Rail Links to Blaenau Gwent

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Economy and Transport and North Wales – in the Senedd at 1:36 pm on 7 October 2020.

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Photo of Ken Skates Ken Skates Labour 1:36, 7 October 2020

Well, unfortunately, service numbers are actually at a maximum. It's service capacity, the number of seats, or seat capacity, that is currently much reduced and, therefore, there is not the space available on those lines in order to trial as the Member suggests. But, I can assure the Member, again, the Welsh Government is doing all it can to deliver against the ambition of four trains per hour across not just the established metro area, but the wider area. But, in order to deliver that, as I keep saying, we need UK Government investment, and the UK Government can deliver that investment. We've seen, many times, mentions of the UK internal market Bill and how the UK Government would wish to spend money in Wales, but they wish to spend money in areas where they're not responsible. We want to see them spend far more money in Wales, and they can begin by spending on rail infrastructure.