Blogs on the South Wales Metro (or Cardiff Metro), transport, politics, bees and other stuff…
Time for UK Government and PM elect, Andy Burnham, to devolve rail powers and funding to Welsh Government. With reference to the latest Senedd commissioned research on rail enhancement funding in Wales which exposes the systemic underfunding by UK Gov that can be counted in £Bns!
Wales has £4bn+ of rail enhancements in development....but where is the formal Wales Rail Enhancement Pipeline and when are Uk Gov going to fully devolve rail powers and funding so we can get on and deliver it out to 2040
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.
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…
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…
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…
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…
I include an updated chapter on the rail industry and funding in Wales in my book (from late Oct 2024), "How to build a Metro". So please head over and take a look.... PS October 2023. Given PMs announcement cancelling HS2 north of Birmingham and a suggestion of £1Bn for OLE on the NWML I … Continue reading 200 to 1: English Rail Investment V Wales Rail Investment !
This is a version of my submission to the Senedd Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee, in May 2022 as part of their review of bus and rail transport in Wales . The transcript is here. To note: the views and opinions expressed in this paper are those of Mark Barry and no other person … Continue reading Mark Barry, May 2022: Submission to Senedd Climate Change Committee
The nascent Great British Railways and their transition team are/will be responsible for the new "Whole Industry Strategic Plan". They are are currently consulting on that and have a call for evidence open until Feb 2022. I submitted my response to that "call for evidence" which is as set out below... PS I also submitted … Continue reading GBR – WISP Consultation. My response…Jan 2022
What mode is best......? An updated version of this article will appear as a chapter in my book (from late Oct 2024), "How to build a Metro" So please head over and take a look.... Postscript April 2022 - I have made a small number of edits re WG Bus legislation and rail v bus … Continue reading Wales, Transport Planning & Choices…
This is the full version of the article that appeared in the December 2021 edition of Rail Technology Magazine and the February 2022 edition of Rail Professional. As many will know, I have been involved in the South Wales Metro project in various roles since my first report on the subject, “A Metro for Wales … Continue reading South Wales Metro & Devolution
I just found an old blog (see below), that was originally published by the IWA in 2012 on the subject of "Severnside", which I thought I should share unedited! Interesting to see how much, and how little, has changed since 2012. Especially the Climate Emergency, Brexit, the cancellation of GWML electrification to Swansea, a recognition … Continue reading Severnside – My 2012 Blog
I have not written or blogged specifically on north east Wales. So, let me make up for that oversight and address some real issues and opportunities, especially given the commitment to extend HS2 to Crewe as part of phase 2a. A relativity small capital investment of £200-300M will enable significant economic and environmental benefits through … Continue reading Better rail services for NE Wales
I include a chapter on the rail industry and funding in Wales in my book (from late Oct 2024), "How to build a Metro". So please head over and take a look.... My written submission to the Welsh Affairs Select Committees review of Rail Infrastructure Investment in Wales Since appearing to present oral evidence in … Continue reading Welsh Rail Infrastructure Investment