Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:36 pm on 7 December 2021.
I'm glad that it seems that the south Wales metro line is finally moving forward; we've been discussing it for many years. I think the Counsel General said in the past that he described the south Wales metro line as some sort of Loch Ness project—nobody was quite sure whether it existed or not. But I'm glad, with the endorsement now of the Hendy report, maybe Nessie will come up for air now and we'll see that it does actually exist. Professor Mark Barry has done a lot of work on this, to keep the metro line on the political map. And earlier this year, in collaboration with Cardiff capital region, he published a passenger rail vision. This document provides clear examples of transport-enabled economic regeneration and development. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of that report, and what discussions have you had with the Westminster Government to ensure that sufficient funding will come to turn the dream of a south Wales metro into reality? Diolch yn fawr.