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.
Pontypridd – the Heart of The Valleys
Category: Metro
Cardiff Crossrail Phase 2
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 for 2025…
Metro and other hopes (Crossrail, SWML, Brexit, PR, Severn Barrage, etc...) for 2025
Why the UKs City Regions need Metros…
....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…
How to build a Metro…
It’s now fifteen years since I first set out my ideas for a Cardiff Capital Region Metro (or South Wales Metro) and just over 13 since my report, “A Metro for Wales Capital City Region” was published with the Cardiff Business Partnership and Institute of Welsh Affairs. It was in Autumn 2015 that FM Carwyn … Continue reading How to build a Metro…
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
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…
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…
Metro Hopes for 2023…
I include an update of the future of Metros in Wales in my book (from late Oct 2024), "How to build a Metro". So please head over and take a look.... I’m normally pretty positive and optimistic…and have talked and written about Metros in Wales in such a manner, even with some small measure of … Continue reading Metro Hopes for 2023…
Metro Moans for 2023…
I include an update of the future of Metros in Wales in my book (from late Oct 2024), "How to build a Metro". So please head over and take a look.... (PS still relevant in 2024....) Single track Coryton line limiting service frequency to an inappropriate 2tph I’m normally pretty positive and optimistic…and have talked … Continue reading Metro Moans for 2023…