The Welsh Government was criticized in the Senedd today (Wednesday, 2 July) for securing "literally nothing at all" in terms of investment for any railway west of Cardiff as part of the UK Government’s recent Spending Review.
The criticism came from Cefin Campbell, Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd, during a scrutiny session on the work of Ken Skates, the Welsh Government's Cabinet Secretary for Transport.
Mr Campbell referred to a number of examples where investment was badly needed, including alleviating chronic delays on the Heart of Wales line, improving overcrowding and ensuring more regular services on the Cambrian Line and building a new railway station in St Clears.
In June, the UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she had delivered everything the Welsh Government had asked for as part of a £445 million package in her Spending Review.
Referring to this, Mr Campbell said in the Senedd:
“Why did you ask for nothing – literally nothing at all – to invest in any railway west of Cardiff?
"Because the truth is, not only has the Spending Review delivered very little for railways in Wales, literally nothing has been won for railways in the region I represent."
"Do you think, Cabinet Secretary, that the people of Mid and West Wales deserve less?"