{"id":145888,"date":"2026-02-26T10:30:29","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T10:30:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vale50plus.org\/clone\/keir-starmers-rail-pledge-is-a-step-in-the-right-direction-but-he-needs-to-do-more\/"},"modified":"2026-02-26T10:30:29","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T10:30:29","slug":"keir-starmers-rail-pledge-is-a-step-in-the-right-direction-but-he-needs-to-do-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vale50plus.org\/clone\/keir-starmers-rail-pledge-is-a-step-in-the-right-direction-but-he-needs-to-do-more\/","title":{"rendered":"Keir Starmer&#8217;s rail pledge is a step in the right direction but he needs to do more"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_dde38e\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Professor Mark Barry, the architect of the south Wales Metro, lays out the steps the Prime Minister can and should take now to further his promise of ending rail unfairness towards Wales<\/h2>\n<div class=\"Byline_byline-container__K_Owl\" data-testid=\"byline\"><span class=\"Byline_byline-content-wrapper__Imque\" data-testid=\"byline-content\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"Byline_author-badge-date-wrapper__Q7jj1\">\n<div class=\"Byline_author-and-badge-wrapper__2dsv1\">\n<div class=\"PremiumArticleBadge_inlined-badge__0OJqA\" data-testid=\"premium-article-badge\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"walesonline\" data-testid=\"premium-byline-walesonline\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walesonline.co.uk\/assets\/walesonline\/images\/premium-byline-walesonline.svg\"\/><\/div>\n<p><span><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35 __className_dde38e\">Professor Mark Barry<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"\" data-testid=\"byline-publishedDate\">15:43, 24 Feb 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><button class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"33271583\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.walesonline.co.uk\/article33271583.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_rbp_mai131224train34512JPG.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.walesonline.co.uk\/article33271583.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_rbp_mai131224train34512JPG.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.walesonline.co.uk\/article33271583.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_rbp_mai131224train34512JPG.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.walesonline.co.uk\/article33271583.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_rbp_mai131224train34512JPG.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\"><cite aria-label=\"Image: WalesOnline\/Rob Browne\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: WalesOnline\/Rob Browne)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Last week Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged the need for more UK Government investment in Wales\u2019 non-devolved rail network and committed to fiscally support the programme over the longer term.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He endorsed a vision set out by Transport for Wales (TfW), which implies capital funding across Wales over at least 15 years running into billions \u2013 the headline is \u00a314bn into the 2040s.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In the short-term this includes restated commitment to upgrade the South Wales Mainline, the Burns stations and services, funding to support Cardiff Parkway and interventions in north Wales \u2013 including a new Deeside Industrial Estate station.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">While there appears to be no further funding in the current \u00a3300m spending review period to March 2030, this is still a political endorsement from the Prime Minister to a rail investment programme in Wales of around \u00a31bn per year post the next spending review period.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">However, more pressing is the early need to bolster the current \u00a3300m commitment to fully fund the initial schemes set out by the Prime Minister and First Minster Eluned Morgan and to reflect the reality that the schemes in the spending review, and restated, have a price tag of probably \u00a3600m to \u00a3700m.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">These are:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"UnorderedList_unordered-list__gzblI\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"unordered-list\">\n<li class=\"LiItem_li-item__IF4xI\">South Wales Mainline relief line upgrade;<\/li>\n<li class=\"LiItem_li-item__IF4xI\">Six Burns stations now including Cardiff Parkway and additional rolling stock for the additional Cardiff-Bristol services;<\/li>\n<li class=\"LiItem_li-item__IF4xI\">Metro Central (\u00a3140m upgrade of Cardiff Central Station);<\/li>\n<li class=\"LiItem_li-item__IF4xI\">Cardiff West (junction upgrade);<\/li>\n<li class=\"LiItem_li-item__IF4xI\">Padeswood sidings;<\/li>\n<li class=\"LiItem_li-item__IF4xI\">North Wales Mainline level crossings; and<\/li>\n<li class=\"LiItem_li-item__IF4xI\">Deeside Industrial Estate Station.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The UK Government could also have acknowledged that the Welsh Government has funded most south Wales projects from its block grant (so impacting spending in areas like health and education) and offered to increase its contribution so that further schemes could be initiated now.