Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Rail Infrastructure

Wednesday 31 January 2024 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Karin Smyth inquired about recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the adequacy of rail infrastructure in Wales.
  • Smyth questioned the Wales Rail Board's failure to implement recommendations and further improvements.
  • Fabricant congratulated Network Rail on completing repair works on the longest wooden rail bridge across the Mawddach estuary in Gwynedd.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Karin Smyth Lab Bristol South
Transport Wales
Context

The Welsh Affairs Committee highlights the need for improved connectivity between Swansea, Cardiff and Bristol. The committee also mentions the impact on constituents due to poor performance of Great Western Railway.

Question

What recent discussions has had with Cabinet colleagues on the adequacy of rail infrastructure in Wales? The hon. Lady's constituents will be greatly affected by the project that she mentions and by the performance of Great Western Railway, which is not sufficient. Why has the Wales Rail Board failed to initiate recommendations and other further improvements?

Answer from Fay Jones

The hon. Lady's constituents will be greatly affected by the project that she mentions and by the performance of Great Western Railway, which is not sufficient. The Office of Rail and Road has launched an investigation into poor train punctuality and reliability in Network Rail's Wales and western region, and we await the recommendations of that review. I add that industrial action has affected things.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific request for why the Wales Rail Board failed to initiate recommendations was not directly addressed.

How: Awaiting The Recommendations Of An Ongoing Investigation

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Karin Smyth Lab Bristol South
Transport Wales
Context

The Welsh Affairs Committee highlights the need for improved connectivity between Swansea, Cardiff and Bristol. The committee also mentions the impact on constituents due to poor performance of Great Western Railway.

Question

Why has the Wales Rail Board failed to initiate recommendations and other further improvements?

Answer from Fay Jones

The hon. Lady's constituents will be greatly affected by the project that she mentions and by the performance of Great Western Railway, which is not sufficient. The Office of Rail and Road has launched an investigation into poor train punctuality and reliability in Network Rail's Wales and western region, and we await the recommendations of that review. I add that industrial action has affected things.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific request for why the Wales Rail Board failed to initiate recommendations was not directly addressed.

How: Awaiting The Recommendations Of An Ongoing Investigation

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Michael Fabricant Con
Transport
Context

The completion of repair works on the longest wooden rail bridge in Europe across the Mawddach estuary in Gwynedd was completed by Network Rail and its subcontractors.

Question

Will my hon. Friend join me in congratulating Network Rail and its subcontractors on completing the repair works on the longest wooden rail bridge in Europe across the Mawddach estuary in Gwynedd?

Answer from Fay Jones

I certainly will join my hon. Friend, and I am delighted that he takes such keen interest in Welsh rail infrastructure and raises it here on such a regular basis. He is right to flag that project, which is an example of this Government's record investment in rail infrastructure in Wales. I was pleased to visit the project and give it my full support.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)