Sam Rowlands MS for North Wales urges Welsh Government to stop letting down rail users in North Wales.
Mr Rowlands, Shadow Minister for Local Government, has called for an explanation following the announcement that plans to increase rail services in his region have been put on hold.
He said:
I would like to ask for a Welsh Government statement on the announcement that Vivarail Ltd have gone bust. Plans to increase rail services in the North Wales border are now on hold, after the company, Vivarail Ltd, who were supplying these trains, have gone into administration.
Back in 2018 Transport for Wales made the deal with Vivarail for refurbished trains to serve residents on the border, and this was supposed to be delivered in mid-2019. We' are now three years down the line since that promise was made, and residents that I serve in Denbighshire, Flintshire, Wrexham still do not have that new rail service that they were promised.
Transport for Wales is wholly owned by the Welsh Government, to deliver on policies of this Government. I think it is time that a statement is brought to the Chamber, explaining the situation and when those trains will be introduced into North Wales.
Lesley Griffiths, Business Minister said there had been a number of disappointing delays with bringing these new trains into service and it was unfortunate that Vivarail had entered administration.
Mr Rowlands added:
It is extremely disappointing to hear that once again rail users in North Wales are being kept waiting for improved trains and services.
Sam Rowlands AS yn dweud bod Trafnidiaeth Cymru a Llywodraeth Cymru yn siomi'r Gogledd
Mae Sam Rowlands AS dros y Gogledd yn pwyso ar Lywodraeth Cymru i roi'r gorau i siomi defnyddwyr trenau'r Gogledd.
Mae Mr Rowlands, Gweinidog yr Wrthblaid ar Lywodraeth Leol, wedi galw am esboniad yn dilyn y cyhoeddiad bod cynlluniau i gynyddu gwasanaethau rheilffordd yn ei ranbarth wedi'u gohirio.
Meddai:
Hoffwn ofyn am ddatganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru ynglŷn â'r cyhoeddiad bod cwmni Vivarail Ltd wedi mynd i'r wal. Mae cynlluniau i gynyddu'r gwasanaethau trên ar ororau'r Gogledd wedi’u gohirio, wedi i gwmni Vivarail Cyf, a oedd yn cyflenwi'r trenau hyn, fynd i ddwylo'r gweinyddwyr.
Nôl yn 2018 fe wnaeth Trafnidiaeth Cymru ddod i gytundeb gyda Vivarail i gyflenwi trenau wedi'u hadnewyddu i wasanaethu trigolion y ffin, ac roedd hyn i fod i gael ei gyflawni ganol 2019. Bellach, rydym ni dair blynedd lawr y lein ers i'r addewid hwnnw gael ei wneud, a dyw'r gwasanaeth trenau newydd a addawyd i drigolion dwi'n eu gwasanaethu yn Sir Ddinbych, Sir y Fflint a Wrecsam, ddim ar gael o hyd.
Mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn eiddo i Lywodraeth Cymru yn gyfan gwbl, i gyflawni polisïau’r Llywodraeth hon. Credaf ei bod hi'n bryd dod â datganiad i'r Siambr yn esbonio'r sefyllfa a phryd y bydd y trenau hyn yn cael eu cyflwyno yn y Gogledd-ddwyrain.
Dywedodd Lesley Griffiths, y Gweinidog Busnes bod llawer o oedi anffodus wedi bod cyn cyflwyno’r trenau newydd hyn, a'i bod hi'n anffodus bod Vivarail yn nwylo'r gweinyddwyr.
Ychwanegodd Mr Rowlands:
Mae'n hynod siomedig clywed bod defnyddwyr rheilffyrdd yma yn y Gogledd yn dal i orfod aros am drenau a gwasanaethau gwell.
