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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Welsh valley lines rail electrification row is settled | Welsh valley lines rail electrification row is settled |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A deal has been struck to electrify railway lines in the south Wales valleys after a row between the UK and Welsh governments over who should pay. | A deal has been struck to electrify railway lines in the south Wales valleys after a row between the UK and Welsh governments over who should pay. |
| The UK government will fund the upgrade of the Swansea-London mainline by 2018 at a cost of £850m, and will put £125m towards electrifying the Valley lines. | The UK government will fund the upgrade of the Swansea-London mainline by 2018 at a cost of £850m, and will put £125m towards electrifying the Valley lines. |
| Reduced costs and increased revenues are expected to cover the rest of the project's predicted £463m cost. | Reduced costs and increased revenues are expected to cover the rest of the project's predicted £463m cost. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron said the impact of the deal would be "huge". | |
| First Minister Carwyn Jones said he was "delighted" with the agreement. | First Minister Carwyn Jones said he was "delighted" with the agreement. |
| It also includes £105m from the UK government to upgrade the Cardiff-Bridgend stretch seen as crucial to the success of Valley lines electrification. | It also includes £105m from the UK government to upgrade the Cardiff-Bridgend stretch seen as crucial to the success of Valley lines electrification. |
| Together with the funding deal, it was also announced that control of the Welsh rail franchise had been handed to the Welsh government, giving ministers the power to make decisions about its future. | Together with the funding deal, it was also announced that control of the Welsh rail franchise had been handed to the Welsh government, giving ministers the power to make decisions about its future. |
| Planned rail improvements will see the upgrade of the main line from London Paddington to Cardiff, which is due to be completed by 2017, and extended to Swansea by 2018. | Planned rail improvements will see the upgrade of the main line from London Paddington to Cardiff, which is due to be completed by 2017, and extended to Swansea by 2018. |
| The electrification of the Valleys lines was due to follow, but the plan was thrown into doubt in March by a row over the financing of the project. | The electrification of the Valleys lines was due to follow, but the plan was thrown into doubt in March by a row over the financing of the project. |
| On and off the rails | On and off the rails |
| 'Opportunities' | 'Opportunities' |
| In a speech at the UK Investment Summit Wales in Newport, Prime Minister David Cameron said: "After years of neglect, this part of Wales will finally get the infrastructure it needs - faster, modern, more efficient trains. | |
| "And I believe the impact will be huge. It will spread employment opportunities from Cardiff and beyond. | |
| "It will transform communities throughout the valleys, and it'll help people from all parts of this great nation to get on." | |
| Mr Cameron said the deal was the result of a "real partnership" between the UK and Welsh governments and paid tribute to Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb for what he called his "hard patient work" to achieve an agreement. | |
| It is estimated that electrifying the Valley lines will cut journey times from both Merthyr Tydfil and Treherbert to Cardiff from just over an hour to around 50 minutes. | It is estimated that electrifying the Valley lines will cut journey times from both Merthyr Tydfil and Treherbert to Cardiff from just over an hour to around 50 minutes. |
| A decision on who will run the Wales and Borders rail franchise after 2018 will also become the responsibility of the Welsh government. | A decision on who will run the Wales and Borders rail franchise after 2018 will also become the responsibility of the Welsh government. |
| First Minister Carwyn Jones said: "Together with an agreement to fully devolve power over the Welsh rail franchise this will allow the Welsh government to move forward with its ambitious plans to create the efficient and reliable rail service Wales needs and deserves." | First Minister Carwyn Jones said: "Together with an agreement to fully devolve power over the Welsh rail franchise this will allow the Welsh government to move forward with its ambitious plans to create the efficient and reliable rail service Wales needs and deserves." |
| 'Keen to learn' | 'Keen to learn' |
| Mr Crabb said the deal had been "dead" when he took on the ministerial role four months ago but he decided to get all sides around the table because the plans were "too important to lose". | |
| He said the agreement had been reached just in time to ensure the original timescale for the project had not changed. | He said the agreement had been reached just in time to ensure the original timescale for the project had not changed. |
