- Written by Daniel Davies & Catriona Aitken
- BBC news
A train route aimed at improving travel has been canceled after a major event in Cardiff was cancelled.
The Welsh Government has canceled the project as it no longer offers value for money.
Transport for Wales (TfW) says it will not be able to recoup the £10m it spent preparing the line for construction at a steelworks near Newport.
But the Senedd Opposition claimed public funds had been lost on the project.
Under the plan, extra trains could be held on the 1.6km (1.6km) line near Llanwern Steelworks if large crowds of fans were expected at venues such as the Principality Stadium.
This would add capacity and make transportation smoother.
TfW said in its latest annual report that the £10.54m spent on the project since 2018 was “now considered irrecoverable”.
The company said other plans to open new commuter stations around Newport and Cardiff, including Lanwern station, would also be brought forward.
Next year, even bigger artists are scheduled to perform, including Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen.
“Weak infrastructure”
Sarah Hemsley-Cole, who runs a Cardiff-based event production company, said Cardiff’s transport infrastructure was “really fragile”.
“There is always a big push towards sustainability, but I don’t think we really have the solutions here in Wales to provide a robust transport network to support events,” she said. Ta.
Football fan Evan Powell, 20, from Cefn Hengord, Caerphilly, said while delays on matchdays were inevitable, overcrowding was the biggest problem.
“On several occasions I have arrived at a platform where a two-car train is waiting for hundreds of people… either refused to return or forced to board the most unpleasant and potentially dangerous train. “It’s either,” he said.
Chris Medlicott, 45, from Aberdare, took his son Owen, five, to a Welsh rugby match in the Principality for the first time on Saturday and said he was “frustrated” by how full the train passengers were. ” he said.
“I’m scared to go back,” he said.
“I don’t understand why they don’t add more vehicles during busy times.”
Shelley Docherty, 44, who was also at the Wales-Barbarians match, said the 15-minute train journey from Pontyclan with her son Marcus and husband Doc was “really crowded”.
“The carriage was full. We were close enough to kiss,” she said.
“I think it was a little late to be honest, leaving a few hours before kick-off time.”
Warren Beck said his son and grandson were left standing all the way from Gowerton to Cardiff because of the “absolute chaos” with just three vehicles.
The Welsh Government said its investigation concluded the line “does not offer value for money”.
“TfW is introducing brand new trains to its fleet to improve resilience and meet increased demand across the network on major event days,” the company said.
Cardiff University rail expert Andrew Potter said funding was in a “fixed pot” and rising construction and energy costs were hitting the industry.
“If it’s something that’s only going to be used occasionally and could be avoided with other fixes, it seems pointless to invest in it when you have bigger priorities,” he says.
TfW said the Welsh Government originally drew up the plan in 2017 and asked it to consider building a new station.
“However, after detailed development work, including feasibility, design and realization works, it became clear that the costs associated with the project would be significantly higher than originally estimated,” TfW said.
“The business case for this scheme has been challenged in light of changing demand and broader pressures on budgets post-COVID-19.
The money spent will result in “other benefits being transferred as part of the wider works developed”, including plans for a new Llanwern station.
“Totally irresponsible”
Welsh Conservative shadow transport minister Natasha Asgar said it would be “completely irresponsible” to “essentially write off” more than £10 million.
“I’m worried that our poor trains will embarrass Wales on the world stage when we host the Euros in 2028,” she said.
Plaid Cymru’s Delyth Jewell said public transport should be the first option for fans, but that was “far from reality”.
“It is therefore disappointing to see plans to increase this capacity being shelved and significant funding lost,” she said.