Venue: Ystafell Glaslyn, Y Ganolfan (ger yr Harbwr), Porthmadog
Contact: Glynda O'Brien (01341) 424301 Email: glyndaobrien@gwynedd.gov.uk
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ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN To elect a
Chairman for this Committee for 2016/17. Minutes: Resolved: To re-elect Councillor Selwyn Griffiths as Chairman of this Committee for 2016/17. |
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ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN To elect a
Vice-Chairman for this Committee for 2016/17. Minutes: Resolved: To re-elect Councillor Eryl Jones-Williams as
Vice-chairman of this Committee for 2016/17. |
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APOLOGIES To receive
any apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies were received from Councillors
Annwen Hughes, John Brynmor Hughes, Dewi Owen, Gethin Williams, Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas (Assembly
Member - Dwyfor/Meirionnydd), Alun Wyn Evans (Un
Llais Cymru (Meirionnydd)), Tudur Williams (Ysgol Ardudwy), Trevor
Roberts (Shrewsbury-Aberystwyth Railway
Committee), Claire Britton (Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway), Rhydian Mason (Cambrian
Railway Partnership), Rob Newman (British Transport Police).
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DECLARATION OF PERSONAL INTEREST To receive
any declaration of personal interest. Minutes: No declarations of personal
interest were received from any member present. |
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URGENT MATTERS To consider any business which the Chairman decides is urgent. Minutes: Setting the direction
for a response form for the Wales and Borders Rail
consultation The Chairman reported that he had held
an urgent meeting with the Vice-chair and the Chair of the Shrewsbury-Aberystwyth
Railway Committee to draw up and send
a response to the recent consultation by the Assembly Government regarding the franchise. Attention was drawn
to some of the main matters
such as: ·
More train coaches required ·
More frequent and punctual
trains ·
An additional train on Sundays (and
especially during holidays) ·
Many passengers travelling on weekends ·
A direct train from
Pwllheli to Cardiff ·
More parking spaces around some stations ·
Resources at stations to buy tickets in advance ·
Improve stations along the line Resolved: To request that the Member Support Officer sends a copy of the response to Members of the Cambrian Railway Committee, for information. |
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To confirm
the minutes of the previous meeting held on 13 November 2015. Minutes: Submitted: Minutes of the conference meeting held on 13 November
2015 subject to the following
correction: Item 6 (iv) – Bryn Llestair (Picnic Island) – correct
the figure to 12,000 students
.... instead of 1,000. Resolved: To accept and approve
the above minutes. 5.1 Matters arising from the minutes: Bryn Llestair (Picnic Island) Mr David Roberts took the opportunity to convey his gratitude to Network Rail deriving
from positive feedback at a meeting with Rebecca Collins regarding land in Network
Rail's ownership. |
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REPORT BY NETWORK RAIL To receive a report by Mr Dylan Bowen, Network Rail. Minutes: Sam Hadley, Public
Affairs Manager and Sian Lewis, Commercial Scheme Sponsor (Network Rail), were
welcomed to the meeting. (A)
Sam
Hadley explained that he would be attending the meetings of this committee in
future and Members were encouraged to contact him directly with any matters of
concern. He responded to the formal
questions submitted and noted as follows: (a)
Talwrn Bach, Llanbedr level crossing - what is the
latest regarding the installation of bars on the level crossing bearing in mind
that transport increases over this crossing daily and there would be even more
transport as the village hall is re-located (temporarily) to the airfield site. Several members
supported the same concerns as Councillor Annwen Hughes, local member for
Llanbedr, and that it was a matter that had been raised by this committee for
many years and that there was a real need to solve the matter once and for
all. In response, it was
explained that a site inspection would be undertaken at the end of the year and
it was promised that the Member Support Officer would be informed and that a
comprehensive report would be submitted as well as a development
timetable. (b)
Litter
on the railway in the Cricieth area, specifically on the eastern side of the
town from Black Rock to Morannedd. (c)
A
number of trees and shrubs had overgrown along the railway - what were Network
Rail's plans to cut/manage growth and to eradicate Japanese Knotweed? In response, it was
explained that Network Rail was getting rid of litter but there was a need to
prioritise e.g. there was currently a huge clear-up project in Flintshire in
light of the fact that the Urdd National Eisteddfod had been held there with
the local authority providing skips and staff to assist. In terms of a
vegetation programme, if any growth was problematic it was confirmed that it
would be prioritised. In terms of
Japanese Knotweed, Network Rail had a legal responsibility to get rid of it if
it spread on third party land. The local member was asked to provide details of
specific locations where Japanese Knotweed was problematic and it would be
followed up without delay. (ch) Litter between
Penychain and Pwllheli. Again, the officer
confirmed that he would deal with the above and that Network Rail was much more
responsive in north Wales and any collaboration with local Councils was
welcomed. Resolved: (a)
To thank the officer for the response and to ask him to follow-up without
