William Powell AM calls for the Welsh Government to support further development of rail services for Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire
William Powell, Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for Mid & West Wales today called for the Welsh Government to provide further support for the development of rail services in West Wales including shorter journey times, more frequent services, improved facilities for passengers and the re-opening of railway stations.
William Powell's call came after today's announcement from the UK Coalition Government that the railway service from Cardiff to Swansea will be electrified. This is in addition to the existing commitment to electrify the line from London to Cardiff. It is part of a total direct rail infrastructure investment for Wales of £350 million. Over the next ten years Wales is due to benefit directly and indirectly from over £2 billion of rail infrastructure investment.
William Powell commented:
"Today's announcement by the UK Government gives the Welsh Government a unique opportunity to push forward on supporting the development of rail services west of Swansea. I have been calling for some time now for the Welsh Government in Cardiff to go further in improving our rail network in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. The new passenger service to Fishguard has been a good start. I now want to see better services and improvements to station facilities as well as the re-opening of stations in towns like St Clears.
The announcement by the UK Coalition Government is good news for everyone travelling from West Wales to Cardiff, London, Bristol Parkway and Heathrow Airport. It follows intensive behind the scenes lobbying from Welsh Liberal Democrats in the UK Government and is the most significant infrastructure announcement for Wales in decades.
We now need the Welsh Government to follow-up on this good news by itself announcing further support for the West Wales rail network. We mustn't lose this valuable opportunity."
For more information on the overall rail investment programme for the UK announced by the UK Coalition Government Department for Transport visit www.dft.gov.uk