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Agenda item

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.