5. Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport: Connecting Wales, a strategic approach to Transport

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:51 pm on 12 December 2017.

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Photo of Rhun ap Iorwerth Rhun ap Iorwerth Plaid Cymru 4:51, 12 December 2017

I'm certainly looking forward to seeing a Wales-wide transformative strategy for transport that will not only revolutionise how we move around our country, but change attitudes towards how we want to move around our country. But I think we all have also in our constituencies particular elements of transport planning that we might want to focus on today.

I see in your statement—or I heard in your statement—that you said that sustainability will be a key driver in moves towards opening new railway stations. I was pleased when you announced recently that Llangefni was on a list of stations that could be reopened—somewhat surprised, because it's not just about reopening stations; there's no railway line open to Llangefni, so that would have to be addressed first of all. Can I ask for an assurance that that is still in the pipeline, and can I urge you to move expediently towards what I hope will be a positive outcome on the possibility of opening the line to Llangefni, opening Llangefni station, but also—and crucially—beyond Llangefni and on to Amlwch? Because opening a line to Amlwch really would be transformational for a town that has struggled of late, and we have a unique opportunity here in that we have a line there already and in very, very good condition, which just needs a little bit of upgrading and support from Welsh Government. So, I look forward for a positive response on that.

A reason why I ask for an expedient process is that, whilst you presumably are looking at this as a positive way forward, delays could inadvertently lead to holding back progress on work that has already been done on opening, say, a heritage line from Llangefni to Amlwch, because—. It's good uncertainty, in a way, because now we have the prospect of a Government-backed scheme to open the line, but it is uncertainty nonetheless, and it's uncertainty that I would certainly like to see being resolved as soon as possible.