30 July 2014
RMT Press Office
RAIL UNION RMT today called for an end to the party political bickering and for urgent action right at the top to stop yet another key rail modernisation project from being stalled.
The call comes as a political row rumbled on today which puts the planned works to electrify the Valleys rail network in Wales at risk because of an on-going dispute between the Welsh government and London over who will fund it – despite the fact that Prime Minister David Cameron is on the record confirming that the costs will be covered centrally.
The electrification of the line to Swansea was originally thrown into doubt after comments in March from former Welsh Secretary David Jones, who said the row had the potential to delay the project as the Valley Lines deal, which was struck in 2012, included a stretch of the Swansea to London line between Cardiff and Bridgend.
Recent comments by Prime Minister David Cameron on the scheme — in which he pledged the UK Government's commitment to fund electrification between London and Swansea — have been called into question by other leading political and business figures today leaving the entire plan on the brink.
The upgrade and modernisation is part of a programme of essential rail improvements that are supposed to see the upgrade of the main line from London Paddington to Cardiff which is due to be completed by 2017, and extended to Swansea by 2018 at a cost of £850 million with the electrification of the Valleys lines - the commuter lines in and out of Cardiff - due to be completed between 2019 and 2024. It is those works that are now threatened by the funding row.
RMT says that the disgraceful political jockeying over the Welsh rail electrification plan, which has left it at risk of missing its target dates, mirrors the complete contempt currently being shown for rail services in the North by the Government and reinforces the suspicion that the limited number of current rail infra-structure projects are being cherry-picked to favour the Tory-voting heartlands.
Mick Cash, RMT acting general secretary said.
“It is deeply damaging that essential rail modernisation plans are being jeopardised by a row between Cardiff and London over financing when as far as staff and passengers are concerned these issues should have been put to bed right from the outset. This chaotic situation is part and parcel of the fragmentation and lack of strategic planning at the heart of rail policy after two decades of privatisation.”
“RMT is sick of the political point scoring that is going on here, we are also well aware of the interview with David Cameron himself in which he confirmed that the works would be funded centrally. This scenario has echoes of the electrification scheme in the North, due to be completed in 2018, where senior Government officials have been unable to give assurances to the Transport Select Committee that those works would be funded.
“The trail on all of this goes right to the heart of the Westminster Government who seem to be prepared to renege on commitments to rail improvements and modernisation at the drop of a hat. RMT will work with local communities to end the posturing and point-scoring and to deliver the modern, high-quality rail services that our passengers deserve.”
ends
Unity House
Tel: 020 7387 4771
Email: