RAIL union Aslef welcomed news yesterday that the next step towards a publicly run railway for Wales could be taken as soon as this summer.
Welsh Transport Minister Edwina Hart vowed to press on full steam ahead so that a “road map” for a new not-for-profit company was in place before the assembly went on holiday.

Questions have been raised about the Welsh government’s capacity to run the railways after years of a brain drain under privatisation.

But Ms Hart told AMs on the Welsh Assembly enterprise and business committee on Wednesday that there had been “significant interest” from key figures within the rail industry.

She confirmed that funding was in place to get the cogs moving in advance of the current franchise’s expiry in 2018.

In a later BBC interview she underlined her determination to see the £170 million public subsidy currently swallowed up by German state operator Arriva remain in Welsh hands.

The price is the second highest of any franchise in Britain.

“We’ve had to put an awful lot of money in to run routes,” said Ms Hart.

“Rail is very important in Wales because we’re not linked well as a nation. To take steps on this we need to control the existing franchise.

“And I think you should limit the elements of profit.”

A fully public railway would deliver better value because routes and project delivery would be under Cardiff’s control, she added.

Drivers’ union Aslef said it was an exciting “move in the right direction.”

General secretary Mick Whelan said: “The current business model doesn’t work.

“The privatised train operating companies are plundering profits from the public purse — it’s the taxpayer who coughs up for the investment in infrastructure and rolling stock — while each year pushing through rip-off fare rises.

“We want, and deserve, an integrated, not fragmented, railway network in this country and this is a first step in that direction.”

Tory transport spokesman Byron Davies said it was not “fair to private companies.”

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