To receive a verbal report by a representative of Arriva Trains Wales.
Minutes:
The Chairman welcomed Mr Ben Davies and Mr
Lewis Brencher to the meeting.
Ms Claire Williams, the newly appointed
Cambrian Railway Partnership Officer, had apologised for her inability to be
present at the meeting but had sent a report to Mr Davies which he presented as
follows:
The report
referred to activities prior to Claire’s appointment and activities since that
time. Prior to joining the world of Community Rail, she spent 5 years working
as a Neighbourhood Partnership Officer with Cardiff Council where her role
covered all aspects of Community Safety, Health and Well Being, Environmental
Issues and Education and Employment so with a background in community
engagement she brings with her a wealth of experience.
During this short
time Claire has met with a number of partners, both funding and strategic to
introduce herself and to discuss how she can continue working together in
collaboration to ensure that work isn’t duplicated work and that the best vale
is received for public monies.
Rail
Franchising and Welsh Government support
Ms Claire Williams has recently attended a meeting with Arriva
Trains Wales where the future of CRPs was discussed and how they might fit in
with the next franchise and is due to meet KeolisAmey and MTR Corporation (Cymru) Ltd in the next few weeks.
Surveys
The Cambrian Railways Partnership was delighted to
work with the Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth Rail Liaison Committee and to
commission a survey that was undertaken in spring 2017 as part of a grant from
the Welsh Government. The surveys follow on from the success of the 2013 and
2015 surveys which resulted in improved services on the Cambrian Lines. The results of this survey are being
presented to Gareth Evans, Rail Economist for Welsh Government by the Committee
November 17th 2017 at a meeting in Cathays Park.
201/2018
Promotional Campaign
The partnership received additional funding which
allowed to prepare a brand new tourist-focussed website which is now live, the
web address is www.walesonrails.com
and to produce further short films which will be released February/March until
early summer this year. The campaign will be exclusively based on social media
platforms and based on the 2018 “Year of the Sea”.
2018 is “Year of the Sea” and in conjunction with
Visit Wales, ATW, and various other key partners a number of community
engagement events will be put together throughout the year based on the various
themes of each season with all events taking place within the Cambrian Coast,
with some taking place on the train.
More details will be available at the next meeting.
Mr Ben Davies added that Arriva Trains Wales
will be working closely in partnership with the Cambrian Railways Partnership
Officer and were keen to link communities together with promotions to travel by
train. One event suggested was turning a
train into a carnival during the summer months, holding a massive sandcastle
competition in Cricieth to bring in more people, working in partnership with
Haven, Pwllheli, Visit Wales, Ffestiniog Railway, etc.
Bow
Street Re-opening
Ms Claire Williams has recently attended a meeting
with Welsh Government, Transport for Wales and a number of other strategic
partners regarding the re-opening of Bow Street Station following the UK Department for
Transport (DfT) announcing the outcome of successful applications made to its
New Stations Fund– funding which has been made available towards the capital
expenditure cost of schemes to open new or re-open previously closed railway
stations promoted by third parties in England and Wales.
The proposed scheme
is a local and regional transport priority in the Mid Wales Joint Local
Transport Plan 2015-2020 and will provide a public transport interchange with a
new railway station, car and cycle parking facilities to enable passengers to
access both bus and rail services and to car share from this location. The
scheme also seeks to address local road safety concerns by providing a A487/
A4159 junction improvement with active travel facilities. The scheme will
support and deliver potential economic growth opportunities and improved access
to services and facilities located in and around Aberystwyth and North
Ceredigion.
Whist the project is
currently in its design stage, it is on plan for completion during the summer
of 2020.
2017-2018
Business Plan
The business plan for this current financial year
was presented at the March 2017 meeting of the Cambrian Railways Partnership
for approval by the funding stakeholders.
The business plan was approved by the partnership and is currently being
worked on.
Dementia
Friendly Communities and Stations
As the new Cambrian
Railways Partnership Development Officer, one of the key objectives is
Community engagement, developing plans to expand the reach of the CRP to a
wider range of groups including those socially disadvantaged.
Under this remit, Claire
is currently working with strategic and funding partners at making The Cambrian
Railway Line a Dementia Friendly Community in its own entity. This is a
huge task and will take approximately 3 years to fulfil. However, she is
looking to break this down and do it station by station, starting with those
manned stations, and these initially will be, Machynlleth, Barmouth, Pwhelli
and Shrewsbury. This would make the Cambrian Railway Line the first
Dementia Friendly Railway Line in the UK. There are currently a very
small number of DF stations in Wales but she strongly believes this goal is
achievable.
As Bow Street is in the
design element, it has been requested that whilst doing an Equality Impact
Assessment for the re-opening of Bow Street and by working with the Alzheimer’s
Society to make it a Dementia Friendly Station.
In conclusion, Mr Ben Davies stated that
Arriva Trains Wales had withdrawn from the bidding process to run rail services
in Wales from 2018. However, the 2000+
staff will be transferring under the terms and conditions of TUPE to the new
franchise company. Arriva Trains Wales
will continue to improve the service for the people of Wales for the next
eleven months.
The weather had not been favourable during
the summer and in partnership with Network Rail the performance had begun to
increase and may continue to do so.
During the ensuing discussion, individual
members made the following comments:
1. Mr
Ben Davies was thanked for the up-date and with regard to the new franchise, it
is understandable that employees of Arriva Trains Wales are worried about their
future and that of their families.
Public Transport jobs in Machynlleth are valued and a huge percentage of
the population of the town and area rely on public transport jobs for their
living. The working relationship between
Arriva Trains Wales and Network Rail was valued and also the support to the
area by the Welsh Government.
2. Arriva
Trains Wales have really improved over the years and hopefully the successful
company who wins the new franchise will continue the good work undertaken.
3. It
was stressed the importance of conductors / guards on the trains.
4. It
was also noted the importance of looking after disabled people using the services.
5. That
there is a need to build a shelter at Dyfi Junction. In response, Mr Ben Davies agreed to further
investigate into this matter.
6. With
regard to issuing train tickets to a group of people together, Mr Lewis
Brencher stated that Arriva Trains Wales had invested in a new scheme and are
working on reducing the size of tickets.
In future, passengers will be able to buy monthly tickets as well as
group tickets, and also tickets can be downloaded onto mobile phones.
7. In
response to whether there would be more carriages on Bank Holidays due to
health and safety aspects, Mr Davies stated that Arriva Trains Wales did not
have sufficient trains – 24 running from Machynlleth. Next year Arriva Trains will be investing and
hopefully there is the possibility that more trains will be available for the
summer of 2018.
8. It
was pleasing to note of the objectives at making The Cambrian Railway Line a Dementia Friendly Community in its
own entity. This is extremely important and it was suggested that the
Cambrian Railway Partnership Officer contacts Emma Quaeck at the Glaslyn
Leisure Centre, Porthmadog, if she needs further information since Emma has
been undertaking specialised events with dementia patients.
Resolved: To receive, note
and thank the officers for the above report and observations.