Metro, subsidies & Cardiff… Some tough choices and compromises?

Despite the naysaying and the covid induced delays, the Core Valley Lines (CVL) transformation part of The South Wales Metro is progressing at pace and by the end of 2025, will deliver a radical uplift in public transport services and capacity to the core valleys north of Cardiff[i]. This is a great start, but we … Continue reading Metro, subsidies & Cardiff… Some tough choices and compromises?

New M4 – Yes or No?

So next week, Welsh Government and Mark Drakeford the First Minister, will make a decision on whether to proceed with the new M4 around Newport. I guess its time for me to come clean as well.  So just a few words to set out where I am on this matter today, June 1st, 2019. Unlike … Continue reading New M4 – Yes or No?

Transit Oriented Development in the Cardiff Capital Region….

To note:  This is really a brain dump article (so happy to take challenges) that will be subject to ongoing refinement as I learn more and better arrange my thoughts... It also follows up my presentation on Transit Oriented Development (TOD) for Wales Week in London at the Royal Festival Hall in February 2019. There … Continue reading Transit Oriented Development in the Cardiff Capital Region….

What Metro Might Do? October 2016

The attached, "What Metro Might Do?" is the output of an event I hosted at Cardiff University in October 2016. It raised many interesting and challenging questions and ideas in respect of the wider impacts of the South Wales Metro.  Given that Metro procurement was concluded in May 2018 and KeolisAmey selected as partner to … Continue reading What Metro Might Do? October 2016

Making the Metro work for the Valleys and for Cardiff…

I did a lot of "heavy lifting" re: the South Wales Metro 2010-2016, the burden then passed to Transport for Wales....and now to Keolis/Amey who will work to deliver it by 2023/4.  Perhaps I may allow myself a moment to sketch out some ideas for how the planned network could be enhanced and extended from … Continue reading Making the Metro work for the Valleys and for Cardiff…

Economic Impacts of The South Wales Metro?

These are the "rough notes"  (so apologies for grammar, etc) I used for my speech at the Wales in London event held at The Shard on 14th March 2018     Mark Barry, Professor of Practice in Connectivity, Cardiff University; Founder, M&G Barry Consulting and Author, "A Metro for Wales’ Capital City Region - Connecting … Continue reading Economic Impacts of The South Wales Metro?

Swansea to Cardiff in 30 minutes and a Swansea Bay Metro

A radical ~£1Bn  investment in rail links to and within Swansea Bay to deliver a major boost to the regional economy: 30-minute journeys to Cardiff and 2 hour 15 minutes to London & Heathrow. The foundation of a rail based Swansea Bay Metro. New development and regeneration opportunities across the region. A move beyond a tactical argument about electrification to a more strategic discussion about the vision and future connectivity of Swansea Bay