delay. (b)
That Councillor Eirwyn Williams provided details of specific locations where
Japanese Knotweed was spreading on third party land so that the Operational
Maintenance Co-ordinator could address the problem. (B)
A
presentation in the form of a slide-show was received from Sian Lewis,
Commercial Scheme Sponsor (Network Rail), on the background of the Barmouth
Viaduct, the work so far, the scope of the work programme as well as risks and
challenges associated with the repair work on an iconic listed (Grade II)
viaduct. |
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REPORT BY ARRIVA TRAINS WALES LTD To receive a report by Mr Ben Davies, Arriva Trains Wales. Minutes: A verbal report by
Mr Ben Davies, Arriva Trains Wales was received, who noted that ·
there was an increase in the number
of passengers who used the trains and that the problem was that they did not
have enough trains; ·
Wi-fi provision would
be ensured on the Cambrian's number 150, 158 and 175 trains from September
onwards and he drew attention to the fact that some places could not receive a
connection but it was ensured that it would be possible to have a connection in
the Stations; ·
the Comedy Festival held in Machynlleth over the May Day Bank Holiday had been a
success for the service and the community; ·
the hard work of promoting and
developing the service would continue for the next two years until the
franchise would come to an end; ·
the Orange Wallet Scheme for the
needs of people with learning difficulties was very successful and that it was
now being promoted in film form throughout the country; ·
in terms of announcements through the
medium of Welsh on the Cambrian railway, it was assured that the Welsh language
was important to Arriva Trains Wales and that a bilingual service would be
arranged for every Station in Wales. It was noted further that there were no
problems in the Stations but problems had been experienced on trains due to the
distance between stations. In response to an enquiry by the Chairman regarding
the timetable to receive bilingual provision on the Cambrian railway, Mr Ben
Davies explained that it would not be possible to provide a specific date but
that he would follow the matter up and ensure that the language provision would
be included in the new franchise. It was further noted that all Arriva Trains
Wales conductors were Welsh-speakers; ·
the lift would be completed in Machynlleth Station by 18 June 2016; ·
in terms of the 8.00pm train from Machynlleth to Pwllheli not
stopping at all Stations along the line, it was explained that the main problem
was the time limit for train drivers to drive without a break (4 hours) and if
they had to stop at the different stations, they would exceed the time
permitted to drive. It was suggested
that the best way forward was to discuss further with Mr Ken Skates, Assembly
Member and an appeal was made for the Member of Parliament - Dwyfor/Meirionnydd and the Assembly Member - Dwyfor/Meirionnydd to pursue the matter as well; ·
discussions continued with Gwynedd
Council regarding the Tourist Information Centre in Barmouth,
as the Council was eager to close it and it currently sold tickets for Arriva
Trains Wales for the Cambrian railway; ·
a new trainline
"app" for mobile phones was available to order tickets - "Arriva
Train Tickets"; ·
in terms of low platforms, Arriva
Trains Wales had undertaken work to repair 27 of them and that more required
work; Resolved:
To accept and note the report. (b) To send a letter of congratulations to Ken Skates, Assembly Member - Cabinet Secretary for ... view the full minutes text for item 8. |
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REPORT BY THE CAMBRIAN RAILWAY OFFICER PDF 214 KB To receive a report by the Cambrian Railway Officer. Additional documents: Minutes: In the absence of
the Cambrian Railways Partnership Officer, his report was submitted to the
Committee for information, which outlined activities / announcements that had been
held / made by him since the previous meeting. The Chairman noted
that the Railway would be celebrating 150 years in 2017 and it was hoped that
activities would be arranged for the celebration. Resolved: To accept and note the report. |
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REPORT BY BRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE PDF 10 KB To receive a report by a representative of the British Transport Police. Minutes: In the absence of PC Rob
Newman, his report was submitted to the Committee for information, which noted
a decline in most crimes on the Cambrian Coast line. Resolved: To accept,
note and thank PC Rob Newman for the report |
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To receive responses to the questions enclosed herewith received since the previous meeting. Additional documents:
Minutes: Four formal written questions had been submitted by Members
of the Conference and the Community Council and it was noted
that the relevant officers had addressed these during their
presentations.
Resolved: To
accept and note the above. |
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CORRESPONDENCE To convey a declaration from the Dyffryn Ardudwy and Talybont Community Council stating that it does not support
re-opening the Afonwen to Bangor railway line due to
the estimated cost of £50m which could be put to better use on road improvements
in Meirionnydd. Minutes: A statement by Dyffryn Ardudwy and Talybont Community Council was submitted which noted that they
did not support the re-opening
of the railway from Afonwen
to Bangor because of the estimated
cost of approximately £50 million
which could be better spent on
improving roads in the Meirionnydd area. |