Appearing before the Welsh Assembly's Enterprise ft Business Committee last month, Minister for Economy, Science ft Transport Edwina Hart confirmed that when the necessary powers were devolved, she intended to go 'for a not-for-dividend model' for the replacement Wales ft Borders franchise. 'We have to ensure that we get value for money on some of these issues, which we don't think is being got with the way that rail is being managed', she explained. Of more immediate concern was Network Rail, where Hart revealed that the Welsh Government has 'serious reservations' about the company's ability to deliver projects 'and the cost overruns that are going on elsewhere'. As a result, it might be necessary 'to choose others to undertake some of the work for us'. As an example, Hart quoted issues with improvements in north Wales 'where we cannot get clarity, certainty or understanding of what is going on'. She also criticised how 'tardy' NR had been 'in finishing certain projects', notably resignal-ling the Cardiff area.
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