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Welsh government has ‘serious reservations’ about Network Rail

The Welsh government has “serious reservations” about Network Rail and its ability to deliver projects and “might have to choose others to undertake some of the work for us”.

The revelation was made by Welsh transport minister Edwina Hart last week at a session of the Welsh Assembly’s Enterprise and Business Committee.

She said: “We have serious reservations about Network Rail and its ability to deliver, and the cost overruns that are going on elsewhere, within a Welsh context.”

She also said: “We are having discussions now about issues with Network Rail in north Wales in terms of improving the lines where we cannot get clarity, certainty or understanding of what is going on.”

Hart also said that due to the lack of confidence in Network Rail, the Welsh government may look at finding other companies to undertake the future works they want done on Welsh railways.

“We only have to look, as well, at Network Rail in terms of how tardy it has been in finishing certain projects,” she said. “Look at Cardiff and the signalling...We have to be quite clear that we have people there who can really take on what is going on there, put in challenge and, at the at the end of the day, perhaps be prepared to put in contestability and not use what is effectively a public company now – Network Rail. We might have to choose others to undertake some of the work for us.”

The Welsh transport secretary has also announced the creation of a new wholly-owned subsidiary company of the Welsh government, which will provide technical expertise on the Valleys Modernisation and Electrification Project and the Wales and Borders Franchise.

Hart also said that the new company could expand its remit and eventually take on the responsibility of running the Wales & Borders rail franchise.

However, in the committee session it was admitted that the Railways Act as it stands would not allow this and would require changes.

But Hart added that with the general election coming this may provide the opportunity to make the changes happen.

“We know what we have to do. We know that there will be a general election coming and I am fairly certain that we could lobby whoever is in power to make changes to the Railways Act,” she said.

Until this issue is resolved and the new company gets up and running, Hart said that the government will “probably look at an extension” of the current franchise with Arriva.

(Image: c. Jonathan Brady)

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