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-17573942\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"17573942\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.walesonline.co.uk\/article17573942.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_WML_150120_Cardiff_Transport_16JPG.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.walesonline.co.uk\/article17573942.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_WML_150120_Cardiff_Transport_16JPG.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.walesonline.co.uk\/article17573942.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_WML_150120_Cardiff_Transport_16JPG.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.walesonline.co.uk\/article17573942.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_WML_150120_Cardiff_Transport_16JPG.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\"><cite aria-label=\"Image: Mark Lewis\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Mark Lewis)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">For example, the electrification to Penarth and a passing loop on the Coryton line as part of Cardiff Crossrail phase two to enable four tram-trains an hour through Penarth-Bay-Coryton services. This will free up Stadler built trimodes for the new \u2018Cardiff-Bristol Burns\u2019 services.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The UK Government should also have offered a more reasonable ongoing settlement to cover the overall maintenance and repair costs for the Core Valley Lines \u2013 the only devolved part of the rail network in Wales. We could also have seen further funding to accelerate development of the Metro in Swansea.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Nonetheless, this new political commitment is clearly a positive step in the right direction toward the full devolution of rail powers and funding, which is what Wales needs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Not least because full devolution and a fair, commensurate block grant adjustment, locks these commitments in place and avoids the risk of new ministers and\/or governments at Westminster \u201cchanging their mind\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">I also think, in advance of a fully devolved settlement, this Wales rail enhancement pipeline needs its own Department for Transport budget line.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Overall, I accept this announcement as a positive step forward toward the ultimate goal of a fully devolved rail network in Wales.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">I have no doubt the efforts of the First Minister, Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens, Transport Secretary Ken Skates as well as UK Government Rail Minister Peter Hendy, were instrumental in raising the profile of Wales\u2019 rail investment needs at Westminster to secure these political commitments. So, credit where credit is due<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The TfW vision document, Today, Tomorrow, Together, is a pretty impressive list of possible rail investments in the Wales and Borders route over the next 15-20 years and reflects a significant effort over the last five years by TfW (some of which I helped initiate) and the support of the Welsh Government.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">This effort has also precipitated a close and effective working relationship with Network Rail\u2019s (NR) strategic planning team in Wales, key local authority and regional partners and Department of Transport (DfT) officials.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The collective capability and capacity led by TfW to undertake and lead such work is now far beyond what the UK Government\u2019s Department for Transport (DfT) and NR were historically able to achieve in respect of rail enhancements in Wales.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The level of ambition for Wales\u2019 rail network is clear; this is something that was missing for decades but addressed in the period following the publication of my case for investment for Minister Ken Skates in 2018.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It begs the question why, until TfW was established, did the DfT or NR (who have been, and are still, apart from the Core Valley Lines, custodians of our non-devolved railway) not bring forward such ambitious proposals in the previous 20 years?<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The answer is that we have a very London\/England centric Whitehall bureaucracy that impacts not just Wales and Scotland, but much of England as well.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">So enormous credit to TfW in bringing this strategic development work to a wider audience.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It pretty much aligns with my summary of future rail investment plans for Wales published in my book in 2024. It includes the expansion of the South Wales Metro (especially in Cardiff via Crossrail, and capacity improvements on the Maesteg and Ebbw Valley lines), Network North Wales, the initial phases of a Swansea Metro and the upgrade of the South Wales Mainline, the North Wales Mainline and Marches Line.