Questions have been raised over whether the South Wales Metro project will include the electrification of the Ebbw Vale line.
Speaking in the Senedd on Wednesday, March 7, Plaid Cymru’s economy spokesman Adam Price said environmental assessment maps by Transport for Wales show the upgrading of the line had been “discontinued from future consideration at present”.
Two companies are currently bidding to build and run the South Wales Metro and the next Wales and Borders rail franchise.
Questioning the Welsh Government’s Economy Secretary Ken Skates AM,Mr Price said: “You’re getting £125 million to spend on the Metro from the UK Government.
“When you asked for it,your government promised it would be for the electrification of the entire Valleys lines network. You’re now cancelling that, in just the same way as the UK Government did with electrification to Swansea.”
He added: “Isn’t the Labour government now doing exactly the same to people who live in the Valleys to the north?”
Mr Skates replied: “That is not correct. First and foremost, we have consulted on,and published,on numerous occasions,the high-level objectives for the Wales and borders franchise and the development of the metro. The specific design of the metro,and the build of the metro, will take place once the award has been made.”
He added: “In terms of electrification,we cannot say, until the award has been made,what the specific solutions are for each and every one of those lines that are contained within the Metro area.
“It’s therefore premature to assume that electrification of the entire Valleys lines is not included in any of the bids.”
According to the Transport for Wales maps,a scheme to link the Merthyr and Rhymney lines to create a circle line of the Valleys has also been dropped.
There is also uncertainty surrounding several park and ride schemes in Rhymney,Bargoed and Llanbradach, which have also seemingly been ruled out in the document.
The maps also suggest that the Rhymney line may be converted to light rail, meaning no freight trains can use the track.
Steffan Lewis,Plaid Cymru AM for South East Wales,said: “The people of Ebbw Vale will rightly question the Labour Welsh Government’s sense of priorities when they learn that the electrification of the Ebbw Vale line has been cancelled.”
A Welsh Government spokeswoman said: “Nothing has been cancelled. Every major infrastructure project is built in phases and the important work at the start is to develop solid foundations on which future extensions can then be built.
“The ambitious and challenging transformation of the Victorian lines running through and to the north of Cardiff Queen Street are the priority for phase two modernisation. Phase two involves transferring those lines to Welsh Government ownership and in partnership with the new franchise operator completely modernising them so they become the platform on which we can deliver the ‘turn-up and go’ upgrade we have promised with a minimum of four services per hour. Indeed, some valleys stations will see 12 services per hour.
“Phase two will be fully operational by 2023. The Cabinet Secretary has already begun the important planning work for future Metro phases which includes exploring a series of opportunities with the Cardiff Capital Region, such as strategic Park and Ride, network extensions and new transport interchange projects.”