Posted 10th October 2013 | 5 Comments
South Wales Metro included in major spending plan
THE Welsh Government has unveiled plans to invest £62 million in rail and other public transport routes in the Valleys area of South Wales, and work could begin this year.
The schemes, described as Phase 1, are included in a £617.5 million draft infrastructure budget from finance minister Jane Hutt. It also includes £97 million for road improvements in various parts of the country, including the A55 along the North Wales coast.
Spending will be modest at first, with £3.5 million this year, but this is set to rise to £28.7 million in 2014-15 and £29.8 million in 2015-16.
Ms Hutt said: "The new capital investment package I am announcing will deliver real benefits across Wales, creating or supporting more than 11,000 jobs over the next three years, providing longer term growth benefits and better infrastructure for key public services."
Routes likely to be opened or restored include a light rail system in Cardiff and the rebuilding of some former heavy rail lines. New stations on other routes are also expected when detailed plans appear.
Reader Comments:
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Tinders, Sneem Eire
Just echoing jack99's comment re reinstatement of the Caernafon link. There is a market here in Ireland for the tourist trap of Snowdonia. Ireland-Holyhead-Caernafon-WHR-Portmadog-FR-Llandudno-Holyhead-Ireland by ship and train is a surefire winner.
Andrew John Blurton, Stafford
Is it time the welsh government & the prime minister also start designing a rail investment plan for the whole of Wales & not compromising health & safely issues very seriously & thinking about it as well with the travelling public & considering bigger idea's & investment plans looked at in detail & also fit for a better future & railway stations designed & serving customers properly with travel executives & representatives in a more better working environment like we do with all our car showrooms nowadays!!
Philip Russell, Carlisle
There are some good ideas here in this proposal , let's hope it goes further than the proposed Tees Valley Metro which must have been planned well over 10 years ago with no results to date
jack99, Oxford
Hope the Welsh assembly reopen Carmarthen to Aberystwyth via Lampeter and Afon Wen to Bangor via Caernarfon - would revitalise accessiblity along the whole Cambrian Coast and be a boom for through Cardiff Swansea Aberystwyth Bangor Holyhead business connectivity and tourism.- similar to whats happenning on the Irish West Coast
Andrew Gwilt, Wickford Essex
What about electrifying the rural lines in Wales and use the cascading Class 315, 317, 321 & 508's to be used as the GWML is electrified in 2020.