Blogs on the South Wales Metro (or Cardiff Metro), transport, politics, bees and other stuff…
In June 2026 I will be helping run the "Metro and Us" event. The key question is to ask 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.
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......
A quick brain dump of predictions for 2026...some transport, some politics, some economic... Blwyddyn Newydd Dda
The GBR Bill has just been published.... whilst much to applaud re industry rationalisation, sadly, for Wales, its more of the old Encyclopedia Britannica "for Wales, see England" mindset that sees Wales's major issues (control and funding) completely overlooked.
Sodium battery adoption will transform the energy generation and distribution market and radically reduce the cost of domestic electricity (ps maybe!)
A summary of the primary rail enhancement schemes needed in Wales to 2040 and justification for £4Bn commitment from UK Government to help deliver them.
A brief summary of the key facets of a successful Metro Vision - with reference to the success of the South Wales Metro
A brief reflection on our 2025 Interrail trip from Cardiff to Casperia and back...
My initial thought in response to the DfTs GBR Feb 2025 consultation and reference to the reality that the UK economy is held back as a result of the relative underinvestment in public transport in the UKs major cities and city regions (outside London) when compared to Europe
Welsh Government and Transport for Wales have made great progress with the development of the South Wales Metro - and deserve recognition for this enormous undertaking. However we can't sit still, there is more to do...Crossrail Phase 2 to address Metro gaps in Cardiff, revised staffing protocols to reduce operating costs, more overt bus/rail integration and for the region more TOD.
My quick reflections on the potential redundancies announced at Cardiff University and more broadly the role of Higher Education in our economy.
We can't stop once we have delivered the £1Bn South Wales Metro. To enable its wider benefits, we now need a Metro Economic Development and Regeneration Programme for Pontypridd and the Central Valleys.
Cardiff Crossrail Phase 2 is essential for the economy of the city & wider region. It will address the gaps in the current Metro Programme in Cardiff, and provide the foundation for the full Crossrail that has the biggest mode shift and economic impact potential of any scheme in Wales
Metro and other hopes (Crossrail, SWML, Brexit, PR, Severn Barrage, etc...) for 2025
....and why it's not happening fast or big enough! A version of this article appeared in the November 2024 edition of Rail Technology Magazine. I presented at Connected Places Catapult event in Leeds in November on this subject and will also present at the UK 2025 Rail Summit, so this is a timely blog. It’s … Continue reading Why the UKs City Regions need Metros…