KeolisAmey has unveiled bold plans for the Wales and Borders rail network and the development of the South Wales Metro working in partnership with Transport for Wales (TfW).
The announcement came as the Welsh Government confirmed that KeolisAmey would be the next operator and development partner for the network, following the end of a 10-day standstill period in the procurement process.
The awarding of this prestigious contract to KeolisAmey has been welcomed by the business. It acknowledges the confidence and trust being placed in the company to support the delivery of significant change to public transport in Wales over the coming years.
From October 14, 2018, KeolisAmey will set about a series of improvements for what is a new era for passengers and for Wales with more services, newer trains, better stations and a more reliable networking, including:
- Five new stations will be built and all 247 existing stations will be modernized.
- From 2023, 95% of journeys will be made on new trains, half of which (50%) will be assembled in Wales;
- By December 2023 KeolisAmey will be running an extra 285 services every weekday across Wales, with improvements on the Ebbw Vale line, North Wales Metro (Wrexham-Bidston), Cambrian and Heart of Wales lines;
- There will be an extra 294 services across Wales on Sundays, an increase of 61%, creating a true 7-day service for the first time;
- There will be investment in new technology to reduce disruption and enhance performance;
- A new website and app will be created in the first year;
- Investment will be made to improve on-board mobile phone connectivity.
- Six hundred new jobs will be created to deliver the contract, and 30 new apprenticeships will be created every year.
“This is a great opportunity for us to use our joint capabilities to deliver a first-rate service for Wales and its communities. As well as creating new jobs and apprenticeship opportunities, we will be focused on upgrading the existing infrastructure and introducing new trains to significantly improve the passenger experience.” “We are looking forward to working with Transport for Wales in a partnership which will see the full replacement of all trains, and major upgrades.” “We are also looking forward to working with the very proud and dedicated men and women running the railway in Wales today, who will join us on this exciting journey.”KeolisAmey is a joint venture partnership between international transport operator Keolis and infrastructure asset management specialist Amey.