RAIL MANIFESTO WALES | CYMRU Key Stats In Wales, rail contributes: • £1.1bn GVA to the economy; • 20,000 jobs; • £338mn in tax revenue.
RIA’s Key UK Asks 1. Continue to invest in major rail schemes post-Coronavirus and support rail’s role in supporting the economic recovery; 2. Increase visibility of rail schemes, including publishing the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline; Williams Rail Review; Integrated Rail Plan and Transport Decarbonisation Plan; 3. Begin a rolling programme of electrification and orders for low carbon rolling stock, in order to decarbonise the network; 4. Bring forward digital signalling work to ensure the UK is able to meet the backlog in signalling work; and 5. Include rail in future trade deals and support the sector as a significant export in its own right.
The Welsh Government is increasingly taking on more responsibility for rail services in the nation and is now responsible for the Wales and Borders franchise and the Core Valley Lines infrastructure and services. This means that since March 2020, whilst Network Rail retains ownership and responsibility for the majority of Welsh rail infrastructure, Transport for Wales are now responsible for the Aberdare, Coryton, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhymney and Treherbert lines. Against this backdrop, the next five years presents the opportunity for a Welsh railway bounceback, supporting the economy of the nation as it emerges from the Coronavirus pandemic. Ahead of May’s Senedd elections, RIA has set out five key recommendations for Wales’ future political leaders. These align closely with RIA’s ‘Key UK Asks’ (left). Recommendation 1 Provide a clear pipeline of work and recognise the importance of clarity for the rail supply chain. It is important that rail suppliers have a clear pipeline of upcoming work and an understanding of who is responsible for what components of the railway in Wales and across the borders. Currently the Welsh Government have a number of upcoming infrastructure projects, including work on: • North Wales Mainline; • South Wales Mainline; • Bow Street and Station Interchange, Aberystwyth; • Wrexham area improvements; • Electrification business cases for: Core Valley Lines; Cardiff to Swansea; and the Great Western Mainline. It is positive to see the Welsh Government supporting infrastructure investment. Ensuring suppliers have visibility of upcoming work will allow the supply chain to deliver better
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value for the taxpayer on projects as they will be able to plan for and invest in a skilled workforce. RIA also urges the publication of a stakeholder map, clearly showing which bodies are responsible for what aspect of the railway. Given the structure of railways in Wales - such as the Core Valley Lines being managed partly by the Welsh Government via TfW and managed partly by DfT - regional leaders and Governments must be clear about where decision making lies. Recommendation 2 Commit to further electrification and support for low carbon rolling stock, in order to achieve the Welsh Government’s goal of Net Zero by 2050. Railways provide a clean public transport mode for the mass movement of people across Wales, and is one of the lowest carbon emitting modes of transport in the UK. Rail also has an available and technically proven route to zero carbon via electrification or, where appropriate, zero carbon self-powered rolling stock. There are already business cases in place for electrifying the Core Valley Lines, the Cardiff to Swansea line and the Great Western Mainline. Government and regional leaders must collaborate to commit to a rolling programme of electrification across the Welsh railways and to support hydrogen and battery trains, particularly utilising schemes like the pilot hydrogen production centre in Holyhead. Decarbonisation will modernise Welsh infrastructure, produce a clear pipeline of work for suppliers, and help the Welsh Government support jobs and investment. Recommendation 3 Support the development of the Welsh rail industry, placing innovation at its core. The Welsh and UK government’s have confirmed £50 million and £30 million respectively of funding for a new Centre of Rail Excellence to be built in Wales. Subject to planning and proposals, it is expected to be fully operational by 2025. The test centre will provide a unique capability for high speed testing, railway infrastructure and a full
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station environment allowing industry-ready innovations to be tried and tested. On-site certification and validation will speed up the process of getting innovations rolled out across the railway. RIA fully supports plans for the test track, and urges the next Welsh Government to ensure it is at the heart of their vision to develop the Welsh rail industry, with the opportunity for companies of all sizes to test new innovations at the Centre. Innovation can also bring new entrants into rail, helping support the development of a diverse, skilled workforce. Recommendation 4 Recognise the benefits of inter-modal connectivity to local communities and the economic recovery. The Welsh Government has already stated in the Wales Transport Strategy 2021 (Llwbyr Newydd) that inter-modal connectivity will be a key focus of the future of transport in Wales. Regional leaders should be championing this as a way of encouraging local people to use public transport. Railway projects need to be a key part of the Welsh Government’s plans for transport and infrastructure development across Wales in the next 20 years.
About RIA The Railway Industry Association is the voice of the UK rail supply community. We help to grow a sustainable, high-performing, railway supply industry, and to export UK rail expertise and products. RIA has 300+ companies in membership in a sector that contributes £36 billion in economic growth and £11 billion in tax revenue each year, as well as employing 600,000 people—more than the workforce of Birmingham. It is also a vital industry for the UK’s economic recovery, supporting green investment and jobs in towns and communities across the UK. RIA works to promote the importance of the rail system to UK plc, to help export UK expertise around the globe and to share best practice and innovation across the industry. Find out more: www.riagb.org.uk ria@riagb.org.uk www.riagb.org.uk