Getting Wales back on track

Our vision

This paper outlines a series of improvements to road, rail, sea, and air travel across Wales. The proposals strengthen links both within Wales and internationally. It also outlines a Wales–Ireland Gateway Project, including a third Menai Bridge, designed to improve connections between Wales, Ireland, and the rest of Europe.

$A pink strip at the top of the paper with the words: "Centre Think Tank ISSN 2634-4696". The paper title is "Getting Wales back on track: Improving roads, rail, buses, and planes across Wales". Below this is an image of a series of red, green, and grey lines. Where different coloured lines meet, there is a black dot and place names including Aberystwyth, Carno, Caerfyrddin (Carmarthen), Abertawe (Swansea), and Ilfracombe. The bottom of the paper has the words: “Briefing paper. By William Burrows, March 9th, 2026.” At the bottom is a white strip with the Centre logo in pink beneath.$

Getting Wales back on track: Improving roads, rail, buses, and planes across Wales

This paper proposes a series of improvements to road, rail, sea, and air travel across Wales. The proposals strengthen links both within Wales and internationally. It also outlines a Wales–Ireland Gateway Project, including a third Menai Bridge, designed to improve connections between Wales, Ireland, and the rest of Europe.

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Quick summary

The transport system within Wales needs modernisation to better connect different areas of Wales. There is also a large opportunity to connect Wales with Ireland, providing a gateway to other European countries.
Land, sea, and air transport will need to improve with changes to the rail system, bus services, ferry ports, and Cardiff Airport. Together, these changes will improve the flow of traffic across the entire transport network and better connect Wales.
Some changes include building a third Menai Bridge to better link Wales to Ireland, a new rail line to link north and south Wales, a full feasibility plan for the proposed Devon to Abertawe (Swansea) ferry and bus network integration, improvements to the 20 mph speed limit, and improved planning for Maes Awyr Caerdydd (Cardiff Airport).
This is alongside smaller projects with a significant impact. These include a relief road to combat the bottleneck at the Twnelau Bryn-glas (Brynglas tunnels), road-building criteria to take into account congestion, protection of rural bus routes, reopening a station in Carno, and electrification of train lines to Caergybi (Holyhead).
The main challenge faced by so many transport projects would be financing them. Here, we propose UK-wide changes to the formula and the money Wales deserves from HS2 funding.

Coverage

The words "South Wales Argus" in black writing with the word "Argus" in red. Next to it is a Welsh flag on a white background.

Report proposes billions to boost Wales transport links

"A new report by Centre Think Tank calls for major infrastructure spending to address weaknesses in the Welsh transport network and support long-term growth."