Transport review - Conclusions

I am announcing the conclusions of my transport review at 9.30am today.

I have undertaken my review of existing transport programmes to ensure that there is a good strategic fit between the programmes and the vision set out in ‘Wales: A Better Country’ and the Spatial Plan.  I reported progress both to the Economic Development and Transport Committee and plenary earlier this year.  I am announcing my conclusions now that the final budget has been adopted.

My review has taken into account the many studies and reports undertaken on individual schemes and proposals in the past, further work undertaken since the publication of the Transport Framework as well as the work leading to the development of the Spatial Plan. The review has confirmed that our current  programmes are starting to deliver on our integrated transport agenda.  Good progress is being made in a number of areas, particularly when we have direct control, but overall not fast enough to deliver our vision.  This reflects the fact that we face a major challenge with the inexorable increase in the demand for travel, particularly traffic growth.  The success of our economic policies and the sharp and welcome growth in jobs means that this will undoubtedly continue for the foreseeable future.
In the light of this, my proposals are geared to increasing the speed of delivery.  We need to reduce levels of car commuting by increasing the use of public transport, reduce the level of single occupancy car usage and, through the broadband programme, increase the level of home working.  The schemes in our roads programmes are seeking to reduce congestion (and hence emission) levels, as well as improving the quality of the local environment.  



Statutory powers

The first requirement is to ensure that we have the tools to do the job.  The Transport (Wales) Bill and the Railways Bill, which are both in the UK Government’s legislative programme, will give the Assembly Government a coherent set of transport powers for the first time.  The Transport (Wales) Bill will greatly strengthen our powers in relation to transport planning and implementation.  The Railways Bill will give the Assembly Government direct control of local and regional rail services in Wales.

Wales Transport Strategy

The Transport (Wales) Bill will place a statutory duty on the Assembly Government to develop and implement integrated transport policies and to publish those policies in a Wales Transport Strategy.  The Strategy, which will build on the Transport Framework published in 2001, will set out our vision for a transport system which strikes a balance between our economic, social and environmental objectives.  It will reflect the Spatial Plan, which identifies the crucial role that transport will play in realising our vision of sustainable accessibility.

The development of the Strategy will be taken forward in close liaison with our partners in local government.  It will guide the development of transport planning and implementation in each of the four regional transport consortia areas.  The aim is to produce a draft of the Strategy for consultation by mid-2005, so that the final version can be ready to facilitate the preparation of each consortium’s local transport plan during 2006.

Transport review conclusions

The review has focused on existing programmes and plans.  It has identified the decisions that need to be made now to ensure we maintain our progress and momentum.  

Rail – The Assembly Government will continue to invest in our rail service in Wales.  We have reached agreement with Arriva Trains Wales to support the leasing of additional rolling stock on the Valley Lines which will be used to provide longer trains on key peak services, this rolling stock will become available during 2005 and  together with the introduction of a new Standard Pattern Timetable in December 2005 will deliver the first phase of a programme to double and in some areas quadruple capacity.  In addition, passenger trains will be running on the Vale of Glamorgan Line from next spring and services will commence on the Ebbw Valley Railway in 2006-07.  The end result will be a substantial metropolitan rail network serving the whole of South Wales.

With regard to long distance services, the completion of the West Coast Main Line upgrade has seen good inter-city services restored to North Wales from the end of September with 5 trains a day in each direction from Holyhead to Euston.  From December enhanced services will be provided by First Great Western for South Wales.  The new Great Western franchise, to be tendered next year, will provide further opportunities for improvements.

Buses and coaches – The Assembly Government will continue to support present levels of subsidised services, and work with local authorities to ensure that our funding delivers value for money.  We will maintain the hugely successful concessionary fares scheme, as well as working up a scheme for 16 to 18 year olds.  Finally, the Assembly Government will continue to roll out long distance coach services, which both connect with and supplement the rail network.

Community transport – Similarly, the Assembly Government will continue with current levels of support for community transport as well as support for new initiatives.  We will also pilot the application of concessionary fares to community transport.

