Tory hypocrisy?

I don't often read Nick Bourne's blog, but my attention has been drawn to a recent post. Among countless empty aspirations, the Tory leader in the Assembly talks of “the need to invest in new rail lines and to enhance the existing rail services that we have.”

History has shown that when the Tories are in power, public services are cut dramatically in order to try to reduce the size of the state. Of course, its the poorest who are made to bear the brunt. Putting aside the cold hearted policies of the various Tory governments pre-1997, we don’t have to look too far to see how hollow Bourne’s words are.

At the Tory party conference in October of last year, Shadow Transport Secretary Theresa Villiers cast doubts on plans to electrify the main line between London and Swansea, stating it was not possible to give a “cast iron guarantee”. More generally, the Tories have also stated their intention to slash and burn the public purse to quickly reduce the borrowing deficit caused by the banking crisis.

Only 33% of the UK's rail network is electrified compared to 100% in Switzerland, 73% in the Netherlands and 57% in Germany. Wales is a select member of an unenviable club of European nations, along with Albania and Moldova, not to possess a single mile of electrified railway. This was why Plaid Cymru, and Ieuan Wyn Jones specifically pressed hard when we found out that a draft of the scheme proposed leaving out the Wales section of the network by terminating the electrification at Bristol.

Our efforts may come to nothing if, as expected, the Tories win power in London power in May. Wales is crying out for a modern rail service, and government wants people to reduce car usage. We can't let the Tories block Wales' rail electrification.

Electrifying success

The electrification of the rail line from London to Swansea is good news. So good that sometimes it's easy to forget that not that long ago Network Rail were publishing plans that showed the electric line not coming to Wales.

What made the difference and made sure that Wales got an electrified line? Well the work of the Plaid's Ieuan Wyn Jones AM was an important part of it. His hard behind-the-scenes lobbying as Deputy First Minister has helped to secure this project.

The benefits of electrification have been demonstrated in other countries - that's why Plaid has been campaigning for this since as far back as 1977. And we'll continue to campaign to ensure that the rest of Wales is well connected to Europe ’s major networks - electrification of the London to Swansea line is a major step in the right direction.

This news comes on top of the boost to public transport recently announced by Ieuan in the National Transport Plan. Amongst a host of measures announced, in the region I represent, there are plans to increase the capacity, quality and performance of the Valleys Lines network by creating additional platforms at Pontypridd, Caerphilly and Barry. There are also plans to introduce additional services on the lines from Pontypridd and Caerphilly to Cardiff and for additional half-hourly services on the Vale of Glamorgan line.