The South Wales Metro rail project, which is facing around a 40% overspend, is falling short by not improving frequency of service on its most densely populated sections, says the Welsh Conservatives.
The cost of electrification of the Core Valley Lines into Cardiff, as well as the City and Coryton Lines in the capital, has now reached £1bn. The vast majority of the rise in cost on the original budget of £734m, first set out in 2016, can be attributed to soaring construction inflation and delays to the programme caused by Covid. The original price tag did though include provision for the cost of VAT, which is no longer being applied to the scheme.
While on the Valley Lines (Aberdare, Treherbert and Merthyr) new tram-trains will be used they will be operated to heavy rail standards If the network was de-designated to light rail rolling stock they could operate closer together, so increasing capacity. Completion of the Metro and implementation of its new timetable - which will see a significantly increase in frequency of service, speed and passenger capacity with new tram-trains and trimodes (on the Rhymney Line) compared to the current non electrified offer - has been pushed back to 2025.
