Press releases

Arriva plc has announced today that Arriva Trains Ltd, which is also bidding for the Northern Rail franchise, has signed a franchise agreement with the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) to operate the new integrated Wales and Borders franchise.

Commenting, Bob Davies, Arriva's chief executive, said:

The SRA announced that we were preferred bidder for the 15 year franchise at the beginning of August and we are very pleased to have reached an agreement which will enable us to take over the franchise on 7 December 2003. The new franchise will be operated as Arriva Trains Wales/Trenau Arriva Cymru Limited.

We have established a team based in Cardiff who are working closely with the existing operator to ensure a smooth transition in December.

Over the next couple of months there will be an extensive consultation process regarding our plans to improve the rail service in Wales and the border counties. This process will involve the Welsh Assembly Government, the Rail Passengers Council and Committees, and other stakeholders.

Our focus will be to ensure we deliver a safe railway with improved performance, reliability and punctuality for existing and new customers.

SRA chairman, Richard Bowker, said:

Today marks a step change in the way the railway delivers for the people of Wales . For the very first time, Wales will have a unified railway under a single operational management structure.

This has all been achieved through partnership between the Welsh Assembly Government and the SRA, and Arriva Trains will now concentrate on what matters most to passengers – improved performance, reliability and punctuality.

Andrew Davies, Wales ' minister for economic development and transport, said:

The Welsh Assembly Government has given a high priority to improving transport infrastructure including road and rail and the development of improved public transport on buses, community transport, trains and air.

I am looking forward to working with Arriva to improve the existing service and to develop new passenger services on the Vale of Glamorgan and Ebbw Valley lines.

Key commitments contained within the new franchise include:

• current service levels maintained;
• final development of a simplified, user-friendly timetable, as well as better performance and connections, planned for December 2005 for both the Valley Lines and inter-urban services;
• introduction of seven class 150 Diesel Multiple Units planned from December 2004, leading to greater operational flexibility and resilience, to replace current, less suitable stock;
• a better compensation scheme for passengers, including full refunds for those customers who are delayed by more than sixty minutes;
• introduction of 30 new integrated train / bus ticket schemes by November 2005, in addition to those already in operation, allowing many new opportunities for simpler through journeys. Arriva's vision is to create a fully integrated railway system in the Wales and Borders operating area, with bus and coaches providing links to railway stations. In consultation with local transport authorities and bus operators, new integrated travel schemes will be introduced in a number of areas including Bangor, Llandudno, Aberystwyth, Shrewsbury, Chester and Hereford;
• improved bilingual access, including a Welsh Language customer service phone line, passenger timetables and information, full bilingual signage and recorded station announcements at stations where there are existing suitable public address systems by May 2004;
• introduction of a new, customer-focused 'Station Adopter' scheme. Arriva pioneered this approach in its rail franchise serving the North of England. This extremely successful scheme is seen as best practice in the rail industry and is being introduced by other train operating companies across the UK . Arriva believes its 'Station Adopter' scheme will bring real benefit to customers in the Wales and Borders franchise;
• £400,000 on improving station car parks at Cardiff Central ( Wood Street ), Chester , Hereford , Newport and Shrewsbury ;
• abolition of the £1 reservation charge for bicycles on trains.

The Wales and Borders franchise includes all local and regional passenger rail services within Wales , services from Cardiff to Hereford , Shrewsbury and Manchester , and those from Wales to Birmingham , North West England and the West Country. The new franchise also includes the operation of all stations in Wales , and those predominantly served by the new franchise in the border counties, including Chester , Shrewsbury and Hereford .

Ends