Plaid renews call for ‘not for profit’ train services  

Plaid Cymru has renewed its calls for the management of Welsh railways to be put in the hands of a 'not for profit' company when the current franchise contract with Arriva Trains Wales ends in 2018. The party’s transport spokesperson, Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM said that continued hikes in fares mean that more and more people are finding rail travel unaffordable. He argued that this highlights the need for government action to change the franchise. The proposal to put Welsh railways into the hands of a ‘not for profit’ company was originally announced by Plaid Cymru in November 2010 ahead of the 2011 Welsh General Election campaign. Rhodri Glyn Thomas, who is the Plaid AM for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, explained that most of the preparation work for the refranchising would need to be undertaken during the current Assembly term, in order to provide sufficient planning time...