3rd Report - Wales and Borders rail franchise
- HC No.
- HC 589
- Published
- 20 Jan 2017
- Items
- 0
- Government response
- Government response published 31 March 2017. Read the government's response ↗
Select committee: Welsh Affairs Committee
Wales and Borders rail franchise inquiry
Closed
Opened 19 Jul 2016
Closed 31 Mar 2017
Welsh Affairs Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
The Welsh Affairs Committee has urged the Welsh and UK Governments to put an end to long-term underdevelopment in the Welsh rail network. This includes taking steps to secure modern rolling stock and replacing some of the oldest train carriages in the UK. The findings come ahead of the Welsh Government being given the power to decide the operators of the next Wales and Borders rail franchise, beginning in 2018.
Where it stands
The inquiry is closed, opened 19 July 2016.
The committee has published 1 report, most recently 3rd Report - Wales and Borders rail franchise on 20 January 2017.
The government's response
Published 31 March 2017.
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The Government's response agrees with the recommendations on transfer of franchising powers, EU funding updates, English passenger complaints and cross-border services, disagrees on rail infrastructure and rolling stock, and refers franchise length to the Welsh Government.
- On transfer of franchising powers, it agrees and expects to have completed all necessary steps "in good time" for an Order to come into force "in the autumn"; it will notify the Committee when the draft Order is laid.
- On complaints by English customers, it agrees; the Department is developing a formal joint working agreement and aims to include a proposal in line with the recommendation for a protocol for MPs in English constituencies.
- On rail infrastructure, it disagrees, stating there was "no political consensus to take it forward" in the St David's Day process, and that it "does not intend to revisit the issue".
- On rolling stock, it disagrees, saying it is for bidders to propose solutions and the Department "does not have the power to direct the rolling stock companies" to give "first refusal", so cannot provide assurance on that.
Reports
- 3rd Report - Wales and Borders rail franchise20 January 2017
Evidence
- 4 oral evidence sessionsLatest 24 October 2016
Recent activity
- 4th Special Report - Wales and Borders rail franchise: Government Response to the Committee's Third Report of Session 2016-1731 March 2017, Report published
- 3rd Report - Wales and Borders rail franchise20 January 2017, Report published
- Oral evidence session24 October 2016, Oral evidence
Reports
Oral evidence sessions
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