Transport for Wales Board Meeting Minutes - 21 November 2024

21 November 2024

09:00 - 16:00

Venue - Taffs Well Depot and Teams

Scott Waddington (Chair), Alun Bowen, Heather Clash, Vernon Everitt, Louise Cheeseman, Rhian Langham and James Price.

Jeremy Morgan, Sam Hadley (TfW) and Gareth Evans (Welsh Government).

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. The Chair welcomed Louise Cheeseman to her first meeting.

The Chair expressed sympathies on behalf of the whole organisation to the family of David Tudor Evans who passed away following the collision of two TfW trains near Talerddig on 21 October. The Board were updated and noted the status of the investigation and emphasised the need to learn from the incident. The Board expressed its thanks to entire TfW team for the calm, sympathetic and professional way in which the situation was handled during the immediate response and subsequent aftermath.

Vinay Parmar, Andrew Morgan and Alan McCarthy gave their apologies.

A quorum being present, the Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and declared it open.

None.

The minutes of the TfW Board meeting 19 October 2024 were approved as a true and accurate record. The Actions Log was noted.

The Board further reflected on the Talerddig incident in the context of potentially operating or franchising future bus services and lessons that can be learned and applied across different modes. The Board encouraged taking note of the Vision Zero principles and how they can be applied to TfW’s area of operations. The Board agreed the need for a detailed discussion at a future meeting on the choices around TfW’s safety assurance process in the context of the Welsh Government’s policy position [Action James Price]. The Board requested information on the incident processes for Traws and rail replacement services [Action Lee Robinson].

The Board welcomed the launch of Class 756 electric trains on the network earlier this week. Customer feedback and media coverage has been positive.

Josh Hopkins and Jan Chaudhry Van der Velde joined the meeting.

The Board received and noted an overview of the Health, Safety and Resilience report contained in the pack.

The Board were updated on:

• The Talerddig incident and the aftermath, investigation work done to date to understand the possible reasons for the incident, and an update on RAIB’s statutory investigation. A detailed discussion took place on events leading up to the incident and lessons learnt to date.
• The Incident Care team was mobilised for first time since its restructure during the Talerddig incident. An independent internal debrief on the incident took place which involved engaging with Powys County Council.
• Several health and wellbeing campaigns and events.
• Competence management around utilising virtual reality to simulate practical responses for drivers in a risk-free environment.
• A decrease in workforce accidents but an increase in non-workforce assaults which were mainly verbal.
• The Board were updated on plans to tackle youth anti-social behaviour.
• Incidents, accidents and performance indicators across infrastructure/transformation and Pullman Rail.
• Drone surveillance intercepted an attempted cable theft. Enhanced covert measures have been put in place at Llandaff Station.

The Board noted the content of the strategic risk management report.

The Board requested that the Executive carry out a detailed of the review of the risk management process.

[Action Jan Chaudhry Van der Velde].

Jan Chaudhry Van der Velde and Josh Hopkins left the meeting.

The Board received an overview of the Chief Executive Officer’s report:

• Operational performance over the last period was good on the CVL but room for improvement on Wales and Cross Borders. Recent improvements on the CVL are partly due to having sufficient frontline staff compared to this time last year, and the enhanced adhesion programme. Improvements have also been seen on MKIV and Class 230 reliability. December’s timetable change should also allow for more reliability across the network. The Talerddig incident has impacted mid-Wales services with two Class 158 units not in service. The Board were informed of the enhanced maintenance regime on the Class 158s in response to the incident. Work is on-going to around the gradual entry into service of Class 197s onto Cambrian line to compensate tor the loss of the two 158 units, including the use of ETCS units onto the non-ETCS network. The Board noted the challenge from the Cabinet Secretary to clear communications on the investment being made in new rolling stock across the network and the positive impact that this can have on the existing and potential customer base [Action James Price/ Sam Hadley].
• Overall, across the network, availability of units continues to affect performance. Discussions continue with CAF on better output of 197 units. Wheel lathe issues are having less impact this year compared to previous year because of the preparation work done prior to the Autumn season.
• The Board discussed the strategic context of rail in Wales over the next few years and emphasised the importance of engaging with the Chair of Shadow Great British Railways on strategic issues [Action James Price].
• Progress continues to be made on the bus agenda. A series of meetings have been held with local authority leaders, CEOs and bus/public transport leads. Feedback has been positive to date, but clarity is required on the approval of franchising plans [Action Lee Robinson]. Productive conversations have also taken place with the two municipal bus companies.
• The CEO recently wrote to the Cabinet Secretary on CVL budget challenges tor the remainder of the programme which has prompted further discussions with the Welsh Government to identity a solution. REDACTED
• The Board discussed future growth of services and future transport capacity and the need to engage with the Welsh Government on the subject [Action James Price].
• REDACTED
• The Board welcomed the submission of the Final Business Case of the Cardiff Central Enhancements Project, the first Final Business Case to be developed entirely in-house which has significantly reduced costs. The Board agreed that there is a need to ensure that before the build commences, all available lessons are learnt from other Ttw schemes and others across the UK in terms of specification and design as well as phasing, commercial strategy and management of the project when in flight.

