Without fundamental constitutional reform, a Swansea Bay Metro will likely never happen. A version of this blog appeared in the business section of Business News Wales / Western Mail on January 5th 2024. I want here to summarise its initial concept development, more recent scheme and business case development and the very real obstacles to … Continue reading No rail devolution? No Swansea Bay Metro!
Category: Swansea Bay Metro
The butchering of HS2, Wales and the NWML…
So, this week, Rishi Sunak, No 10 and HMT announced “Network North”[i]. This in effect killed HS2 and included in the small print £1Bn for the electrification of the NWML. So, in Wales, all good, yes? Well maybe not, let’s take a closer look. Figure 1 Network North Illustration from No10 Oct. 2023! First what … Continue reading The butchering of HS2, Wales and the NWML…
Metro Hopes for 2023…
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 critique. For example, in these blogs from 2022: Wales’ Metros – Update Feb 2022 Do you believe in Metro? and these earlier papers from 2018 (Which events have overtaken somewhat): My … Continue reading Metro Hopes for 2023…
Wales’ Metros – Update Feb 2022
A summary of this blog appeared in the Business Section of the Western Mail in March 2022 There has been some recent coverage in the media and some social media chatter about Wales’ Metro projects, their status and what they might deliver. Given my involvement in all of them – Cardiff/South Wales since 2010 and … Continue reading Wales’ Metros – Update Feb 2022
Levelling Up, Working Together? A Transport Enhancement Programme for Wales
A challenge to UK & Welsh Governments... A summary of this article appeared in the Western Mail on 28th June 2021 PS some minor edits made in Sep 2022 Most of you will know that I have written and spoken at length over the last few years on Welsh rail, the lack of enhancement funding … Continue reading Levelling Up, Working Together? A Transport Enhancement Programme for Wales
Wales and HS2…
The issue of the long-term underfunding of rail infrastructure in Wales by UK Government & its approach to HS2 goes right to the heart of all that is wrong with the constitutional relationship between Cardiff Bay & Westminster Postscript August 2020....and updated Nov 2020.. Another post script. Trying to work out out what has been … Continue reading Wales and HS2…
No new M4…so what instead?
A quick brain dump of some ideas (which is a follow up to my earlier piece on why I agree with the WG decision in respect of the M4)..….nothing new under the sun! I have also made a few tweaks and updated the map in response to some comments/suggestions... ....I also penned an article in … Continue reading No new M4…so what instead?
Swansea Bay Metro & City Deal
This is the transcript of the speech I gave at a Policy Form Wales, Swansea Bay City Deal Conference in April 2019 Thank you, Suzy. I spent about a week, preparing a brilliant presentation for you, really top quality, but it’s not working so you can’t see it! That’s just the way it goes, so … Continue reading Swansea Bay Metro & City Deal
Wales and the Williams Review
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
A Swansea Bay Parkway… …but where and why?
This is a more comprehensive version of the story that appeared in the Western Mail on 6th February PS August 2020 - for an update on proposals and work in Swansea Bay and West Wales pls see my February 2022 update on Metro in Wales There has been a lot discussion of late about a … Continue reading A Swansea Bay Parkway… …but where and why?
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)….
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
A Swansea Bay Metro…
Postscript: 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. I have published a more detailed article ....see Swansea to Cardiff in 30 mins (published 15th Sep 2017) Since the UK … Continue reading A Swansea Bay Metro…
Electrification to Swansea….or not?
PostScript. Please note the illustrative proposals contained in this article have been superseded by later blogs and my work with WG in 2018 making the "Case for Investment" in Wales' rail network...and to note, the prospect of a new main line along the coast/Fabian Way into Swansea is very unlikely! On March 1st, 2011, I … Continue reading Electrification to Swansea….or not?
Mark Barry 