The public are being asked for their opinions in a consultation launched today about proposals to provide more trains in the Swansea Bay area, but Transport for Wales has admitted that its plans for developing two routes and opening stations will depend on financial support from London.

The proposals have been unveiled only a few days after the Welsh Government protested about the lack of funding for Wales in the Budget, which only mentioned £30 million towards a new station at Cardiff Parkway, prompting deputy minister for transport Mark Hooper to describe this funding as ‘an insult to the people of Wales’.

Even so, TfW has set out plans for routes between Swansea and Pembrey & Burry Port, and Swansea, Neath and Ammanford.  

TfW is working on its proposals with the Welsh Government, the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee, regional local authorities and Network Rail. They have been divided into two phases.

Phase A proposes up to two more trains an hour between Swansea and Pembrey & Burry Port, as well as a possible new station at Cockett, where the old station was closed in 1964.

There would also be an additional platform at Swansea and changes to the track layout at Pembrey & Burry Port so that trains could reverse there.

Phase B, which is at an earlier stage, consists of proposals for up to two new trains an hour between Swansea. Neath and Ammanford,with potential new stations at Landore, Winsh-wen, Morriston, Llandarcy, Felindre and Pont-lliw, as well as improvements at Ammanford.

The proposed services would also connect with other trains at Neath.

TfW said the proposals are based on a detailed study carried out for the Welsh Government in 2021 and have been developed with partners from the region and the wider rail industry. 

Further development and assessment are needed before the proposals can become a reality, and the Welsh Government is funding development work.

Deputy minister for transport Mark Hooper said: ‘If you use the train to travel for work or leisure or even if you never use the train in Swansea and West Wales, please tell us how things can be improved or what needs to happen for you to use the train.

‘We want the Swansea Bay and West Wales Metro to make travelling by train as easy and convenient as possible. To help us achieve that we need to know about your experiences and requirements.’

Amanda Phillips is strategic development programme manager at Transport for Wales, and added: ‘We want to give people more choice about how they travel, with more frequent trains and new connections between communities across Swansea Bay and West Wales. Hearing from local people will help us develop plans that meet their needs.’

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