Disintegrating Rail Cuts Threat to New Integrated Rail Franchise

Possible new cuts in rail funding are a threat to the new All Wales rail franchise services and the Assembly's policies on reducing road traffic and social exclusion warned Friends of the Earth Cymru today. The new integrated franchise has today been awarded to Arriva. Yet, while the integrated franchise is welcomed, the Strategic Rail Authority's latest consultation document proposes to cut track maintenance on so-called 'secondary' and rural rail lines, typical of much of the Welsh rail network, by as much as a half.

The SRA announcement comes at a time of rising road traffic levels across Wales. Government transport statistics published yesterday (Thursday 31st July) showed a 7.73% increase in traffic on rural major roads and a 7.33% increase on rural minor roads between 1997 and 2002.

Friends of the Earth Rail Cymru transport spokesperson, Neil Crumpton said:

"The latest threat of rail funding cuts come precisely at the moment when Wales should be celebrating the announcement of the long-awaited integrated All Wales rail franchise. Rail funding is supposed to help integrate Assembly polices aimed at reducing road traffic and social exclusion. Integration means joined-up policies as well as connecting transport services. Yet, road traffic levels on rural roads have risen substantially since Labour took office in 1997 and the cuts are targeted on rail links serving economically weak rural areas. So any cuts would only help to dis-integrate Assembly polices.

"On top of this, the SRA is inviting franchise bidders to consider running buses instead of trains at certain times of the day. The rail industry must get its act together, cut maintenance costs, increase line speeds and rule out bus substitution if it is to help the environment and support economically weak communities across rural Wales."