Railfuture Wales is delighted that Plaid Cymru is considering adopting some of Railfuture's plan for developing the railways.
Plaid wants to take over the railways in Wales currently being run by Arriva Trains Wales and put them in the hands of a not-for-profit company when the present franchise ends in eight years time.
It could allow £10 million a year extra (ATW’s profits for 2008 and 2009) to be used to invest in more trains for more frequent services throughout the country.
“This is brilliant news. It’s virtually what we suggested last year,” said John Rogers of Railfuture Wales, who originally proposed the idea. “Plaid have confirmed to us that this is going into their next manifesto.”
“We think this would be a step towards a better Welsh railway network. It would allow £10 million a year extra to be used to invest in more trains for more frequent services throughout the country, rather than going towards Arriva Trains shareholders."
But he wants to go further.
"The next step is to get the powers to take over responsibility for running the tracks from Network Rail. Integrating track and train will allow for greater efficiencies, and a non-profit company will better serve the public, following the blueprint of Glas Cymru.
"Perhaps in the longer term too there might be a possibility to share services to London with First Great Western."
The Western Mail predicted earlier that the proposals could form a key plank in Plaid’s manifesto for the Assembly elections in May.
Plaid says ATW’s priority is to make profits.
“At a time of shrinking budgets, we are focused on getting the best possible value for money out of every penny of public funds,” said Ieuan Wyn Jones, deputy first minister and leader of Plaid.
Professor Stuart Cole of Glamorgan University welcomed the proposals and said: “It is a step beyond franchising. Franchising involves a myriad of contracts. This would be a government-owned arms-length company.”
Railfuture Wales welcomed the proposals but added: “We reaffirm our commitment to electrification from London to Swansea. We are worried that there are rumours the Government will only approve electrification as far as Bristol and Oxford.”
Plaid Assembly member Nerys Evans said such a plan would allow for the development of an All-Wales transport network – integrating ticketing and timetables across public transport.
She added: "In Wales we have an excellent example of how a ‘not-for-profit’ company can operate in Glas Cymru. This model could have great potential for the delivery of rail services.
"In government, Plaid Cymru has gone to great lengths to ensure that we not only improve current rail services where we can, but that we reopen previously closed railway lines. But we recognise that we need to ensure that easily accessible rail services are available to far more people in the near future.
"Improving infrastructure, including rail, is crucial to the development of the Welsh economy - to create the successful, prosperous and green nation that we know Wales can be.
"In the challenging times ahead, we believe it is vital that we look to Wales for ambitious solutions to create the successful nation that we all want to see."
Information from Western Mail and Plaid Cymru