Plaid Cymru has tabled a motion in the National Assembly condemning the Westminster Government for scrapping rail electrification between Cardiff and Swansea.
The statement of opinion by Plaid Cymru Assembly Members Dai Lloyd and Simon Thomas calls on the Westminster Government to reconsider their decision.
South West Wales AM Dr Dai Lloyd said:
“Once again Westminster is not working for Wales with this decision to scrap the electrification of the rail line to Swansea. They have to rethink these plans.
“Plaid Cymru believes this is a disappointing and a shameful climb-down by the Transport Secretary Chris Grayling.
“Successive Westminster Government of different political colours have promised that this project will happen yet we’ve seen delay after delay and now this announcement they won’t be going ahead with the scheme.”
“If the Westminster government can find over £1billion for a deal with the DUP surely they can find money for this important investment.”
Mid and West AM Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Climate Change and Rural Affairs for Plaid Cymru Simon Thomas said:
“Rail electrification to Swansea would have been a welcome move to decarbonise Wales. By scrapping these plans Wales is left at the bottom of the European league when it comes to electrification of our rail lines we continue to be in the club with Albania and Moldova without any track electrified.
“The arrogance of the Conservative Government amazes me. The Welsh Government including the One Wales Government helped prepare the way for this to happen but once again Wales has been ignored. The Westminster Government must show their commitment to the west of Wales by supporting the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon. Next week with Assembly colleagues I’ll be making the case for this investment.”
The statement of opinion condemns the scrapping of rail electrification between Cardiff and Swansea by the UK Government and notes the preparatory work by successive Welsh Governments including the One Wales Government almost a decade ago.
The motion calls on the UK Government to reconsider their decision to scrap electrification to Swansea or to ensure the powers and funding are provided to the Welsh Government to secure a modern railway for Wales fit for 21st century.
It also calls on the UK and Welsh Governments to make electrification of Welsh lines including the rail line to Swansea, the Valleys Lines, and the north Coast line a priority
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