PS thanks to those who attended the launch of my book “How to build a Metro” at Cardiff University on 27 May 2025. As promised, I have attached my slide set here.
PS I did an interview with Cylch in summer 2025 that also covered some of the vision stuff!
Another quick Metro blog…
You can actually see it now, the South Wales Metro that is. This phase may still be 12-18 months away from full “turn up and go” operation, but you can see the new depot at Taffs Well, the tram-trains, the FLIRTS, the OLE, the bay line works, the enhanced Rhondda branch, the new platform at Aberdare, etc. Despite the doubters its real and is happening.
It also needs saying that enormous credit must go to Welsh Government and Transport for Wales, for running with this hugely challenging project; and be in no doubt that without it, the Senedd and devolution, the Metro would not be happening. I have spent enough time at Westminster and Whitehall to assert with a high degree of confidence that UK Government would not have done this (and they were reluctantly dragged into it by Welsh Government)! Take a look at this chapter for some evidence of their historical indifference to major transport investment in Wales, and this one for a funding overview!
As many know, I did self-publish my book “How to build a Metro” telling the back story of this amazing collective effort in October 2024. Now, to accompany my “book launch” talk at Cardiff University on 27 May 2025 (book here to attend ), I want to pick out some of the key facets of the advocacy and early development, that I think helped secure the political decision to proceed in 2015. Yes, just a list that some may challenge, refine and/or augment. Nonetheless, I hope it might provide a useful check list for others at the start of their “Metro journey”. Quicker than reading my entire book as well! Happy to talk and share….
Here goes.
Most important; you need a Metro Vision, and it needs to be big, shiny and ambitious. As Daniel Burnham once said,
“Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably themselves will not be realized’.
In so doing the Vision has to be grounded in reality, and especially be commensurate with local socio-economic data and political realities. You will also ultimately need a robust business case (but don’t worry about that at the outset).
It also needs to answer the Why you need a Metro, question – this is the most important question, more than the How, Who, What, When etc
In so doing, focus on Wider Benefits (less so technical transport stuff!) and especially access to jobs, regeneration, economic impacts, transit-oriented development, air quality improvements, carbon reductions, etc.
For us in the Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) the Vision we developed is perhaps best summarised on my introductory slides to nearly all my Metro presentations over the last fifteen years (see below).
The 2013 Metro Impact Study is probably worth a look…..here are the emerging priorities it set out:
And for a more up to date view of what we need over the next 15 years based on current Metro plans, then the 2021 CCR Rail Passenger Vision is (I think !) pretty good, as well as the relevant section in my book.
As we have learned in the Cardiff Capital Region, especially with our fragmented local government map, one needs regional political support from the majority of participants. So, one has to develop the Vision to fit the region and its politics. It is also worth noting that over the last fifteen years (and especially the early years) I have met to discuss Metro with probably every CEO and Leader of each local authority in the region, as well as many members elected to the Senedd and Westminster. I also presented “Metro” in most of the region’s council chambers – either to the entire council or more specific committees (like transport and or economic development)
Now money and affordability are always an issue, there is never enough, and other priorities can always get in the way. A big Vision will require a lot of investment, so be bold, the cloth cutting can come later. But even with a stretch, one has to be realistic. For example, a £10Bn project in the Cardiff Capital Region would probably never have been taken seriously but £1-2Bn would and did; in that context and with refence to Daniel Burnham £100M would not be worth starting!
Use comparable examples to build your evidence base, when making the case it always helps to reference other similar systems and/or investment. I used Newcastle, Manchester amongst others to help make our case. The then MD of Metrolink Peter Cushing kindly hosted a number of trips I organised for officials and elected representatives to take a look at the Manchester Light Rail system
Your vision should paint a picture of a possible future and the steps along the way, but don’t get bogged down in specific details. The Vision needs to support a narrative from advocacy, through development into implementation.
Most importantly and perhaps counter intuitively, your Vision should have fuzzy edges. The key is securing widespread support for a big vision that everyone wants, but few know exactly what it is! Yes, show people what you want to achieve, but you need an Impressionist painting, not a pre-Raphaelite. The latter is needed when you have a funded contracted project.
