Electrifying victory for Wales
Plaid Cymru AMs across Wales’ southern regions have welcomed the announcement that the main train line from Swansea to London will be electrified. The news follows months of negotiations by Plaid Leader Ieuan Wyn Jones – putting pressure on the UK government and Network Rail to change their announced plans to electrify the track between London and Bristol only.
The South Wales West AM, Dai Lloyd, said that the news came as a great relief following recent indications that the electrification would not be rolled out into Wales, let alone as far as Swansea in his region.
He said that the announcement represents good news for passengers and industry and commended Plaid Leader Ieuan Wyn Jones for ensuring that the UK government changed its initial plans to stop electrification at Bristol.
Plaid Cymru AM for South Wales West, Dai Lloyd said:
“This is excellent news for Swansea and all regions of south Wales. Plaid has been campaigning for this for decades and it appears that it will now happen in the foreseeable future.
“It had appeared until very recently that the electrification work would stop at Bristol and Wales would be left out of this plan, but following an immense amount of work by Ieuan Wyn Jones as Transport minister and as Plaid’s leader, things have been turned around. This will truly be a lasting legacy of Plaid’s first term in government.”
Dr. Lloyd added:
“The benefits of electrification are now well known and have been proven in other countries. That’s why Plaid as a party has fought so hard for this over many years.
“Our attention now will turn to how this plan is taken forward. It is essential that the Welsh section of this work is carried out as soon as possible in order provide a timely boost to the economy in my region and others here in Wales. After all the work that has been put in by Ieuan Wyn Jones, I’m sure he can say that today is a very good day for the Welsh economy.”