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The glaring Metro omissions in the current programme are in Cardiff \u2013 the requirements for a minimum of four trains per hour Metro services on the City and Coryton Lines which are long standing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">While the omission is thankfully reflected in the prospectus, it needs to be the priority for the next stage of Metro development, as \u201cfixing\u201d Cardiff will drive the most additional passengers for the fewest track kilometres of any schemes in Wales, so it makes financial sense as well.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Furthermore, Cardiff Crossrail phase two is entirely absent as a coherent programme. Yes, its component parts are in there but are fragmented in presentation and development. This is despite the fact that TfW are working on the business case with Cardiff Council.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">This Crossrail phase two programme omission is even more surprising given the total benefits are greater than the sum of the parts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">For example, from earlier draft work I was involved with, phase two has the potential to secure between 1.5 million to two million additional passengers a year to the Core Valley Lines (CVL) \u2013 which currently handles circa around 12 million per year. The full Cardiff Crossrail (so east to Tremorfa\/Newport Road, Radyr-Coryton circle connection and the north west corridor to Rhondda Cynon Taf), could add a further five million.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">These are very significant numbers, by far the biggest of any scheme in Wales, and will have a big impact on delivering our 2040 net-zero Wales public transport mode share targets.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Furthermore, the economic impact of the full Cardiff Crossrail was also estimated to add a further \u00a3900m to the economy given it helps bring forward development and regeneration opportunities across the network.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">This is in addition to the base \u00a3700m economic benefits calculated for South East Wales Metro and set out in the TfWs prospectus.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">As relevant, the full Crossrail will serve parts of Cardiff\u2019s southern arc that have significant socio-economic challenges. In fact, despite some assertions to the contrary, there are more people in Cardiff living in communities in the top 10% of the Welsh index of multiple deprivation than any other local authority in Wales (about 20% of the Welsh total).<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">To deliver Cardiff Crossrail phase two, which I estimate is a circa \u00a3200m programme, it requires:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"UnorderedList_unordered-list__gzblI\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"unordered-list\">\n<li class=\"LiItem_li-item__IF4xI\">Four trains per hour on the City Line (enabled by the commitment to upgrade Cardiff West junction);<\/li>\n<li class=\"LiItem_li-item__IF4xI\">Four on the Coryton Line which needs a passing loop and further rolling stock;<\/li>\n<li class=\"LiItem_li-item__IF4xI\">Electrification to Penarth and operation of tram-trains for Penarth-Coryton services, and backfilling of two trains per hour from Caerphilly with tram-trains to Cardiff Bay;<\/li>\n<li class=\"LiItem_li-item__IF4xI\">The Penarth trimodes can be used for the new Burns services \u2013 this is the most cost-effective rolling stock solution for the new Burns Cardiff-Bristol services. This also demonstrates a very strong interdependence between the Burns programme and Cardiff Crossrail phase two where the total benefits are greater than the sum of the parts;<\/li>\n<li class=\"LiItem_li-item__IF4xI\">Station Link \u2013 this is a network keystone and provides a short connection from the new Crossrail platforms at Cardiff Central to the existing lines to the west to allow Penarth\/Coryton tram-train services to operate via the bay and Crossrail Phase 1a;<\/li>\n<li class=\"LiItem_li-item__IF4xI\">New stations at Gabalfa, Ely Mill and Roath Park and an additional platform at Cogan for Penarth services;<\/li>\n<li class=\"LiItem_li-item__IF4xI\">Reversing of some CVL transformation value engineering;<\/li>\n<li class=\"LiItem_li-item__IF4xI\">Revised and simplified service patterns;<\/li>\n<li class=\"LiItem_li-item__IF4xI\">Lloyd George Avenue landscaping and urban realm; and<\/li>\n<li class=\"LiItem_li-item__IF4xI\">Ideally, will also include Crossrail Phase 1b to Pierhead Street. In particular, Station Link is not, as TfW set out, a long-term aspiration as part of north west corridor \u2013 it is a fundamental and urgent need for Cardiff and the Core Valley Line network.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It will:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"UnorderedList_unordered-list__gzblI\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"unordered-list\">\n<li class=\"LiItem_li-item__IF4xI\">Help address fundamental Core Valley Line network capacity, redundancy and resilience issues \u2013 this will benefit the entire CVL Metro network;<\/li>\n<li class=\"LiItem_li-item__IF4xI\">Provide the necessary capacity and redundancy for Core Valley Line services while Intersection Bridge is being renewed (this bridge takes the Core Valley Lines south of Queen Street over the South Wales Mainline, to the bay and Central) \u2013 it had issues in 2024 which pretty much closed down Core Valley Lines services, and which will need urgent attention in the near future;<\/li>\n<li class=\"LiItem_li-item__IF4xI\">By allowing some CVL\/Penarth services to route via the new Crossrail platforms it frees up platform capacity at Central that, subject to a little further track work, makes possible more room for additional South Wales Mainline services; and<\/li>\n<li class=\"LiItem_li-item__IF4xI\">Offer more legible Core Valley Line Metro service patterns.