In 1832 Ffestiniog Railway opened and is the world's oldest surviving railway company.[3]
Trains between South Wales, Bristol and London crossed the River Severn at Gloucester. The Severn Railway Bridge was opened in 1879, and continued to operate until it collapsed in 1960. In 1873, a Severn Estuary tunnel began construction including permanent water pumps which remain operational. The first trains passed through the tunnel in 1886 and for a century remained the longest underwater tunnel in the world.[3]
Beeching report
In 1963, the Beeching report aimed to reduce the debt of the nationalised British Rail and led to 189 stations in Wales intended for closure with lines and tracks removed over the next decade across Wales. This list for closure was in addition to another 166 Welsh stations and halt-stops that were proposed for closure prior to Beeching's report.[4]
Some stations with particular industry works were saved. Larry Davies, an Arriva Trains Wales' community manager in 2013 said, "Although there were a lot of local protest from people as one would expect, I think the traffic that came from the power station saved the Conwy Valley line".[4] Since the Beeching cuts and as of 2013, 32 stations have re-opened in Wales.[4]
In 2018, KeolisAmey Wales was appointed to operate the Wales and Borders franchise on behalf of Transport for Wales, replacing Arriva Trains Wales as the operator of the Wales and Borders franchise, and would be operating as a "partnership" between KeolisAmey and Transport for Wales while being branded as the latter. It commenced operations in October 2018.[7][8] The introduction of a new operator was accompanied with a £5 billion investment into rail by the Welsh Government, during the 15-year franchise.[9]
In 2020, Transport for Wales took ownership of Core Valley Lines from Network Rail, which runs from Cardiff to Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil, Treherbert, Rhymney and Coryton.[7]
Responsibility for agreements with rail operators and the procurement of the specific Welsh rail franchise rests with the Welsh government, whilst rail infrastructure and overall franchising powers are held by the UK government.[21] Rail infrastructure in Wales is managed by Network Rail and is part of the Wales & Western region, including some parts of England along the England–Wales border, and parts of South West England.[22]
Powers
Wales' railway network is not devolved to the Welsh Government and Senedd, with there being limitations. The Welsh Government has been devolved some executive functions in relation to rail transport. These are primarily on the issues of funding, passenger rail franchising, discontinuing or closing railway services or some railway assets, under the Railways Act 2005 and The Welsh Ministers (Transfer of Functions) (Railways) Order 2018. The Welsh Government has the power to make TWA orders in relation to the construction and operation of railways, tramways, trolley vehicles, and other guided transport systems, where the order authorises the acquisition or use of land rights, and the charging of tolls and penalty fares. However, any application determined to be classed as "England and Wales", for example a railway line crossing the England–Wales border, then that is the responsibility of the UK Government's Secretary of State for Transport.[23]
As it is not devolved, the Welsh Block Grant (determined by the Barnett formula)[24] does not include funding for rail infrastructure to the Welsh Government, although the Welsh Government can still invest in rail, including for rail infrastructure and railway stations using its existing funding, but the responsibility of rail infrastructure and funding for Network Rail lies with the UK Secretary of State for Transport. This differs from Scotland, where such powers are devolved. In relation to building new railway stations in Wales, while the Welsh Government can invest, Network Rail is the asset owner and rail network operator of rail infrastructure in England and Wales, with the UK Secretary of State being responsible for the specifications of any enhancements and the funding provided for such enhancements. The UK Government's New Stations Fund is an example of a funding source for many of the proposed railway stations in Wales made by the Welsh Government, although other proposals such as Cardiff Parkway can be funded privately with support from the Welsh Government or by gaining funding from European Structural and Investment Funds. To assess its proposals, the Welsh Government conducts a three-stage assessment process for proposed station in Wales, with the business case of a station prioritised as a greater chance to secure UK Government funding, while limiting expenses and construction time are also prioritised.[25]
The UK Secretary of State produces a High Level Output Specification (HLOS) and Statement of Funds Available (SoFA) to set out the priorities of Network Rail. This later develops into a Control Period, a five-year long rail plan for rail infrastructure in England and Wales.[25]
In 2005, the UK Government offered to devolve rail infrastructure to Wales. The Welsh Assembly Government of the time refused, citing concerns around funding, the weakness of the Welsh civil service and possible issues arising from the levels of integration between Wales's rail infrastructure with England's.[26]
In 2021, the Welsh Affairs Select Committee had proposed for the establishment of a "Wales Rail Board" rather than devolving infrastructure to Wales.[27][28]
Political concerns
Criticism of funding
A report by the Wales Governance Centre found that Wales could have utilised an additional £514million rail infrastructure between 2011-12 and 2019-20 if rail were fully devolved, and an additional £505million for the following five years.[29]
In the 2020s, the Welsh Government and Welsh politicians had criticised the UK Government for the classification of some rail infrastructure schemes.
In 2020, the UK Government had classified High Speed 2 as an "England and Wales" project. This move was criticised by Welsh MPs[30] and Welsh Government ministers, who argued such a classificiation had little justification as High Speed 2 did not pass through Wales, and they claim would not give any benefits to Wales. The classification would mean, unlike Scotland, Wales would not receive a Barnett consequential, estimated at £5billion.[31][32] By February 2020, the Welsh Government had received £755million in HS2-linked funding, with the UK Government stating it was "investing record amounts in Wales' railway infrastructure" and the Welsh Government had received a "significant uplift" in Barnett-based funding due to the UK Government's increased funding of HS2,[33] with Network Rail to invest £1.5billion in Wales' railways between 2019 and 2024.[34] In April 2023, all parties of the Senedd agreed to a motion introduced by Plaid Cymru that called on the UK Government to re-allocate funding to Wales that is "rightfully owed" for HS2.[35]
In 2023, the UK Government classed Northern Powerhouse Rail, as another "England and Wales" project, which would have given Wales a Barnett consequential of £1billion if classed as a "England" project. The decision was criticised by the Welsh Liberal Democrats.[36]
Criticism of the state of the railways
In April 2023, Wales' transport minister, Lee Waters has described Welsh rail as having been "pretty bleak for a while" and included overcrowding and cancellations. He has accused the UK government of a "managed decline" of Welsh rail, which the UK government denies. Waters accused Network Rail's running period of 2024-2029 which shows infrastructure failures and deteriorating assets which he says will cause speed restrictions, worsened reliability, and further service failures. A spokesperson of the UK government treasury responded by saying that "we're committed to improving services for rail passengers in Wales, investing a record-breaking £2bn in Welsh railways from April 2019 to March 2024."[37]
TfW say that their first phase of rail services improvement will be complete by 2025. The operating service said that there will be a "generational" change to services in the Wales and Borders franchise after 148 new trains are deployed in Wales; over 170 km (110 miles) of rail lines is electrified; new stations are built; improvements are made to tracks and signals.
By 2025, TfW has promised a more expansive and frequent service on its network, all trains being replaced, with 95% of journeys on 148 new trains, and a 65% increase in capacity. TfW aim to operate five new stations, and have an improved service on Sundays. They also plan to electrify part of the South Wales Valleys rail network, while also providing >600 new jobs, better Wifi services, more station car parking spaces and smarter ticketing.[39]
All passenger routes in Wales are operated by Transport for Wales Rail, as part of the cross-border Wales and Borders franchise, involving services throughout Wales and the routes making up the network through England.[40] Transport for Wales operate the Premier Service, connecting Holyhead in north Wales, to Cardiff in the south.[41]
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