'Empty words' on Heart of Wales Line cuts, claims Plaid MS
Cefin Campbell MS has accused the Welsh Government of “empty words” over proposed plans to cut rail services on the Heart of Wales railway line.
Video from Senedd.tv
Video from Senedd.tv
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00:00Thank you, Llywydd. Will the First Minister outline the Welsh Governmentís public transport
00:04priorities for mid and west Wales? Our transport strategy Llywydd Newydd sets
00:14out our vision for all parts of Wales, including mid and west Wales. We will deliver on that
00:21strategy with reference to our national transport delivery plan, as well as the regional transport
00:29plans, which are being developed by corporate joint committees. These are the committees
00:38of several councils who join together to undertake strategic decisions for a broader region.
00:45Thank you very much. Well, time and again, you as a Government are encouraging people
00:51to use their cars less and to use public transport in order to meet climate change targets and
00:58net zero targets, but I am increasingly concerned that these are empty words, because whatís
01:04happening in the region that I represent is that there is contraction in terms of public
01:09transport. Just last week, we received confirmation that services along the Heart of Wales line,
01:19that iconic railway line that goes from Llanelli to Shrewsbury, would be curtailed from December
01:25this year. The irony, of course, is that, while transport infrastructure in mid Wales
01:30is creaking, more than £4 billion in funding is owed to Wales by Westminster for HS2. Now,
01:39just imagine the difference that that funding could make, not only to the Heart of Wales
01:44line but in transforming public transport in every part of Wales. So, as we expect,
01:50the budget of the Westminster Labour Government at the end of this month. Could we therefore
01:56have some clarity from you on whether youíve had any discussions with the Government in
02:01order to ensure that every penny of that £4 billion owed to us does come to Wales?
02:06Well, thank you very much. I donít think that itís empty rhetoric. The fact is that
02:14weíve seen, across the whole of Wales, an increase of 27 per cent in people using trains
02:21in Wales between April and June, and that is a huge increase, and something that we
02:27should celebrate. Now, I accept that that is easier in some parts of Wales compared
02:33to others, and the Heart of Wales lineóit is true to say that there is a reduction in
02:43serviceófive to fouróbut there will be additional seats available, and there will
02:47also be capacity for cyclists on that line too. But, in terms of HS2, we are still putting
02:56pressure on the UK Government for fairness in terms of whatís happened in relation to
03:04investment in that infrastructure. I donít think that figure of £4 billion is realistic,
03:11but I do want to be clear that those discussions are ongoing.