My article in the April 2019 edition of Rail Professional It explores the impact (or not) of Williams and sets out perhaps more important issues facing the Welsh Government in relation to rail policy and network development - particularly the long term underinvestment of the Welsh rail network. Seems the link is broken...so here is … Continue reading Wales and the Williams Review
Category: Cardiff
South Wales Metro & Lloyd George Avenue
Just re-read an article for the IWA I penned in 2012...which touched on the opportunity to use the South Wales Metro to finally deliver the Lloyd George Avenue (LGA) envisaged by the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation (CBDC) in the 1990s. For me the Metro presents a huge number of urban design, development and regeneration opportunities. … Continue reading South Wales Metro & Lloyd George Avenue
Wales’ Rail Network – The Case for Investment
This short article accompanies the publication of my "Case for Investment" work for Welsh Government in respect of Wales' rail network. It also appeared in the Western Mail on December 12th 2018 "Wales will be getting new trains, but they’ll operate on a “2ndGear Railway” In May this year the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and … Continue reading Wales’ Rail Network – The Case for Investment
Swansea Bay Metro (Dec 2018)….
My original musings re a Swansea Bay Metro in 2017 have been superseded by more formal work with Welsh Government and Swansea Bay local authorities & stakeholders through 2018 and hopefully into 2019. For a more up to date view of the "art of the possible" take a look at this presentation I gave at … Continue reading Swansea Bay Metro (Dec 2018)….
South Wales Metro – Critique
In November 2018 I was asked to submit evidence to the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee at the National Assembly for Wales in respect of the procurement of the Wales and Borders Franchise and South Wales Metro by Transport for Wales. In setting out my view of that process and an assessment of the … Continue reading South Wales Metro – Critique
Metro & Me, October 2018
In October 2018 we (Cardiff University, Arup, IWA, Capital Law) published a collection of essays related to the South Wales Metro to support the Metro and Me event held in Cardiff on 8th October. Capital Law did the heavy lifting (especially Lowri Gregory) to plan and manage the day. Thanks to all the speakers and … Continue reading Metro & Me, October 2018
Metro Impact Study, October 2013
Worth referring back to the 2013, Metro Impact Study. It now has a new relevance given we are about to build a #southwalesmetro . Note the older "metro map"...this has gone through a few iterations over the last few years!
What Metro Might Do? October 2016
The attached, "What Metro Might Do?" is the output of an event I hosted at Cardiff University in October 2016. It raised many interesting and challenging questions and ideas in respect of the wider impacts of the South Wales Metro. Given that Metro procurement was concluded in May 2018 and KeolisAmey selected as partner to … Continue reading What Metro Might Do? October 2016
Making the Metro work for the Valleys and for Cardiff…
I did a lot of "heavy lifting" re: the South Wales Metro 2010-2016, the burden then passed to Transport for Wales....and now to Keolis/Amey who will work to deliver it by 2023/4. Perhaps I may allow myself a moment to sketch out some ideas for how the planned network could be enhanced and extended from … Continue reading Making the Metro work for the Valleys and for Cardiff…
A Swansea Bay Metro …..and Neath
There has been a lot of debate and comment, especially over the last few days, in respect of my ideas for Swansea Bay and rail connectivity as presented here Firstly and to scotch any rumours, no one is proposing that Neath station should be closed; far from it. I want to see more services to … Continue reading A Swansea Bay Metro …..and Neath
Wider Impacts of South Wales Metro (article for Bevan Foundation July 2016)
Full text of my article for The Bevan Foundation July 4 2016 http://www.bevanfoundation.org I have spent much of the last six years involved in some way in what has become known as the South Wales (or Cardiff Capital Region) Metro; initially as an advocate from the business community who galvanised and led support around my 2011 … Continue reading Wider Impacts of South Wales Metro (article for Bevan Foundation July 2016)
A road to Cardiff Airport….or regeneration in Pontypridd?
Its back again…talk of a £100M link road from J34 of the M4 south through the Vale of Glamorgan to Cardiff Airport has resurfaced (they’ll be choking on their ginger beers in Pendoylan). Sounds familiar? Well it is. Welsh Government tested and consulted on this option (and others) in a process in 2007/8 as I … Continue reading A road to Cardiff Airport….or regeneration in Pontypridd?
Mark Barry 