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| ''''''Transport for Wales'''''' | |||
| ] | |||
| The '''South Wales Metro''' is a proposed integration of heavy rail and development of light rail and bus-based ] services and systems in ] around the hub of {{stnlnk|Cardiff Central}}. The first phase was approved for development in October 2013.<ref name=ITV20131009/> | |||
| Transport for Wales (TfW) was established by Welsh Government in 2015. It is a wholly owned, not-for-profit company that was established to provide support and expertise to the Welsh Government in connection to transport projects in Wales. It is one of the delivery elements of the Welsh Government's vision for delivering a transformational integrated transport system in Wales, providing high-quality, safe, affordable and sustainable transport for all.Its structure has been designed to be an agile and flexible resource with the ability to scale up or down resources to meet project need, to meet variable requirements and improve the Welsh Governments ability to recruit skills from the market more quickly.TfW are currently designing and undertaking the procurement process for the next Wales and Border Rail Service and Metro on behalf of the Welsh Government. | |||
| ==Background== | |||
| The existing rail-based transport systems in South Wales were severely degraded following the 1960s ], with the closure of many lines serving the former mining communities and their links to ports on the South Wales Coast. Most of these closed lines ran across the north-south geography, cutting through and across the ]. {{cn|date=October 2014}} | |||
| ''''''South Wales Metro'''''' | |||
| Ever since these cuts, which left many smaller former mining communities isolated and without rail services, there has been a willingness to re-instate services where economical. In addition, the provision of connecting services across the wider South East Wales region by creating a metro-style system has come on to the policy agenda. This would allow easier access to the employment and shopping opportunities in both ] and the wider area. {{cn|date=October 2014}} | |||
| Metro will bring benefits to passengers, link communities together and help transform the economy. It will have a positive social, economic and environmental effect. It will also shape our region's identity. | |||
| ==Development== | |||
| In February 2011, Cardiff Business Partnership (CBP) published a report by Mark Barry of M&G Consulting, calling for an investment of £2.5bn over 10 years to connect ], ] and the ]. The report ''Connecting Cardiff, Newport and the Valleys – A Metro for Wales' Capital City Region'', concluded that with the stated investment in a regional metro system, by 2025 it would be possible to travel from the Heads of the Valleys to Cardiff or Newport in 40 minutes, by combining electrified heavy rail and light rail systems and boosted by faster rail links to ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12328032|title=South east Wales 'needs £2.5bn metro rail network'|publisher=]|date=1 February 2011|accessdate=11 November 2013}}</ref> | |||
| '''High Frequency''' | |||
| After the ], supported by parties including a CBP team led by Mark Barry, had successfully lobbied at Westminster for the extension of the ] electrification programme west to {{stnlnk|Swansea}}, and north into the ], CBP engaged Barry to develop a more detailed blueprint plan for Cardiff. Submitted in April 2012, after internal consultation it was submitted by CDP to the Welsh Government's Business Minister ] in December 2012.<ref name=BBC20875901/> The scheme proposed a £200M investment in a Cardiff crossrail scheme based on ]s, between St Mellons in the east via Cardiff Central, south into ], north to {{stnlnk|Coryton}}, converting the existing Cityline section of the ] to tram, and a new route Northwest via ] and ] to the ] at ].<ref name=BBC20875901>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-20875901|title=Cardiff 'crossrail' proposals by business lobby|publisher=]|date=31 December 2012|accessdate=11 November 2013}}</ref> | |||
| Metro will run at least four services an hour across the whole network when needed and even more on busy sections. This gives a 'turn up and go' experience for passengers using vehicles designed for speed and capacity. | |||
| '''Integration''' | |||
| In April 2013, Barry led a private sector metro consortium, with the common aim of promoting the metro project, which included representatives from: ]; ]; ; Steer Davies Gleave. Hart then commissioned Barry to write a further report, detailing a phased approach to his original scheme. This report concluded that an initial £1bn investment in an integrated metro transport network for South East Wales could over a 30-year period add 420,000 people to the regional transport network, create 7,000 new jobs and plough an additional £4bn into the regional economy.<ref name=SWE6225251>{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/business-news/edwina-hart-gives-backing-south-6225251|title=Edwina Hart gives backing to Cardiff Capital Region Metro system |author=Chris Kelsey|publisher=]|date=22 October 2013|accessdate=11 November 2013}}</ref> | |||
| Metro combines heavy rail, light rail and buses to deliver a seamless network. With just one ticket, people will be able to move quickly and easily across the region. It also links with active travel – cycling and walking – to create a completely integrated network. | |||
| '''Extendable''' | |||
| ==Implementation== | |||
