£2 Billion Allocated to Reopen Carmarthen to Bangor Train Lines

Transport for Wales estimates that reinstating axed 1960s rail links which left towns without direct trains could cost £2 billion.

Reviews of the Carmarthen-Aberystwyth and Bangor-Afon Wen stretches were conducted, with CEO James Price noting high costs and implementation challenges. Critics question the accuracy of these figures as full studies are pending.

The analysis, prompted by a Welsh Labour-Plaid Cymru agreement, explores improved north-south transport, potentially re-establishing coastal routes. Currently, a Carmarthen-Aberystwyth trip takes an arduous seven hours, despite a mere 49-mile separation.

TfW, managing Welsh train services since 2018, has noted expensive and prolonged (10+ years) development for a north-south rail, even in light rail form, with stronger justification for shorter, higher-demand Bangor routes.

Transport expert Prof. Stuart Cole criticizes the plan's poor cost-benefit ratio, while local residents see the merit but doubt viability considering costs and prioritizing pressing social issues.

Adam Price, former Plaid Cymru leader, suggests reallocating funds from England's HS2 could finance the project. Meanwhile, Mark Davies of Traws Link Cymru expresses surprise over TfW's costing before completing detailed studies.