Written question WQ100178
- Asked by
- Gwyn WilliamsPlaid
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 2 days
Question
What consideration has the Cabinet Minister given to investing in a tram line for Swansea to reduce reliance on car transport, decrease traffic bottlenecks and increase the resilience of the local economy?
Answer
Answered by Deputy Minister for Transport (Mark Hooper)
Regional transport priorities for the South West of Wales are now led by the Corporate Joint Committee’s published Regional Transport Plan. Delivery of that is supported by the Welsh Governments Regional Transport Fund which is in the current financial year alone providing around £25m to fund work.
The Welsh Government is funding development work to make the case for up to 7 new stations to serve the Swansea Bay Metro area. There is also a long term aspiration for a tram style train service between Neath and Swansea City centre, via Swansea docks. Tram being more appropriate for that route due to lower population density.
A 10 mile tram style expansion of the Swansea Bay Metro from Swansea to Neath and Tonna could use light rail on existing lines and on-street running would link Swansea High Street station, the city centre and waterfront, and Swansea university campus with Neath, Tonna and Aberdulais. The estimated cost of this would be over £1bn. The Metro ‘heavy rail’ stations have stronger business cases and we are therefore prioritising these.