Spending Commitments for the Rhondda Valley

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd – in the Senedd at 1:31 pm on 5 February 2020.

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Photo of Rebecca Evans Rebecca Evans Labour 1:31, 5 February 2020

I completely agree with David Melding that rail lines, particularly into Cardiff, but also elsewhere from the Valleys, are absolutely crucial to opening up people's prospects for employment. And that's why we're investing £738 million to transform the Valleys lines to Trehebert, Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhymney and Coryton, electrifying 172 kilometres of track, and upgrading infrastructure to enable improved journey times and more trains every hour, and to provide a metro-style service by December 2020. But, in the meantime, from 15 December, Transport for Wales increased capacity for thousands of extra rail commuters a week, whilst introducing additional trains right across the Wales and Borders rail network, and that represents an increase of 10 per cent capacity for service users. So, I think a good start, but, certainly, lots of ambition and lots more to do.