RECORD transport funding is being used across the country and is directly benefitting North Wales.  

New trains, hydrogen fuelled buses and tripling walking and cycling routes are just some of the ways the Welsh Government plans to ‘make the right thing to do, the easy thing to do’ according to Deputy Minister Lee Waters.

The Deputy Climate Change Minister - who has responsibility for transport - provided an update on how transport plans are progressing across Wales while at a visit to see electrification rail works taking place in Radyr.

To date, the Welsh Government has invested more than £1.6bn on a series of transport programmes across Wales which will be essential in helping the Welsh Government deliver carbon reduction targets.

As part of this plan key partners, including local authorities and Transport for Wales, have been tasked with developing regional transport plans for all four parts of Wales.

These will ensure services meet the needs of the community.

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Deputy Minister Lee Waters said: “We are all focused on building a new transport system that is high quality and sustainable.

“I want to make the right thing to do the easy thing to do and that means encouraging more people out of their cars to walk, cycle, or use public transport.

“We do that by improving our public transport and active travel network routes – it makes sense that people will choose to travel this way if low carbon transport options become more attractive, more affordable and easier to use.”

“It’s also the right and responsible thing to do for the environment and essential as we work towards a stronger, greener, fairer Wales.”

Here’s what’s been happening with the North Wales Metro so far:

Transforming rail, bus and active travel services across North Wales is a key factor in reducing rural isolation and opening up employment and leisure opportunities across the region.

For the first time in generations direct services between North Wales and Liverpool have been reinstated with active travel routes opened helping to connect locals to bus and train stations in Flintshire, Wrexham, and Gwynedd.

More than a quarter of journeys are already made by walking and cycling, but over the next 20 years we need to increase this to over a third if we are to meet our carbon targets.

That’s why plans are being put in place to further improve connections to stations near Bangor, Flint, Holyhead, Llandudno, Llandudno Junction, Colwyn Bay, Shotton, Deeside, Wrexham, Rhyl and Prestatyn.

Work is also under way to progress a forward-thinking masterplan for Holyhead which recognises its critical role in transport and economic development.