RAIL passengers travelling in Wales and the English Borders will benefit from strengthened local decision making following a Great British Railways (GBR) agreement between the UK Government and Welsh Ministers. The publication on March 25 of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales Ken Skales highlights both parties’ commitment to deliver a simpler, better and more integrated railway for the Wales and English-Welsh Borders area. The agreement lays out how both governments will work together under GBR to deliver a passenger-focused railway, with clearly defined responsibilities and governance. This means Welsh passengers and those travelling across the English-Welsh borders will see quicker, more joined-up decisions about their railway, resulting in more reliable timetables, connections and improved day-to-day service performance. GBR and Transport for Wales (TfW) will plan services together, meaning passengers will experience smoother journeys, clearer bilingual travel information and improved links between rail, bus and active travel. Where the previous system saw profits put before passengers, GBR will prioritise value for money for taxpayers and drive investment and consistently better experience for all rail customers. GBR will run and manage the tracks and trains used every day – ending years of fragmentation to drive-up standards for passengers and make journeys easier and better value for money. Transport for Wales and GBR will support easier connections between rail, bus and other forms of transport, making whole journeys simpler and seamless for passengers. The agreement builds on the UK Government's commitment to modernise Welsh rail, backed by at least £445 million for rail enhancements across the whole of Wales, fixing level crossings, building new stations, and upgrading existing lines. Together, both governments will provide better and more frequent services for passengers across the country, and support 12,000 jobs across Wales.
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