Transport minister challenged over Conwy Valley rail line upgrade

Sep 30 2010 by Samantha Castle, North Wales Weekly News

Mark Isherwood

TRANSPORT minister Ieuan Wyn Jones was challenged by a North Wales AM last week over a failure to invest in an upgrade of the Conwy Valley railway line.

Conservative AM Mark Isherwood raised the matter with Ieuan Wyn Jones during last week’s plenary session after the minister stated that funding from the public sector will not be available to invest in the upgrading of the Conwy Valley line.

Investment is required if the route is to be used for the movement of slate waste from Blaenau Ffestiniog to the coast.

Mr Isherwood said he was baffled when the minister said there is no commercial case for doing the work.

Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Isherwood said: “A Welsh Government report commissioned from WS Atkins PLC concluded that while the movement of slate waste by rail is operationally possible, the current volume produced by both slate companies does not make it economically viable.

“However, the reality is that a ceiling is set on current volumes transported by the unavailability of the use of rail.”

He asked the Mr Wyn Jones: “How do you respond to the reality that the upgrade is necessary in order to move large volumes, thereby supporting the jobs and economy in a part of North Wales that should be a priority for economic regeneration?”

Mr Jones responded: “I was asked by Gwynedd County Council to undertake a feasibility study into the commercial potential of carrying slate aggregate.

“That report failed to identify a commercial or business case for the upgrade because the company that would benefit from it did not see that it was commercially viable.

“We have to make sure that if we do invest in that line, there is a commercial case for it and that it is viable.

“A proposition is yet to be put to me that there is a business case for it.”

Speaking outside the chamber, Mr Isherwood added: “The minister’s response raises further questions which I will be exploring.”