I cover many of the issues raised below and wider schemes Wales, in my book "How to build a Metro" This is a copy of an email I sent to UK and WG Ministers in July 2024 on the subject of "Cardiff West Junction" - a piece of essential rail infrastructure in Cardiff which has … Continue reading Cardiff West Junction…
Author: @swalesmetroprof
Professor of Practice in Connectivity at Cardiff University's School of Geography and Planning. Conceived & been working on The South Wales Metro since 2010...also KOd some thinking re Swansea Bay Metro and Cardiff Crossrail!
Hulme Stories…
I have a November 2024 PS to this blog (see below at the end of this blog). I just received an email (added below) from Ade Fellows (who I didn't remember - as is sadly the case for many given its nearly 40 years ago! ). As it turns out Ade lived in Hulme at … Continue reading Hulme Stories…
Cardiff Parkway…
July 2024 I cover some of these issues and wider opportunities re Metro in the Cardiff Capital Region in my book, "How to build a Metro", published on October 2024. This station should have happened already! PS Autumn/Summer 2025 - Planning issues removed and UK Gov via CSR have committed some funds (not enough yet) … Continue reading Cardiff Parkway…
Transit Oriented Development (TOD) in the Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) #3
From Illustration of “TOD” from Institute of Transportation and Development Policy This is a slightly longer version of an article published by Wales Centre for Public Policy in June 2024. It is also, in effect, a summary of one of the chapters of my book on the South Wales Metro published in October 2024. Pls … Continue reading Transit Oriented Development (TOD) in the Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) #3
Welsh Independence…no, not like North Korea (or even Brexit!)
Independence - No not like North Korea, or Brexit for that matter... I think the debate on independence in Wales, and constitutional reform more broadly, is more often than not confused because many, even most of us, are not clear what we mean by independence; and those opposed to the idea often equate it with the most … Continue reading Welsh Independence…no, not like North Korea (or even Brexit!)
To Casperia and back by train…
In 2022 my wife and I travelled to Casperia and back by train (to La Torretta which my aunt/uncle/cousins have run since about 2000). I documented that trip here To Rome and back by train… – Mark Barry (swalesmetroprof.blog). We have just repeated that trip in April 2024 to mark something of a semi-retirement for … Continue reading To Casperia and back by train…
Metro, subsidies & Cardiff… Some tough choices and compromises?
PS November 2024. I covered and updated some of these details in my book, "How to build a Metro". Take a look! PS Feb 2025: I published a blog "My suggestions for WG and TfW Board" in Feb 2025, which covers some of the points set out below Despite the naysaying and the covid induced … Continue reading Metro, subsidies & Cardiff… Some tough choices and compromises?
There must be an election coming up…
On February 13th, 2024, Sarah Atherton MP published a piece in the Wrexham Leader criticising a number of Welsh Government decisions and/or implications thereof of as regards transport. 'Plan for increased use of public transport is fundamentally flawed' | The Leader (leaderlive.co.uk) Whilst I have no problem with an honest and reasoned critique, most of … Continue reading There must be an election coming up…
Wales, Metro, TOD & Devolution…
To support my presentation at a Wales Week in London event on the South Wales Metro on 27th February, I have penned a few words about the Cardiff Capital Region Metro. It also appeared in a shorter form in Transport Times on February 13th, 2024. You can also download the presentation I used here PS I … Continue reading Wales, Metro, TOD & Devolution…
What use is GDP on a planet with no trees or bees?
A version of this blog appeared in Bylines Cymru on 18th February 2024; this blog "A little knowledge is dangerous" is I think an appropriate and complementary contribution to this broader discussion re the economy, environment and people's awareness and understanding of the underlying science. No, I'm not an economist, so if you are and/or … Continue reading What use is GDP on a planet with no trees or bees?
The UK rail industry, Wales, HS2, Trans Pennine Upgrade, Network Rail spend, etc…
An updated version of this article appears in my book (from 14 Oct 2024), "How to build a Metro" So please head over and take a look.... The costs and estimates (let alone the scope) for projects like HS2, etc keep changing; and we are yet to see what the forward programme for rail enhancements … Continue reading The UK rail industry, Wales, HS2, Trans Pennine Upgrade, Network Rail spend, etc…
Cardiff bus station, bus networks and integration…
I cover some more of the theory of networks in my book (from late Oct 2024), "How to build a Metro" So please head over and take a look.... Cardiff is getting a new bus station in Spring 2024…at last. Over the last few months, I have observed much commentary on this project, about the … Continue reading Cardiff bus station, bus networks and integration…
No rail devolution? No Swansea Bay Metro!
I cover a little more about Swansea Bay Metro and the rail industry in Wales in my book (from late Oct 2024), "How to build a Metro" So please head over and take a look.... Without fundamental constitutional reform, a Swansea Bay Metro will likely never happen. A version of this blog appeared in the … Continue reading No rail devolution? No Swansea Bay Metro!
Pride and the Global Centre of Rail Excellence
Earlier this week (on Tuesday 29th November 2023) I took a trip up to the top of the Dulais Valley, Onllwyn and the site of the Global Centre of Rail Excellence. My previous trip had been over five years earlier with MP Christina Rees and colleague Katie Allister to see what was then, Celtic Energy’s … Continue reading Pride and the Global Centre of Rail Excellence
The butchering of HS2, Wales and the NWML…
I address the issue of rail funding in Wales in a little more detail in my book (from late Oct 2024), "How to build a Metro" So please head over and take a look.... So, this week, Rishi Sunak, No 10 and HMT announced “Network North”[i]. This in effect killed HS2 and included in the … Continue reading The butchering of HS2, Wales and the NWML…