Trunk roads – I announced the new trunk road agency arrangements, which are based on three areas, earlier this year.  The first will take over from the present agent in April 2005.  The three agencies will be badged to make it clear it is the Assembly Government that is providing this key transport network and service.  Neath Port Talbot consortium is the preferred bidder for South Wales Road Agency

The main issue on the forward programme is the need for additional capacity and a more resilient network in the M4 corridor in South East Wales. This is essential if we are to deliver our objective of a more prosperous country and remove the obstacles to greater prosperity in West Wales and the Valleys.

In the light of this, I have decided that we will be developing the proposals for a new M4 between Magor and Castleton, with a view to starting construction within the next five years, subject to the completion of the normal statutory processes.  The solution we develop will deliver the lowest possible long-term environmental impact of transport in the corridor consistent with our economic and social objectives.  In particular, it is imperative that we learn from the lessons from the past and ensure that when the additional capacity is created, the benefits are locked in for the future rather than simply eroded over time as has happened in the past (the so-called ‘M25 effect’).

I believe that the best way to achieve this is by charging users directly through tolls for the premier service provided by the new M4 around Newport, while still providing free use for all users on the existing route, which will in essence become an urban freeway.  In order to encourage car sharing and modal shift some of this route will be designated for the use of Buses, Coaches etc. and vehicles carrying more than one person (HoV lanes). We will also be investing in park and ride facilities and further enhancements to the local rail network.  The new M4 will be financed through user charges.

In terms of other trunk road schemes:

 The A40 West of St Clears will be improved initially to single carriageway standards including the provision of by-passes for Robeston Wathen and Llandewi Velfrey .

 Contracts for the widening of the M4 North of Cardiff and the next stage of  capacity enhancements on the A494/A550/A55 corridor in North East Wales will be let early next year.

 The dualling of the A465 between Abergavenny and Dowlais Top will now be complete within the next ten years, and I have brought forward the final sections from Dowlais Top to Hirwain into phase 3 of the programme.

 Access to Cardiff International Airport will be improved.  We will be trunking the route from Culverhouse Cross to the Airport along the A48 / A4226 (Five Mile Lane) and carrying out improvements.  We will also be investigating in detail options which would allow Airport traffic to avoid Culverhouse Cross, and in the longer term the possibility of a new link from the M4 in conjunction with a major park and ride / modal interchange at Junction 34.

 We will press ahead with a programme of discrete improvements for safety, accessibility and environmental reasons, to be delivered in parallel with the above.

Local Road Network & Transport Grant – The Assembly Government is making over £105 million available to local authorities in 2005-06 to improve local transport infrastructure and promote more sustainable modes of transport.  This includes over £65 million to improve the local road network, with ongoing support for the Port Talbot Peripheral Distributor Road and the A497 improvement from Abererch to Llanystumdwy in Gwynedd.  During 2005-06 work will start on the Porth / Lower Rhondda Fach relief road and the Ceredigion Link Road improvement from Carmarthen to Synod Inn, including the Llandysul bypass.

The Transport Grant settlement also includes £23 million to support a wide range of integrated transport solutions, such as bus-rail interchanges,           £8 million to help to develop the rail network and £7 million to encourage walking and cycling including Safe Routes to School schemes.

Air services – The Assembly Government recognises that airports and air services have a vital role to play in the development of an integrated and sustainable transport system.  Work is in hand to investigate the potential for a Route Development Fund to support new scheduled services, particularly international links from Cardiff International Airport.  

In addition,  I am keen to exploit the potential of air services within Wales.  I have decided to take forward in principle a service from Swansea to Cardiff to RAF Valley on Anglesey.  This service would operate on a ‘double daily’ basis, to facilitate day return journeys.  It will help to bridge the perceived North – South divide in Wales, providing significant time savings for passengers.  There will be other benefits in terms of better business linkages and the improved attractiveness of Wales for inward investors and tourism.  Subject to securing a number of approvals and consents, the service would start in 2006.