Welsh government announces nationalisation of rail service
The Welsh government has decided to nationalise its railways following a significant drop in passenger numbers because of coronavirus (Covid-19).
The country’s transport minister Ken Skates said bringing day-to-day rail services for its Wales and Borders franchise under public control would help secure the future of passenger services and protect jobs.
Private firm KeolisAmey, a joint venture between French transport giant Keolis and Amey, has run the franchise in Wales for just two years after taking it over from Arriva Trains Wales.
ℹ️ Following today’s announcement on the future of rail in Wales, all customers can find more detailed information here: https://t.co/HBoq0KfVP1 pic.twitter.com/6PdGCz4mur
— Trafnidiaeth Cymru Trenau Transport for Wales Rail (@tfwrail) October 22, 2020
It was awarded the contract in 2018 by the Welsh government’s wholly-owned transport company Transport for Wales (TfW), which will now take direct control of services.
On 22 October, Skates said: “The last few months have been extremely challenging for public transport in Wales and across the UK.
“Covid has significantly impacted passenger revenues and the Welsh government has had to step in with significant support to stabilise the network and keep it running.
“We have decided to transfer day-to-day rail services to a new publicly-owned subsidiary of Transport for Wales.”
He added: “In Wales we continue a partnership approach between TfW and KeolisAmey as we work together to protect services for the Welsh public, safeguard jobs and secure the important Metro projects we have been working so hard on over the last few years.”
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While this step I would applaud but how can we have a Wales national railway but not the UK how would this work scratching my head
The network in the UK is fragmented and all the worse for it. However Wales continues to try and get a public orientated service. Was pleased to hear today they are working hard to implement the S. Wales Metro which involves an integrated system to include buses/ trains/ trams and cycle ways to include Newport, Cardiff and the valleys.
Is nationalisation a process directed to alleviate consumer issues or directed to provide relief to the private contractors? No mention of the compensation figure. All for public ownership, however the cost to the public purse of the privatised service and possible compensation is just another hand-out to private capital.
Unless I’m misunderstanding, this is business-as-usual: privatise the profits and nationalise the losses. Surely if you contract to run a service you accept the risks as well as the gains?