Some new Welsh train stations will take more than three years
It will take more than three years to build some of the stations that funding was announced for in the spending review, Wales' first minister told the Senedd on Tuesday.Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced £445m of rail funding for Wales last week, some of which will be spent on five new stops along the mainline between Cardiff Central and the Severn Tunnel.Less cash has been allocated for the scheme than the £385m over five years estimated to be needed in a transport review.Plaid Cymru's Rhun ap Iorwerth argued the chancellor's spending review, which covers three to four years of spending, "left Wales trailing further behind".
BBC Wales has been told that the £445m is a fraction of the overall funding needed for the projects as many will need more money in future spending reviews due to the length of time it takes to deliver rail schemes.It has not been announced yet how quickly ministers believe the stations would be built.Speaking in First Minister's Questions on Tuesday, Morgan said the cash was a "good first step to addressing the historic underfunding when it comes to real rail infrastructure".She said: "You can't switch these things on overnight."We've done our job in Welsh government to prepare, to make sure that these things are in place, ready to go."But there was always a recognition that it would take more than three years to build some of those train stations."She made the comments in reply to ap Iorwerth who took objection to claims by Labour sources that the £445m was more than what Wales would have got had the Welsh government received money because of the High Speed 2 rail project.Because the multi-billion scheme is classed as an England and Wales project, there is no knock on additional funding for Wales as a result."It simply isn't true," he said, quoting Cardiff University academics in saying any suggestion that the funding compensated for HS2 was "unsustainable".He argued the spending review "left Wales trailing further behind in terms of the investment needed" with the "worst real terms growth in the capital budget of all devolved governments".
The review gave its support to five stations backed by a review of transport options along the M4 corridor in south Wales - named Cardiff East, Newport West, Somerton, Llanwern and Magor & Undy.To take place the scheme would require upgrades to the south Wales mainline.A total of £300m was earmarked for the schemes in the spending review, as part of a pot of cash that included support for the North Wales Level Crossing, Padeswood Sidings and Cardiff West Junction.Another £38m was allocated for the South Wales Metro project while the remainder is believed to be earmarked for planning rail schemes over ten years.
Experts have warned that the spending review could result in cuts if the NHS swallows extra funding that was announced for Wales.Defending the settlement, Morgan said it saw "£5bn in terms of public spending, that's money that we can spend on the things that matter to the people of Wales".Additional reporting by Gareth Lewis.
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