Then you need a champion or ideally champions, to lead the advocacy and engage with key stakeholder groups, especially the business community (and at the outset of our Metro journey in the Cardiff Capital Region, the role of the Cardiff Business Partnership supported by the Institute of Welsh Affairs was fundamental), politicians and media. On the latter I kept a drip feed of articles flowing into the Western Mail and the trade press and did occasional TV and radio appearances. I also took opportunities to present evidence to committees at Westminster and the Senedd. You also need to seek out and engage with dissenting or cynical voices and deal with their objections. This effort is needed every day, over and over again. So, those telling the story have to be comfortable with ground hog day and repeat themselves, repeatedly (I know I did!).
To succeed this will be a collective effort, so you need as many people and organisations “on-side” as possible. This image from my website sets out just some (about 400) of the people who either influenced me or were involved in some way in the early advocacy and development of the Cardiff Capital Region Metro.
Use maps to tell a story…and share & engage widely (inc. via press/media). You want everyone to want to be on the Metro map and to point out when they are not. As an example, in early 2015, a recently published Cardiff Capital Region Metro map caused some consternation in the Senedd when Nick Ramsay MS noted the omission of Monmouth in a question to the First Minister. Officials asked me what we could to in terms of Metro development to address this omission. I picked up my pencil and drew a link on the map to Monmouth and suggested we just reprint a future version of “the map” with Monmouth on it. No Transport planning needed. We did, it was re-published, and everyone was happy. (PS Monmouth ought to be integrated to the wider Metro via a new franchised and high-quality bus service)
To note these advocacy maps are very different from actual operational Metro maps
Throughout the often years of advocacy and initial scheme development needed to secure a “go ahead”, as well as during implementation, the details will always adjust in flight. So don’t hold onto one particular detailed manifestation; that will drive you mad (it nearly did with me!). Instead, try to maintain a golden thread of continuity and consistency between the formal business case/scheme development and the vision/story telling.
Often, Metro projects follow policy. This wasn’t really the case in the Cardiff Capital Region for the “South Wales Metro”. The Metro came first and ended up influencing policy at Welsh, regional and local authority level (and I had a hand in much of that). Nonetheless, the more one’s vision is reflected in public policy the better chance one has to secure its funding.
As I often tell students, there are many great projects with a good business case, that never happen and end up gathering dust on a shelf. In fact, one of the biggest challenges is dealing with civil service bureaucracy and inertia; perhaps best exemplified in this response given to me by a senior civil servant…
“Mark, what you fail to understand, our job, sometimes, is to do the wrong thing in the best way we can”
Government bureaucracy leans much more toward the tactical, less so the strategic and is constrained by the civil service code and a focus on process. This often means you can only really advise Ministers to do things over which they have powers, sufficient funding, delivery capability and in so doing does not expose them to reputational damage, etc. I’m not saying that’s wrong (there are plenty of good reasons why it evolved that way), it’s just a reality one has to deal with. This section of my book reflects on my time in Welsh Government Developing the South Wales Metro with Welsh Government 2013-16
Big stuff is hard to do! So, one has to be a little Machiavellian to achieve a positive outcome. I know I did. There are always some black arts needed.
To restate – and be in no doubt, you need lots of collaborative support. So, build a coalition of the willing across multiple organisation and stakeholders, key government officials and advisors, as well as politicians.
And finally, again, repeat your story over and over again…. for years!!! For the full gory details then grab a bottle of wine and read “How to build a Metro”!
For some Vision examples, then look at my 2011 Metro Report, 2013 Metro Consortium Report and my 2013 WG Commissioned Metro Impact Study – these collectively shaped our Metro and provided the foundation for all that followed leading to Carwyn Jones formally initiating the project in 2015, and then James Price and his team at Transport for Wales actually building it!
Good luck!
Anyone in Cardiff on 27 May 2025, then why not come along to my Metro talk at Cardiff University.
If you need any help developing and securing support for your Metro Vision… then give me a call (07771 893292) or drop me an email ( mark@mgbarryconsulting.com ) !
Some other useful References…..perhaps?
Why UK City Regions need Metros (like the South Wales Metro)
Developing a Vision for the South Wales Metro
Developing the South Wales Metro with Welsh Government 2013-16
Comment: South Wales project shows visions can become reality
You are the Godfather of the Metro!