The Board noted the management accounts tor Ttw tor October 2024/25 and Ttw Rail Limited rail period seven.

REDACTED

Alexia Course and Emma Osborn joined the meeting.

The Board were reminded of the purpose and principles of the Transport Partnership (‘Cyfuno’) between TfW and Network Rail.

The Board were informed that since its launch last year, in addition to a range of non-financial benefits, the partnership has just surpassed £1m in benefits delivery through productivity and cashable benefits. These savings are shared across Network Rail and Transport for Wales and have been validated by local finance business partners. Programme lessons have been shared with the wider rail industry.

The Board welcomed a successful initiative and thanked all involved.

Alexia Course and Emma Osborn left the meeting.

Dan Tipper joined the meeting

The Board were informed that Approval to Place into Service (APIS) was received from the ORR on 8 November for the overhead line system from Merthyr and Aberdare to Pontypridd and on to Cardiff. The Board welcomed the achievement of a significant milestone, noting the challenge for the combined infrastructure and rolling stock teams to deliver one of the most complex system engineering projects that the Rail Industry in the UK has seen. The Class 756 units were subsequently entered into service between Cardiff, Merthyr and Aberdare, marking the first Passenger Electric Trains on the CVL Network using an industry-leading hybrid system with multiple full line speed traction power changeovers during every journey.

The Board also noted that:

• Taffs Well Depot Signalling System was successfully commissioned on 10 November, with subsequent entry into service and handover of the system to TfWRL during the following week. It is the first time the innovative signalling approach has been used as a full system in the UK.
• On 18 November, the CVL Transformation Programme was awarded ‘Transformation Project of the Year’ and ‘Overall Project of the Year’ in the Association of Project Management Awards. The Board welcomed the achievement and recognition.
• During November, the construction of the full OLE system for the Coryton/Caerphilly to Cardiff section of the CAR lines was completed in advance of the key energisation event in February 2025.
• The Class 398 type testing continues with further challenge sessions being held on the delivery programme during November. The potential impact from the flood events in Valencia is under review with Stadler, as well as access availability and driver training requirements to ensure the programme is robust.
• The updated Annual Budget and AFC forecasts for completion of the Programme have been finalised with significant internal challenge and monitoring. Resource and scope step down / pause instructions have been reissued to all suppliers with robust wording to enforce the contractual position. Work continues with suppliers to manage delivery during Q1 2025 along with monitoring performance against the revised forecasts on a weekly/monthly basis.
• Lessons from across the programme are being logged.
• Anything new or paused and restarted contracts will be fixed price / target price and not cost reimbursable.

Dan Tipper left the meeting.

Stephanie Raymond and Matthew Arthur joined the meeting

The Board were introduced to version two of the budget for 2025/26 and noted changes and rationale for changes since the previous version, accepting that further work is required to refine.

Stephanie Raymond and Matthew Arthur left the meeting

The Board were updated on the recent TfW Rail Ltd board meeting.

An update was provided on the recent meeting of the Major Projects committee.

The Chair provided an update on the recent meeting of the TfW Advisory Panel which focussed on rail operations, bus, and timetable changes.

The most recent of the TfW Steering Board was an informal session focussing on the Talerddig incident and finance.

The Chair thanked everyone for their attendance and contributions and closed the meeting.