WELSH minister for economy, science and transport Edwina Hart confirmed that steps were being taken to ensure the next rail franchise in Wales can be run by a not-for-dividend company.

The minister was speaking at yesterday’s session of the enterprise and business committee and there is set to be another session to discuss the next rail franchise on February 4, 2015.

The minister said that she intends to go for the not-for-dividend model and has serious reservations about Network Rail.

She said: “I intend to go for a not-for-dividend model when we have the powers devolved to us.

“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.

“We have serious reservations about Network Rail and their ability to deliver.

“We want to do this as professionally as possible. The nationalisation of the railways is probably what the public want, but that gift is not with me.”

Figures for the number of people who pass through Newport’s city centre railway station were also released yesterday and have increased compared to the year previously, according to the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR).

The estimates of station usage statistics for April 2013 – March 2014 show that there were 2,291,044 entries and exits at Newport railway station. An extra 40,786 people passed through the station in this period.

The figure represents a minor increase on the previous year’s figures, between April 2012 and March 2013, when there were 2, 250, 258 entries and exits at Newport station.

Indeed, Newport railway station was among the busiest train stations in Wales and only Cardiff Central and Cardiff Queen Street were busier, with 11,739,630 and 2,462,700 entries and exits respectively. An Arriva Trains Wales spokeswoman said: “It’s great that Newport is a thriving station, especially since its extensive refurbishment.

“The station plays a major role in the local economy and we have seen lots more customers using the station recently especially with the new Admiral offices in Newport which is within easy walking distance of the station.”

At Severn Tunnel Junction, the number of people using the station also increased from 205, 814 last year to 215 372 this year.

The number of people using Ebbw Vale Parkway was also up, from 246,102 last year to 254,956 this year.

There was also an increase at Rogerstone’s railway station, with figures rising by 2,810 to 101,366 while at Cross Keys, the figures stayed broadly the same at 117,012.

However, at Risca and Pontymister, there was a marked decrease for the second year running, with a fall of 3,554 to 100,236 people.