| "It was really important to get a deal quickly because there was a serious risk that things could start to get pushed back," said Mr Crabb, MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire. | "It was really important to get a deal quickly because there was a serious risk that things could start to get pushed back," said Mr Crabb, MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire. |
| He said he believed the Welsh government would be able to "handle" running the franchise, saying it had been working closely with the Department of Transport in London and will continue to do so. | He said he believed the Welsh government would be able to "handle" running the franchise, saying it had been working closely with the Department of Transport in London and will continue to do so. |
| "They're keen to learn, we're keen to work with them towards devolving the franchise," he added. | "They're keen to learn, we're keen to work with them towards devolving the franchise," he added. |
| 'Long neglected' | 'Long neglected' |
| Owen Smith, shadow Welsh secretary and Labour's MP for Pontypridd, said the prime minister had been "doing the hokey cokey on funding the Welsh railways for over a year". | Owen Smith, shadow Welsh secretary and Labour's MP for Pontypridd, said the prime minister had been "doing the hokey cokey on funding the Welsh railways for over a year". |
| "Welsh rail passengers will be pleased he's finally made his mind up, even if, in the end, the Welsh government is going to have to foot some of the bill," he added. | "Welsh rail passengers will be pleased he's finally made his mind up, even if, in the end, the Welsh government is going to have to foot some of the bill," he added. |
| Eluned Parrott AM, the Welsh Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson, said the experience of passengers will now be "transformed". | Eluned Parrott AM, the Welsh Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson, said the experience of passengers will now be "transformed". |
| "Valleys trains have been neglected for far too long by successive governments, and these improvements will bring a huge boost to our economy as journey times are reduced and quality improved," she said. | "Valleys trains have been neglected for far too long by successive governments, and these improvements will bring a huge boost to our economy as journey times are reduced and quality improved," she said. |
| Arriva Trains Wales, which runs the Valley lines, welcomed the news which would "modernise" the rail infrastructure and trains. | Arriva Trains Wales, which runs the Valley lines, welcomed the news which would "modernise" the rail infrastructure and trains. |
| "Electrification will bring many benefits including quicker journey times, reduced running costs, lower carbon emissions and the replacement of the current rolling stock on this part of the network which is nearing forty years old," a spokesperson said. | "Electrification will bring many benefits including quicker journey times, reduced running costs, lower carbon emissions and the replacement of the current rolling stock on this part of the network which is nearing forty years old," a spokesperson said. |
| Analysis by Nick Servini, BBC Wales political editor | Analysis by Nick Servini, BBC Wales political editor |
| So who blinked first? | So who blinked first? |
| It genuinely appears that the position of both sides moved with the cost - of around £500m - being split roughly in half. | It genuinely appears that the position of both sides moved with the cost - of around £500m - being split roughly in half. |
| A senior Welsh government official told me the main concession from Westminster was putting up £230m. | A senior Welsh government official told me the main concession from Westminster was putting up £230m. |
| The Welsh government's share of the cost will partly be funded by the increased revenue from more passengers who are expected to use the new electrified routes. | The Welsh government's share of the cost will partly be funded by the increased revenue from more passengers who are expected to use the new electrified routes. |
| The risk for ministers in Cardiff Bay is whether those extra passengers materialise. | The risk for ministers in Cardiff Bay is whether those extra passengers materialise. |
| At this stage no one side is claiming victory over the other, although the arrival of a new Welsh Secretary in the form of Stephen Crabb was clearly a major factor in breaking the deadlock. | At this stage no one side is claiming victory over the other, although the arrival of a new Welsh Secretary in the form of Stephen Crabb was clearly a major factor in breaking the deadlock. |
| Politically, both governments clearly thought it wasn't in their interests for the row to continue. | Politically, both governments clearly thought it wasn't in their interests for the row to continue. |