The leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council has expressed his disappointment after Rhymney missed out on being home to a depot for the South Wales Metro project.
Instead, the base will be located at Taffs Well.
The announcement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport Ken Skates AM, will see almost £100m invested by the Welsh Government in the new depot, which will house and service 36 of the new Metro vehicles.
Cllr Dave Poole said: “It’s extremely disappointing that despite a sound case, Rhymney has missed out on a real opportunity for its economy and prosperity, which is much-needed in this area of the Valleys.
“While I of course welcome the news that there is to be some investment in enhanced stabling facilities and an upgrade of Rhymney station to accommodate more and longer rolling stock, this decision is a real hammer-blow to the area; an area with high levels of unemployment and economic deprivation.
“Rhymney offers a location which is in close proximity to key strategic road networks, including the dualled Heads of the Valleys and the A470, and a community in real need of opportunities to prosper.
“I appreciate the additional cost in infrastructure that would arise from locating the depot facility in Rhymney, however the Cabinet Secretary’s portfolio covers not simply Transport but the Economy too – which includes cross-cutting measures to promote prosperity and the social economy; areas which the north of Caerphilly county borough is in real need of.
This is very very sad it would have offered so much to the area, where unemployment is very very high. We will have some investment but no where near enough to what this was offering.
Do not forget that Caerffili was once ‘The Swindon of Wales’, from early 1900s to he 1960’s. .A few of the engine sheds still survive at the South end of town. A great pity that that link to the railways can’t be revived, along with the employment opportunities that go with it.
In these days of increased road congestion we can only hope for a revival of the railways !
It would be nice to see it happen – and the jobs boost would be very welcome.
I agree John, unfortunately our short sighted leaders have allowed building on the track beds the Victorian engineers provided for us. Within living memory we could travel from the Aber valley to London by rail, Caerffili to Newport, Brecon, Taffs well and a load of other places.
Whilst the railways were not being used all the defunct routes should have been protected by law. Imagine the economic benefits that we would have if we could simply relay track and signalling on these old railways.
That’s one thing that hasn’t changed over time Richard – our so called leaders then were very short sighted and had no vision of the future and that remains true to this day.
Too true, we don’t need to benefit of hindsight to realise that ready made track beds are a resource worth protecting. To make a new rail route from Caerffili to Newport would cost a fortune in compulsory purchase and we threw away one that was already there.
I agree with all comments list, have you seen on the news this evening Ed Sheran is in concert tonight in Cardiff, the show finishes at 1102pm, the last train is at 11pm. For such a modern city we are lacking behind with transport links.
Was really looking forward to travelling on the new system but it was never to be??.
I much prefer the steam trains, use to live watching them go up and down the valley, but agree our trains need an update and this would have given us that along with jobs, which will be needed in the coming years.
Well if you miss them that much I think ? you can still see them over in van road not sure.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Sad