20 June 2022
- Jo Stevens MP, the Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, is shown the work behind the scenes to build the South Wales Metro scheme
- Project will transform travel in South Wales and involves electrifying the Core Valleys Lines, a positive step towards decarbonising rail in Wales
- Visit was part of the Railway Industry Association’s Rail Fellowship Programme, which provides politicians with a hands-on experience in the sector
- The Railway Industry Association has been campaigning for the Government to speed up UK electrification, to create jobs and achieve the country’s decarbonisation goals.
On Friday 17 June, the Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens visited the transformative South Wales Metro project, as excitement builds ahead of the Metro launch in 2023.
The South Wales Metro is a significant investment in the region’s transport network, transforming the way people in the area travel and increasing local rail capacity. A crucial aspect of the upgrade is the electrification of 170km of track, which will allow the new fleet of trains to run more reliably and more sustainably.
Jo Stevens was given a demonstration of the new Class 231 train simulator by Transport for Wales, which will serve passengers from 2023, as well as viewing the Metro Depot at Taff’s Well station and the upcoming control centre. Jo also met with the suppliers involved in the project’s construction, which includes Amey Infrastructure Wales.
The visit was part of RIA’s Rail Fellowship Programme, which matches politicians to rail sites relevant to their brief or in their constituency and gives them a hands-on experience of what goes on in the sector day-to-day.
RIA has long campaigned for a programme of electrification around the UK, and has welcomed Transport for Wales’ progress electrifying the Core Valley Lines.