Plaid's National Assembly Candidate for Monmouth, Jonathan Clark and Jocelyn Davies, Plaid Assembly Member for South East Wales called for the National Assembly to develop an affordable, sustainable public transport system for Wales and for a comprehensive programme of improvements, including enhanced powers to regulate bus services and upgrading infrastructure and rail services in South East Wales.

Plaid, in its nominated debate today (Tuesday 23rd January) are focussing on Public Transport. Plaid believes that our economy and social life depend on an environmentally acceptable transport system and is calling for a comprehensive programme of improvements, including enhanced powers to regulate bus services and upgrading infrastructure and rail services in rural and valley areas.

Jonathan Clark said:

"If our communities are going to survive and develop in the 21st Century they need an affordable, reliable, sustainable public transport system. Wales need to re-discover the not entirely alien concept of an integrated public transport system. An efficient public transport system is vital in the battle against climate change.

Our railway stations have been neglected for too long - they are a vital part of the regional transport network. They should feed passengers into the national rail network with direct links to local communities via local bus services and secure park and ride facilities. Under New Labour train fares are the most expensive in the EU."

Jocelyn Davies said:

"Plans to re-open passenger services on the Ebbw Valley Rail Line are welcome but we need to go further and consider redeveloping our existing railways and, subject to feasibility studies, consider reopening other old railways and building new stations with bus links and secure park and ride facilities.

Recently First Great Western tried to downgrade services from Severn Tunnel Junction Station but, thanks to the efforts of the Severn Tunnel Action Group, the services were re-instated. This move to cut services should never have been allowed to take place in the first place."

Plaid would bring in re-regulation of bus services with a new national transport authority setting fares, routes and timetables, so that services run where people want them, not where the greatest profit is to be made.


Plaid has tabled the following motion:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Believes that our economy and social life depend on an environmentally acceptable transport system; and

a) Calls on the Assembly Government to commit itself to a comprehensive programme of improvement to our public transport system, which includes:

(i) seeking enhanced powers to deal with public transport, in particular to regulate bus services;
(ii) improving train and coach links between the North and South;
(III) upgrading infrastructure and rail services in rural areas and the valleys of the South

b) Regrets that the continued increase in the cost and complexity of train fares are a deterrent to the use of public transport.