Labour 'passing the buck' over Welsh rail contract

Labour politicians in Wales have been accused of ‘passing the buck’ over the problems facing the new rail franchise. The current problems have seen about 1/3 of rolling stock taken off the rails and trains cancelled from Wrexham-Bidston among many other lines. 

The Welsh Transport secretary has launched an astounding attack on the former UK Labour government, who back in 2003 agreed a “dreadful contract” with Arriva Trains Wales, in response to criticisms of the current state of the rail service in Wales.

Speaking in the Senedd yesterday, Ken Skates AM explained away the new franchise holder’s problems by saying:

“We were ready for the transfer as much as we could be ready. But I must press again the point that the contract that’s been operating for the last 15 years was a dreadful contract, with a very low base and a very low bar for them to get over. We have improved the contract considerably this time around. 

“Monitoring did take place, and Arriva Trains Wales, based on the performance matrix, was reaching an acceptable standard, but that standard, in our view, was too low. I’m on record time and time again saying that that contract dating back to 2003 was not fit for purpose. And now we are seeing the consequences of it. But, equally—equally—through the plans that are put in place, Transport for Wales, the operator and development partner, are addressing them at incredible speed, working 24/7 to make sure that as many trains get back on the rails as possible.” 

Responsibility for the rail franchise was passed on to the Welsh Government under the Railways Act 2005 and Transport (Wales) Act 2006.

Llyr Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru’s North Wales AM, said: 

“Whatever the shortcomings of the previous franchise, which was awarded by the UK Labour Government let’s not forget, there should have been oversight and monitoring by the Welsh Government over the past decade. It strikes me that this is passing the buck on an epic scale to say ‘nothing to do with me’.  

“Detailed work on the new franchise should have revealed any rolling stock issues that mean that so many trains are off the rails at the moment. It does not inspire confidence to see the man responsible for our transport network trying to blame someone else.”