Ieuan Wyn Jones
LAST month I published the National Transport Plan for Wales, which will guide the development of a genuinely integrated transport system for Wales and I see rail as a crucial element in this plan.
My aim is to ensure a system of transport fit for the 21st Century and the Plan is based on three principles:
To meet the demand for enhanced mobility, which will enable economic growth and improve the quality of life we seek for the people of Wales.
To put transport on to a more sustainable and less carbon-intensive path.
To use transport funding more effectively in light of increased pressures on public finances.
The Plan takes up the long-term vision of our transport strategy 'Connecting the Nation' and details how we move ahead over the next five years.
To achieve these aims we will have to encourage a greater use of rail in Wales and, to this end, the Assembly Government's first ever Rail Forward Programme, published last year, has played a central part in developing this plan.
Much of the press coverage following my announcement concentrated on the decision not to pursue a new M4 relief road around Newport.This decision has followed a long, detailed and painstaking consideration of the business case and a number of environmental impact surveys
And here rail plays a crucial role in our alternative solution to relieve congestion on this key economic route.We want more
people to see rail as a viable alternative to the car.
We are planning to develop new rail facilities and stations within the Newport area, as well as extra park and ride facilities, in order to shift emphasis towards rail travel and reduce Wales' carbon footprint.
Similarly, on the issue of access to Cardiff Airport, we have decided to invest in more frequent and high quality rail services rather than build a new access road. Investing in our east/west rail links is important to our economic success and investment by the Welsh Assembly Government
will continue to be largely concentrated on these important inter-urban corridors.
Our goal is to spread access to economic prosperity to all parts of Wales, particularly to the areas currently benefiting from European Convergence funding - from the north-west to the South Wales Valleys.
We recently announced extra services and park and ride facilities on the important routes from the South Wales Valleys to Cardiff.
The programme of continued improvements to north/south rail links is also an important component and we will continue to support our flagship Holyhead to Cardiff fast train service,Y Gerallt Gymro. We will also develop plans to enhance the capacity of the section of rail between Shrewsbury and Chester via Wrexham to permit faster and potentially more frequent services by 2011.
And in mid-Wales we plan to introduce hourly services between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury by 2011 and develop additional services on the Heart of Wales Line. Devolution means that, for the first time, we have powers to produce our own vision of what we want transport to be. If we want more people to use rail instead of the car we must make it as easy to use as possible.
This means not only direct investment in rail infrastructure but also in information and facilities. For example, in terms of improving access to rail services we will start to remove, on a priority basis, high steps between platforms and trains, particularly on rural stations. We will work with
Network Rail and Arriva Trains Wales on delivery of the National Stations Improvement Programme and improve provision for cycles on new and existing trains. We also plan to introduce, by 2014, a new Welsh Transport Entitlement Card, for use on bus and train journeys across Wales.
Similar to the Oyster card, it will allow users to switch between buses and trains without having to get new tickets.
We will expand the Sustainable Travel Towns concept, which I recently announced for Cardiff, to three more towns in Wales. Some of the ideas we will introduce in Cardiff to encourage more take-up of rail include better integration with other public transport; walking and cycling and more
park and ride facilities on key commuter routes.
The National Transport Plan provides an exciting opportunity to support moves towards more sustainable forms of transport, and new technology will have an important role in helping to deliver its ambitious proposals.
The recent announcement of the UK Government's plan to electrify the Great Western main line between Swansea, Cardiff and London is a great example of this, and will bring numerous benefits to Wales. I have been working closely with the Department for Transport to upgrade this important route, which will not only benefit the economy but also help cut carbon emissions.
The National Transport Plan shows how - in partnership with public transport operators and the private sector - we will create an innovative, low-carbon transport network fit for a dynamic economy. Its goals are ambitious, but they are also attainable, and reflect our growing confidence
to make the responsible decisions that speed our development as a 21st Century nation.
To see the National Transport Plan for Wales in full, and take part in the consultation, go to: http://wales.gov.uk/consultations/transport/?lang=en
Reader Comments:
Views expressed in submitted comments are that of the author, and not necessarily shared by Railnews.
All sound wonderfull. It would creat more jobs for signallers, drivers, shunters, maintinence staff, managers and conductors, all good for the economi. I hope freight gets it fair shair
Llion Wynne Jones, aberdare