Blogs on the South Wales Metro (or Cardiff Metro), transport, politics, bees and other stuff…
I added some post event thoughts re: the 4th June 2026 "Metro and Us" event in Cardiff. The key question to ask is "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.
Could Metro prove to be a catalyst for a shift towards transit-orientated development across the Cardiff Capital Region?
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
....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…
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
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…
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?
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…
I cover a little more about Swansea Bay Metro and the rail industry in Wales in my book (from late Oct 2024), "How to build a Metro" So please head over and take a look.... Without fundamental constitutional reform, a Swansea Bay Metro will likely never happen. A version of this blog appeared in the … Continue reading No rail devolution? No Swansea Bay Metro!
I cover these details in a chapter on Transport Planning in my book (from late Oct 2024), "How to build a Metro". So please head over and take a look.... We often hear calls for free or heavily subsidised public transport; we have free access to health care after all, so why not public transport? … Continue reading Free bus fares….or not?
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 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…
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
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…
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, and in 2024 (noting events have overtaken some of the content somewhat) Most of you will know that I have written and spoken at length over … Continue reading Levelling Up, Working Together? A Transport Enhancement Programme for Wales