Arriva trains ltd signs Wales and borders agreement

Arriva plc has announced today that Arriva Trains Ltd, which isalso bidding for the Northern Rail franchise, has signed afranchise agreement with the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) tooperate the new integrated Wales and Borders franchise.

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

The SRA announced that we were preferred bidder for the15 year franchise at the beginning of August and we are verypleased to have reached an agreement which will enable us to takeover the franchise on 7 December 2003. The new franchise will beoperated as Arriva Trains Wales/Trenau Arriva CymruLimited.

We have established a team based in Cardiff who areworking closely with the existing operator to ensure a smoothtransition in December.

Over the next couple of months there will be anextensive consultation process regarding our plans to improve therail service in Wales and the border counties. This process willinvolve the Welsh Assembly Government, the Rail Passengers Counciland Committees, and other stakeholders.

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

SRA chairman, Richard Bowker, said:

Today marks a step change in the way the railwaydelivers for the people of Wales. For the very first time, Waleswill have a unified railway under a single operational managementstructure.

This has all been achieved through partnership betweenthe Welsh Assembly Government and the SRA, and Arriva Trains willnow concentrate on what matters most to passengers – improvedperformance, reliability and punctuality.

Andrew Davies, Wales' minister for economic development andtransport, said:

The Welsh Assembly Government has given a high priorityto improving transport infrastructure including road and rail andthe development of improved public transport on buses, communitytransport, trains and air.

I am looking forward to working with Arriva to improvethe existing service and to develop new passenger services on theVale 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, aswell as better performance and connections, planned for December2005 for both the Valley Lines and inter-urban services;
• introduction of seven class 150 Diesel Multiple Units plannedfrom December 2004, leading to greater operational flexibility andresilience, to replace current, less suitable stock;
• a better compensation scheme for passengers, including fullrefunds for those customers who are delayed by more than sixtyminutes;
• introduction of 30 new integrated train / bus ticket schemes byNovember 2005, in addition to those already in operation, allowingmany new opportunities for simpler through journeys. Arriva'svision is to create a fully integrated railway system in the Walesand Borders operating area, with bus and coaches providing links torailway stations. In consultation with local transport authoritiesand bus operators, new integrated travel schemes will be introducedin a number of areas including Bangor, Llandudno, Aberystwyth,Shrewsbury, Chester and Hereford;
• improved bilingual access, including a Welsh Language customerservice phone line, passenger timetables and information, fullbilingual signage and recorded station announcements at stationswhere there are existing suitable public address systems by May2004;
• introduction of a new, customer-focused 'Station Adopter'scheme. Arriva pioneered this approach in its rail franchiseserving the North of England. This extremely successful scheme isseen as best practice in the rail industry and is being introducedby other train operating companies across the UK. Arriva believesits 'Station Adopter' scheme will bring real benefit to customersin the Wales and Borders franchise;
• £400,000 on improving station car parks at CardiffCentral ( Wood Street ), Chester, Hereford, Newport andShrewsbury;
• abolition of the £1 reservation charge for bicycles ontrains.

The Wales and Borders franchise includes all local and regionalpassenger rail services within Wales, services from Cardiff toHereford, Shrewsbury and Manchester, and those from Wales toBirmingham, North West England and the West Country. The newfranchise also includes the operation of all stations in Wales,and those predominantly served by the new franchise in the bordercounties, including Chester, Shrewsbury and Hereford.

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