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Plans to explore new rail links between south Wales and England announced

02 Feb 2023 2 minute read
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The UK and Welsh governments have announced a new study to improve transport links between the southeast of Wales and West of England

The £2.7 million study, funded by the UK Government, will look at options for new railway stations and rail services on the South Wales Main Line in order to reduce congestion on the M4.

Among the options being examined as part of the study, is the development of five brand new stations between Cardiff and Severn Tunnel.

The study follows Lord Peter Hendy’s recommendations from his review of transport connectivity in 2021, which highlighted the need to relieve M4 congestion.

Lee Waters MS, Wales’ Deputy Minister for Climate Change said: “This is a key step to tackle congestion around Newport and was one of the main recommendations of the Burns Commission, which was endorsed by Lord Peter Hendy’s Union Connectivity Review.

“The business case is compelling, and we are keen to make progress so that we can get more people onto South Wales Mainline trains, complementing Welsh Government’s investments in improving access to rail.”

Growth

UK Transport Minister, Richard Holden said: “Delivering better transport links is a vital part of how we transform opportunities for people from across the United Kingdom.

“That’s why I am so delighted that, working with the Welsh Government, we are getting the ball rolling on in-depth work to boost connectivity and drive growth.”

Lord Peter Hendy report also proposed reviewing the route connecting the north of Wales to the North West of England, better connectivity with HS2 and a package of railway improvements to increase connectivity and reduce journey times between Cardiff, Birmingham and beyond.

Welcoming the study, Secretary of State for Wales David TC Davies added: “Good transport connections between South Wales and Western England are essential for the economy in Wales, enabling businesses to grow and flourish and making life easier for people to travel for work and leisure.

“This funding from the UK Government is vital in exploring how best to relieve congestion across South Wales.

“I’m pleased to work with the Welsh Government on plans that could have a huge impact on the many thousands of people who use the transport network in South Wales every day.”


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Glen
Glen
1 year ago

All part of the plan is to make the south east corner a suburb of Bristol.

Hogyn y Gogledd
Hogyn y Gogledd
1 year ago
Reply to  Glen

Well – they are working on making the north-east corner a suburb of Liverpool, so why not?

hdavies15
hdavies15
1 year ago

Knowing our Senedd mob’s ability to muck things up they’ll spend a fortune making it easier to travel from Bristol to Liverpool but you’ll still wait hours for a connection into any part of S.W or N.W of Wales. Absolutely bonkers.

Cathy Jones
Cathy Jones
1 year ago

…oh

….I didn’t know we had finished sorting out travel between Gogledd Cymru and De Cymru, I wish someone had said.
I bet the people in the valleys are happy though..hey? Now they’ve got cheap and sustainable travel opportunities linking them up with the more urbanised areas. The Senedd should trumpet these achievements more loudly I think. You know, don’t be afraid of being honest about solving problems like…oh what’s that? They HAVEN’T? …oh dear. Then one is forced to ask what the hell is this for then…other than what my fellow commenter Glen says?

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
1 year ago

Hello down there, is anybody listening…

Hogyn y Gogledd
Hogyn y Gogledd
1 year ago

I would suggest Undy and Magor for starters.

Hogyn y Gogledd
Hogyn y Gogledd
1 year ago

Not Magor, fool! Marshfield.

But then, I am old enough to remember when they were stations on this line.

Cawr
Cawr
1 year ago

Can we just get a north-south line PLEASE

Johnny Gamble
Johnny Gamble
1 year ago
Reply to  Cawr

Well various Senedd Government’s have spoken about this but that’s as far as it goes just hot air

Riki
Riki
1 year ago

So they intend to tie us down even more? The English wont be happy until they’ve absorbed the actual British people and state into their Fraud that they think is a British state, and the Welsh wont be happy until they’ve finished it for them.

George Thomas
George Thomas
1 year ago

This is a good thing but funding to improve rail (and wider transport links) shouldn’t be so dependent on if you can see England from point of improvement.

Again, Welsh people cannot rely on Westminster, it’s not our friend. We need to invest in ourselves, grow our own communities.

Last edited 1 year ago by George Thomas
Johnny Gamble
Johnny Gamble
1 year ago

Lee Waters mentioned about tackling congestion around Newport is very much a contradiction as it’s his government that refused to build the M4 relief road.
The report also mentions increased rail connectivity between Cardiff and Birmingham yet no mention of a Birmingham to Swansea or West Wales service it seems that Wales stops at Cardiff.
The only positive news is more stations between Cardiff and Severn Tunnel as this would be of benefit to the people of the Southeast who commute to Bristol and believe you me these people are in large numbers.

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
1 year ago
Reply to  Johnny Gamble

Mr Waters works in mysterious ways his vision to create…

My new years resolution was not to mention Bypasses

No not really, only joking…’Peter’s Church’ otherwise known as Llanbedr…

John Brooks
John Brooks
1 year ago

It would be good to travel from mid Wales to the north or the south without going through England (Shrewsbury) – like in the olden days before the heart was ripped out of the Welsh network.

Karl
Karl
1 year ago

Moving more jobs out of Wales is it. While our own country lack decent public transport. Bristol already gets to much attention, what next big up Swindon

Orwig
Orwig
1 year ago

Are we surprised by this? They will never connect the North and South of Wales, imagine the strength we would gain if that would happen.

AntonJacques
AntonJacques
1 year ago

If David TC Davies thinks it’s a good idea I’m not sure it actually is.

I think if you look at all the replies to this people want Wales to be all connected up first before connecting to England.

Mawkernewek
Mawkernewek
1 year ago

Have they costed a tunnel from Swansea to North Devon?

SubdanceKid
SubdanceKid
1 year ago

What about improvements to North – South travel first?? This is all part of a plan to extract goods and resources out of Wales and import people into Wales!

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