Simply put re the 2026 Budget and Rail in Wales.....Devolution, My Arse!
Devolution, My Arse – A quick Budget 2026 post re: rail in Wales
Simply put re the 2026 Budget and Rail in Wales.....Devolution, My Arse!
The Nelson Freight Line….
A full x-valley tram-train connection between Quakers Yard and Ystrad Mynach is a much better long-term option than just a partial reopening of the old freight line to Nelson!
Wales Rail Enhancement Priorities for UK Government, October 2026.
A copy of my letter to UK Government and Welsh Government Minister re my view of Wales rail enhancement priorities to 2030/31
Welsh Government Transport Priorities Sep 2026?
The new Welsh Plaid Cymru Government have a had a few months to bed in since their Senedd victory in May 2026. Now perhaps time for me to opine on what I think their transport priorities for the next few years should be...
The humans are fucking it up…
The humans are fucking it up....
Caerphilly Interchange…
Some reflections from me after my comments re the proposed new Caerphilly station last week. I got some things wrong...so hands up!
Caerphilly Station, Tenby & Abertillery extension…. are these the best VfM schemes?
Do some of the committed PT schemes in Wales lack a robust VfM case (eg Caerphilly Station, Tenby Station, Abertillery Extension, etc) preventing some other better VfM schemes from progressing?
Its rubbish…and so are some people!
Can we do away with door-to-door rubbish collections (and occasional rubbish strewn streets) and adopt a more European and efficient neighbourhood rubbish collection ecosystem??
Hey, Andy, time to devolve rail to Wales!
Time for UK Government and PM elect, Andy Burnham, to devolve rail powers and funding to Welsh Government. With reference to the latest Senedd commissioned research on rail enhancement funding in Wales which exposes the systemic underfunding by UK Gov that can be counted in £Bns!
Metro and Us
I added some post event thoughts re: the 4th June 2026 "Metro and Us" event in Cardiff. The key question to ask is "what else we need to do, to maximise the impact of the South Wales Metro and especially to enable wider economic development and regeneration?". Click the image for more details.
The “Call Centrefication” of GPs
Some personal reflections/anecdotes on increasing barriers to accessing GP services in Wales, esp the "Call Centrefication" of GPs. As well as frustrations with appointment booking and NHS app functionality. We need better patient-centred services and integrated IT systems to improve healthcare access.
Metro – A Catalyst for change….and TOD?
Could Metro prove to be a catalyst for a shift towards transit-orientated development across the Cardiff Capital Region?
Welsh Politics, M4, Induced Demand…and AI
The upcoming Welsh election has reignited discussions around the M4 Relief Road. Recent international research on induced demand reveals that expanding road capacity leads to increased traffic and does not alleviate congestion. Effective congestion management requires complementary strategies, including enhanced public transport and land-use policies.
Today, Tomorrow, Together…
Transport for Wales has launched its Rail investment prospectus, "Today, Tomorrow, Together". This complements a UK Government commitment to a long-term funding programme for Wales rail network. How much new money has actually been committed? As usual the devil is in the detail. Here are my initial thoughts......
Mark Barry-Predictions for 2026…
A quick brain dump of predictions for 2026...some transport, some politics, some economic... Blwyddyn Newydd Dda