| Metro is designed so it can grow to make it even more accessible. New stations, new routes, increased frequencies – in future, the network can bring better public transport to more communities and economic centres. | |||
| In October 2013, after Barry had submitted his report to Hart at the end of Summer 2013, the Business Minister endorsed the report. She allocated £62m for phase one of the scheme to improve bus and rail links, including rail infrastructure improvements, station upgrades, park and ride schemes, bus corridors, and walking and cycling schemes.<ref name=SWE6225251/> Further, she set up a working group to examine detailed proposals for the potential subsequent stages of the Cardiff Capital Region Metro system.<ref name=ITV20131009>{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/news/wales/update/2013-10-09/plans-show-the-potential-of-metro-network/|title=Plans show the potential of metro network|publisher=]|date=11 October 2013|accessdate=11 November 2013}}</ref> | |||
| '''Regeneration''' | |||
| ==Proposed system== | |||
| Metro will deliver better passenger facilities and community focal points around key stations, and stimulate opportunities for more strategic development and regeneration across the region. | |||
| ===Existing=== | |||
| {{Ebbw Valley Line|collapse=yes}} | |||
| {{Newport-Nelson Line (proposed)|collapse=yes}} | |||
| {{Heads of the Valleys BRT (proposed)|collapse=yes}} | |||
| *] from {{stnlnk|Severn Tunnel Junction}} west to: {{stnlnk|Newport}}, {{stnlnk|Cardiff Central}}; {{stnlnk|Bridgend}}; terminating at {{stnlnk|Maesteg}} | |||
| *{{stnlnk|Newport}} north to: | |||
| **Via ] to {{stnlnk|Pontypool and New Inn}} | |||
| ** Via ] to: | |||
| ***{{stnlnk|Ebbw Vale Town}} | |||
| ***{{stnlnk|Abertillery}} | |||
| *{{stnlnk|Cardiff Central}}: | |||
| **]: | |||
| ***Northwest to Coryton | |||
| ***North to {{stnlnk|Pontypridd}}: | |||
| ****Onwards to {{stnlnk|Treherbert}} | |||
| ****Onwards to {{stnlnk|Hirwaun}} | |||
| ****Onwards to {{stnlnk|Merthyr Tydfil}} | |||
| **South via ] to: | |||
| ***{{stnlnk|Penarth}} | |||
| ***{{stnlnk|Barry Island}}, then onwards via the coastal route to {{stnlnk|Bridgend}} | |||
| ===New=== | |||
| These routes would initially in Phase 1 be existing bus routes, and later, depending on traffic levels, would be developed as high-speed bus routes or light rail/tram-based services: | |||
| *{{stnlnk|Cardiff Central}}: | |||
| **South to: | |||
| ***Culverhouse Cross | |||
| ***Roath Basin | |||
| *Cardiff: | |||
| **Cross-route east/west from Coryton to Heath, Cardiff Gate, and then south to a new station at ] | |||
| *]: connecting: | |||
| **Northeast to Pontypridd | |||
| **Southeast to Cardiff Central | |||
| **Southwest via Llantrisant, Miskin/{{stnlnk|Pontyclun}} to Bridgend | |||
| *], connecting: | |||
| **North via {{stnlnk|Porth}} to Maerdy | |||
| *Pontypridd: connecting: | |||
| **Northeast via Ystrad Mynach, Pontllanfraith, ] to Pontypool | |||
| *]: new hub, connecting: | |||
| **North to Tredegar | |||
| *Hirwaun | |||
| **Cross route via Merthyr, Rhymney, Tredegar to Ebbw Vale | |||
| *Newport: | |||
| **Along the former ] to ], via ], ], ], ] and ]. | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{reflist}} | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| * | |||
| {{Transport in Cardiff}} | |||
| {{Cardiff, Newport and the Valleys railway stations}} | |||
| {{UK light rail}} | |||
| {{Britishmetros}} | |||
| {{Current rail infrastructure projects in the United Kingdom}} | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
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Revision as of 08:33, 29 November 2016
'Transport for Wales'
Transport for Wales (TfW) was established by Welsh Government in 2015. It is a wholly owned, not-for-profit company that was established to provide support and expertise to the Welsh Government in connection to transport projects in Wales. It is one of the delivery elements of the Welsh Government's vision for delivering a transformational integrated transport system in Wales, providing high-quality, safe, affordable and sustainable transport for all.Its structure has been designed to be an agile and flexible resource with the ability to scale up or down resources to meet project need, to meet variable requirements and improve the Welsh Governments ability to recruit skills from the market more quickly.TfW are currently designing and undertaking the procurement process for the next Wales and Border Rail Service and Metro on behalf of the Welsh Government.
'South Wales Metro'
Metro will bring benefits to passengers, link communities together and help transform the economy. It will have a positive social, economic and environmental effect. It will also shape our region's identity.
High Frequency Metro will run at least four services an hour across the whole network when needed and even more on busy sections. This gives a 'turn up and go' experience for passengers using vehicles designed for speed and capacity.
Integration Metro combines heavy rail, light rail and buses to deliver a seamless network. With just one ticket, people will be able to move quickly and easily across the region. It also links with active travel – cycling and walking – to create a completely integrated network.
Extendable Metro is designed so it can grow to make it even more accessible. New stations, new routes, increased frequencies – in future, the network can bring better public transport to more communities and economic centres.
Regeneration Metro will deliver better passenger facilities and community focal points around key stations, and stimulate opportunities for more strategic development and regeneration across the region.