In recent years transport - and especially rail infrastructure - has been among the most hotly debated policy fields in Welsh politics. Following the disastrous franchise awarded to Arriva Trains Wales, the creation and subsequent nationalisation of the rail operator under Transport for Wales, longstanding under-investment in the network, and the infamous decision to decline full devolution of rail in the 2000s - one that has seen Wales miss out on hundreds of millions, if not billions of pounds from the UK Treasury in the years since - we are finally seeing some of the Welsh Government's investment paying off.

So we're delighted to be joined by Professor Mark Barry to discuss his own contribution as the instigator and campaigner for the South Wales Metro and core valley lines electrification, as well as his recent book on the matter. We also discuss the 'missing billions' from the HS2 project, the ongoing injustice of the UK Government's refusal to devolve rail in Wales as it is in Scotland, the debate around building Cardiff Parkway station, and the Welsh Government's plans for reforming bus services in Wales.

You can find Mark on BlueSky here: https://bsky.app/profile/swalesmetroprof.bsky.social

And Mark's book is available here: https://cardiffmetro.wales/book-navigation/

As always, you can find the latest from us on the socials @hiraethpod, including BlueSky here: https://bsky.app/profile/hiraethpod.bsky.social

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