Fifth daily train to run on Heart of Wales line from December

From 14 December, passengers travelling between Swansea and Shrewsbury via the Heart of Wales line will have access to a fifth daily train.

Transport for Wales is adding a new midday service in both directions, increasing the number of trains from four to five per day. The Heart of Wales line runs through Llanelli, Llandeilo, Llandrindod Wells and Knighton, connecting rural towns with Swansea and Shrewsbury.

The change is part of the UK-wide December rail timetable update. Journey planners have already been updated, and passengers can now check times for travel after 14 December.

Funding and political agreement

The extra service is being funded through the Welsh Government’s 2025–26 Budget deal with Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds.

In a statement, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales Ken Skates said:

“The Heart of Wales line provides a spectacular and scenic journey for tourists but is also a vital link for rural communities in Mid Wales, so this will be welcome news for residents and visitors alike.”

“Railway connections are vital in driving prosperity. These changes will make a real difference to customers, who will benefit from more services across Wales and the Borders.”

“This has been made possible by our £800m investment in brand-new trains for the Wales and Borders network.”

Transport for Wales said the new service would give passengers more flexibility for day trips and essential journeys, and help support the local tourism economy.

What it means for passengers

The new train will run midday every day, giving people more choice when planning journeys.

Passengers are being advised to check journey planners for travel after 14 December to see the updated timetable.

#additionalTrains #heartOfWales #janeDoddsMs #kenSkatesMs #llandeilo #llanelli #swansea #trains #transportForWales #welshGovernment

£2bn Heads of the Valleys road officially opens

Described as “one of the UK’s largest and most technically challenging road projects”, the final phase of the A465 has officially opened, completing the £2bn Heads of the Valleys road upgrade.

The £1.4bn Section 5&6 – Dowlais to Hirwaun final phase connects the Valleys, South and West Wales to the English Midlands and beyond.

The Welsh Government say this final section of construction has delivered 17.7km of new dual carriageway, 6km of new sideroads, more than 14km of active travel routes, 38 culverts, 32 new bridges and 28 new retaining walls.

Speaking at the official opening, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates said: “Delivering better transport and fixing our roads is a priority for this government, which is why I am delighted to be marking the completion of what has been a hugely ambitious road upgrade programme.

“It’s been a complex project, which has not been without its challenges, but is a fantastic example of how targeted investment in road infrastructure can deliver benefits on so many levels, from providing local jobs to improving accessibility, supporting education and skills, as well as delivering environmental benefits.

“Of course, a project of this magnitude is inevitably going to have an impact on local residents, and I would like to thank those that were affected for their patience. I am confident that once people realise the benefits of this investment, memories of any disruption they have experienced will start to fade.”

Finance Secretary, Mark Drakeford added: “Beyond improving transport, this project has built a legacy in the area, by training over 200 apprentices and providing STEM activities for local schools. This shows how our investments are improving more than just infrastructure; they are supporting our communities.”

“Investing in this major capital project has created real benefits for local people. It has resulted in £400m for the local supply chain and has created 2,200 new jobs.

Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative UK government initially drew up the upgrade programme in 1990 because of frequent tailbacks and serious crashes on parts of the route.

Work to turn the road into a full dual carriageway began when Tony Blair was prime minister in 2002.

The Welsh Conservatives have criticised the project citing its excessive cost and drawn-out timeline as emblematic of Welsh Labour’s “failure to manage critical infrastructure effectively”.

Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure, Sam Rowlands MS, said: “For the sake of long-suffering residents and businesses, there must be a huge measure of relief that this project is finally completed.

“The project has taken far too long, cost far too much, and it’s clear that important lessons need to be learned. With the M4 relief road originally estimated to cost nearly half the amount, the Welsh public will rightly question whether this gargantuan expense was worth it and if it was the right priority for Wales.

“As the final bill is totalled up, I fear that the cost of this road, will put off any future infrastructure plans from the anti-motorist Welsh Labour Government. It is clear that the country needs a change in management and only the Welsh Conservatives stand ready to fix Wales.”

#A465 #HeadsOfTheValleysRoad #KenSkatesMS #motoring #roadBuilding #WelshGovernment

Councils to get £120m boost to repair more potholes

The Welsh Government say its new local government borrowing initiative will provide an extra £10m of revenue funding to local councils to enable them to unlock an additional £120m of capital funding to accelerate the process of fixing our local roads and pavements.

It adds that the scheme will be designed in close partnership with the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) and will be open for applications by the end of this financial year.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates said: “I am delighted that we are able to help local councils access the necessary funding to enable them to accelerate some of the much-needed repair work on local roads across Wales.

“Connecting our communities by fixing our roads is a key priority for us and we will continue to do all that we can to improve the future resilience of roads across Wales.”

Cllr Andrew Morgan OBE, Leader of WLGA and transport spokesperson said: “I have been working closely with the Welsh Government on this initiative over recent months and I am really pleased to see it come to fruition. A previous initiative between 2012 and 2014 was highly successful and showed what can be achieved by councils when the right level of funding is available.

“This funding will enable significant improvements to roads, pavements and bridges across Wales.”

#KenSkatesMS #motoring #potholes #roadRepairs #roadResurfacing #WelshGovernment