise and Business Committee - Fourth Assembly
Status: Recommendations approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Purpose:
The
Enterprise and Business Committee
undertook an inquiry into the future of the Wales and Borders Rail Franchise.
The
terms of reference for the inquiry were:
- What lessons can be learnt from the current franchise?
- What priorities can be identified to ensure that rail passenger
services in Wales and the borders provide the best possible service for
passengers from 2018?
- How can service delivery after 2018 deliver connectivity and value
for money for passengers while reducing the burden on the tax payer?
Key issues
Issues
that the Committee considered as part of these terms of reference included:
- Whether the current franchise meets passenger needs and what lessons
should be learnt from it;
- How passengers should be involved in the franchise development and
delivery;
- How communities and local government / Regional Transport Consortia
should be involved. Could they be involved in specifying the franchise or
perhaps even in delivering services?
- The management model to be adopted, including the Welsh Government’s
proposal for a not-for-dividend franchise;
- How the franchise specification should improve the passenger
experience, including issues such as franchise length, targets /
incentives and the core service standards which should be included;
- The routes, particularly cross-border routes, which should be
included;
- The rolling stock needed for the new franchise. What factors need to
be considered and how this should be procured? Will new rolling stock be
required?
- Whether additional lines, enhancements to existing lines, new
stations or other infrastructure are needed; and
- Whether the franchise can support an enhanced
relationship between Network Rail and the franchise operator and the
benefits this might bring.
Decisions:
4.1
The Committee scrutinised the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport.
4.2
The Minister agreed to provide the following:
·
Information
on delivery of smart / integrated ticketing in Wales;
·
Information
on the approach planned to ensure Welsh rail complies with Persons of Reduced
Mobility – Technical Specification for Interoperability (PRM-TSI), and with the
Equality Act 2010;
·
Information
on proposals for rolling stock by summer 2015, and detailed proposals by
Christmas 2015.
4.3
The Committee agreed to keep the issue under review.
Publication date: 06/02/2015
Date of decision: 04/02/2015
Decided at meeting: 04/02/2015 - Enterprise and Business Committee - Fourth Assembly
Accompanying Documents: