The body charged with improving public transport in the busiest part of Wales has called for a doubling of its budget after figures showed a huge increase in rail travel (link below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2007/08/call_to_double_rail_spending_i.html#more

Between 1996 and 2005 , passenger rail journeys in Wales surged by 37% to an astonishing 29.8m – the equivalent of 10 trips a year for every man , woman and child.

Now Sewta – South East Wales Transport Alliance – wants the Welsh Assembly Government to more than double its budget from £40m to £85m a year.

Sewta , a consortium of 10 councils between Bridgend and Monmouthshire , is responsible for devising strategic transport plans for the region it covers and securing funding for improvements from the Assembly Government. Around 70% of Welsh rail journeys take place in Sewta’s area.

Sewta secretary Bob Brierley said, “The big increase in rail travel reflects the fact people are travelling further to work, and that they see rail travel as a realistic option.

“It also reflects the booming economy of Cardiff, with people using the local rail network that is a fortunate legacy of the coal industry.

“At present we get about £36m a year in core funding from the Assembly Government.

“Other income, including some from the European Objective One aid programme, pushes the total up to around £40m.

“We believe that for us to be able to make a real difference, our annual budget should be increased to around £85m.”

Also , the long-promised railway line linking Ebbw Vale with Cardiff is now due to open in Decembe r, although trains from Ebbw Vale to Newport are not likely to be running until 2014.

In the meantime , every southbound train will be met at the Rogerstone station by a “rail line” bus to take passengers to Newport.

Sewta also plans to increase the frequency of trains between Cardiff and Abergavenny by installing a loop at the latter station which will enable trains to turn round there.