Transport (Wales) Bill

My Lords, I feel privileged to take part in this debate with so many of my fellow Welshmen. I am not procedurally allowed to call them my friends, but we all have one interest at heart; that is, transport to fit the need of the people of Wales. I welcome the Minister and the Bill that he presents. However, in 50 years’ time, my grandchildren, or perhaps my great-grandchildren, may look at this Bill and see that it was calling for an integrated public transport system in Wales. They will see that there was no mention of railways. Even though there may be another Bill, we have to realise that we cannot proceed with this Bill without recognising the need for railways. Almost all noble Lords who have taken part in the debate admit to that. It is a strange Bill. It is more properly a Wales bus Bill than a Wales transport Bill. It is not possible to have an integrated public transport system in Wales without including railways. I am sure that what I am saying bears no substance, but, 25 years ago, there were proposals—I am sure that the noble Lord, Lord Jones, and others will remember this—for the north Wales line to go as far as Chester and for the Holyhead to Chester route to disappear. I am nearly certain that omitting railways from this Bill does not hide such a secret agenda. But to"““Make provision about transport to, from and within Wales””" without mentioning railways, is not the best Long Title for the Bill. In Committee we will move amendments to include railways in the Bill. I am sure that the Minister would expect nothing less from us. Railways are vital to Wales in order to move as much traffic as possible off the roads, to avoid congestion, to be more environmentally friendly and to enable people to travel when the weather is bad and the roads are perhaps impassable. So we need not only to maintain the present railway network but to improve it. In my own part of Wales—the noble Lord, Lord Roberts of Conwy, will know about it—there is a possible upgrade to the railway from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Llandudno Junction, so that it will carry not only passengers but also freight. We need that.