On Monday 11th September some of the members of Carno Station Action Group were interviewed by Craig Duggan of BBC Wales regarding the 10th anniversary petition to be presented on the 4th October. The interviews were carried out in both Welsh and English and separate news items were subsequently shown the following evening on Newyddion 9 on S4C, and BBC Wales Today on BBC 1. Click on the images below to watch either the Welsh or the English version.

S4C Newyddion 9 – Welsh

BBC Wales Today – English

In 2007 Carno Station Action Group travelled to Cardiff to present a petition to the newly created Petitions Committee of the National Assembly for Wales. There is a News item HERE with a report and pictures of the petition being handed over on the steps of the Senedd.

Since then a huge amount of work has been carried out by the Action Group to illustrate the benefits of opening a station in Carno which is on the longest stretch of line in Wales without a station. Since the recent enhanced service was introduced, twenty four trains now pass along the line each day without stopping in Carno – and we still do not have a commitment from the NAW to seriously consider the work which has been done.

In May, without warning or external consultation, the NAW introduced a new three stage process for evaluation of new stations in Wales and produced a list of 12 stations which had been “scored” in the first stage of the process and would now proceed to stage 2 with a more detailed assessment. Only four stations were on the full list for Mid-Wales and only one was on the list of twelve – Bow Street. Putting aside the fact that we disagreed with the scoring system used for stage one, and and that the figures used were incorrect, in June it was announced that Bow Street had been granted full funding from the NAW and the UK Government to build a station which is estimated to be completed in 2020. This we believe, makes a nonsense of the new process and we are now pushing hard to put Carno on the initial list of 12 stations in place of Bow Street.

As part of that push we have decided to present a new “Ten Year Anniversary” petition to highlight our frustrations and show that there are still a huge number of people who support the opening of a station in Carno. The new petition will again be presented on the steps of the Senedd on Wednesday 4th October. We will be collecting signatures right up to the last minute so if you want to add yours, forms are available in the Spar shop and in the Aleppo, as well as other shops around the area.

The new petition text is:

We, the undersigned, welcome the development of a Business Case for the re-opening of Carno station, following Carno Station Action Group’s petition to the Assembly 10 years ago. We note that the revised Business Case demonstrates a ratio of benefits to costs of 1.65 and that the stopping of most trains at Carno is compatible with the existing enhanced timetable. Carno is a relatively remote community on the longest stretch of railway without an intermediate station in the whole of Wales and a station here would open up dramatically improved, sustainable access to jobs and services. We therefore call on the National Assembly for Wales to urge the Welsh Government to reopen Carno station within a 5 year timescale.

Carno Station Action Group have today written to every Welsh AM expressing our deep concern that Carno station is not in a list of stations for potential re-opening in a letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, Ken Skates. The letter from Mr Skates to all AMs sent on 26th April can be viewed by clicking here.

Our letter can be viewed by clicking here.

SITUATION UPDATE

The Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth Rail Passenger Association (SARPA) has published a long and comprehensive history of the our campaign so far in its Spring Newsletter. The article, written by CSAG member Tony Burton, details the long and often tortuous journey over the last 15 years since the Carno Station Action Group was formed. You can read or download a PDF of the article by clicking here.

Carno Station Action Group have today, sent a letter to Ken Skates, the National Assembly for Wales Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure. The letter expresses deep concerns regarding the confusing findings of a  PRA Operations Planning Timetable report on the timetabling of trains stopping at Carno.

To clarify the situation, CSAG has requested a meeting with NAW officials as soon as possible.

Carno Station Action Group were delighted to meet Regional Assembly Member Eluned Morgan last week to discuss the case for reopening a station in the village. Group Chairman, Jeremy Barnes, said “We are really pleased to have this opportunity to discuss the problems with Eluned. After taking the station reopening forward so far we were becoming concerned about the lack of progress in recent months.” Following lengthy discussions and correspondence great progress had been made with the previous Assembly Minister responsible, Edwina Hart, but after she stood down at the recent election it has taken time for the new Minister to respond to the group.

The Campaign Group discussed the background and specific issues with Ms Morgan, who agreed to go back to the Assembly to take the matter up. Local politicians of all parties have given the campaign their support.

After the meeting Mr Barnes added “ Reopening the station will provide a lifeline to residents and small businesses in Carno and, with no bus service in the evening, young people without cars are unable to get to town.”

Transport Minister Edwina Hart has confirmed Arriva Trains Wales and Network Rail have broadly agreed with an independent report recommending opening a station at Carno in Powys. The BBC have done a News report along with a short video interviewing Jeremy Barnes, Clem Richards, and Russell George AM.  Click HERE to see the full article on the BBC news website.

Following discussions with the Minister, Edwina Hart, and senior officials at the Welsh Assembly Government, Carno Station Action Group has been asked to carry out a local consultation later this month over the options for siting the proposed station in Carno. Jeremy Barnes, chairman of the group, said “We are delighted that the Welsh Assembly Government has asked us to carry out this consultation – another step forward in our campaign.”

Mr Barnes went on to say “We aim to knock on every door in the village and to contact residents living in outlying houses.” A consultation document has been prepared setting out the options for a new platform and shelter at the former station site and a new site at the other end of the village.

Members of the group are currently in detailed discussions with officials over the costs and benefits of the station. They point to the contrast between the number of stations opened in South Wales in recent years and the absence of new stations in Mid Wales. The proposal for a station in Carno continues to receive support from Assembly Members of all parties.