Over 70 businesses and organisations came together in Cardiff last night at FOR Cardiff’s Metro & More event, to discuss the importance of delivering a transport network fit for the capital city.
As one of the UK’s most sought-after locations for business and investment, Cardiff is also highly rated for its quality of life, impressive skills-base, its income distribution, as well as its supply of more affordable new homes. With a population of 400,000 forecast by 2030, Cardiff is the fastest growing city in the UK.
But in order for Wales’s capital to continue to thrive, it needs a public transport system befitting a rapidly expanding capital city, one that that can improve cross-city connectivity, reduce journey times, and help create a low carbon and clean future.
Research shows that poor urban transport limits people’s job opportunities and negatively impacts the productivity and economic performance of UK big cities.1 FOR Cardiff shares the First Minister’s concern that Wales’s railways have been significantly underfunded for decades and is pleased that the new UK Government’s strategic transport priorities include ‘transforming infrastructure to work for the whole country, promoting social mobility and tackling regional inequality, delivering greener transport, and better integrating transport networks.’
FOR Cardiff believes that to kickstart the UK Government’s Missions of promoting economic growth while moving rapidly towards Net Zero, UK Government funding for more transport infrastructure across the city is required such as full funding for Cardiff Crossrail Phases 1 and 2, Circle Line and the North West Corridor.
Carolyn Brownell, Executive Director of FOR Cardiff, said:
“The Welsh Government’s South Wales Metro is hugely exciting and is going to be transformational for the Cardiff Capital Region. Businesses are looking forward to the increased connectivity it will provide for work, retail and leisure across south east Wales.
The next immediate priority is for the Welsh capital to enjoy the same increase in Metro service frequency as the Valleys in order to progress inclusive economic growth right across the city and the entire region. At present, Metro services on the City and Coryton Lines will be just two an hour but delivering Phase 2 of Crossrail would facilitate 4 an hour. Committed funding for this phase is needed as soon as possible.”
FOR Cardiff sees the UK Government’s Capital Spend Portfolio Review as a vital opportunity for Cardiff to secure more transport infrastructure funding and supports Welsh Government in its effort to secure maximise output from its positive and collaborative relationship with the new UK Government.