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">This work needs wrapping up into a single Cardiff Crossrail phase two programme, combined with the committed South Wales Mainline work.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Also important, but not unsurprisingly overtly mentioned in the rail prospectus, is the role of buses and integration. In urban areas, we are trying to develop integrated, multi-modal networks of rail, light rail, bus and active travel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">On high demand \u201cMetro corridors\u201d the rail services (which can carry the most people per vehicle) are the arteries and the local feeder bus services the capillaries.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In the next five years the implementation of bus reform and re-designed bus networks will be equally as important as rail investment to deliver the public a single public transport network, as will the need to secure more bus revenue support.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">While the UK Government has now recognised the scale of investment needed and justified in Wales, we are still a long way from the \u201cright\u201d constitutional settlement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In England, the GB Railways Bill will deliver the badly-needed vertical integration of track and train. But not in Wales.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Why not? Are Whitehall officials even aware of the oversight and its implications in Wales?<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The operational working relationship between TfW and NR in Wales is probably far ahead of any other NR route\/region and their local Transport Authority and\/or DfT.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">However, the current GB Rail bill risks dragging the NR Wales Route back into a hugely centralised bureaucratic organisation setting back Wales and its rail network years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">This provides further evidence that the current constitutional arrangement for rail in Wales (being non-devolved) is not fit for purpose \u2013 and the vertical alignment in Wales should focus on that between TfW and NR in Wales and less so GB Railways. I made this point in my evidence to the Westminster Transport Committee\u2019s review of the current draft GB Railways Bill.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">To be clear, despite these new announcements, to build on and enhance what has already been delivered in Wales (despite the obvious constitutional constraints), to ensure systemic fair funding and to empower Welsh Government and TfW to drive forward integrated transport policy, we need to fully devolve rail to Welsh Government and make the appropriate block grant adjustment (that also reflects its scale and relatively more depreciated state versus the rest of the UK rail network).<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">That will also return the Barnett Wales\/DfT comparability factor to a healthy circa 95% (currently just 33.5%) ensuring much more equitable Barnett treatment in future.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.walesonline.co.uk\/news\/politics\/keir-starmers-rail-pledge-step-33483254\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Professor Mark Barry, the architect of the south Wales Metro, lays out the steps the Prime Minister can and should take now to further his promise of ending rail unfairness&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":145889,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.walesonline.co.uk\/assets\/walesonline\/images\/premium-byline-walesonline.svg","fifu_image_alt":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[28,29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-145888","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics","category-recentpost"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.walesonline.co.uk\/assets\/walesonline\/images\/premium-byline-walesonline.svg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":true,"date":"2026-08-26 10:30:30","action":"change-status","newStatus":"trash","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vale50plus.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145888","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vale50plus.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vale50plus.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vale50plus.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vale50plus.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=145888"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vale50plus.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145888\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vale50plus.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/145889"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vale50plus.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=145888"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vale50plus.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=145888"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vale50plus.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=145888"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}