The Centre Think Tank logo in pink consists of the word “Centre” with a dot in the middle of the letter “C”, all in pink.
The Centre Think Tank logo in pink consists of the word “Centre” with a dot in the middle of the letter “C”, all in pink.
The Centre Think Tank logo in pink consists of the word “Centre” with a dot in the middle of the letter “C”, all in pink.

Our vision

Getting Wales back on track

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. 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

Black writing with the words "Nation Cymru" on it and a red dot separating the two words on a white background.

Report calls for billions in transport investment to transform Wales

"A new report from the Centre Think Tank sets out a bold programme of transport reform aimed at addressing major infrastructure weaknesses and delivering a more reliable, better-connected network across Wales."
Read More
A white background with the words "Herald", ".Wales" in red, and "The beating heart of the nation” in a green box. Next to this is a dragon in red.

Billions in transport investment needed to unlock Welsh growth, says think tank

"A new report from Centre Think Tank includes a call from the former First Minister of Wales, Lord Jones of Penybont, for greater investment in Welsh transport."
Read More
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."
Read More
The words "Cambrian News" in black text on a white background.

Aberystwyth to Carmarthen rail link backed as report calls for major transport investment

"A fresh report has backed plans to reinstate the Aberystwyth to Carmarthen railway as part of calls to invest major funds in transport in Wales."
Read More
The words "New Civil Engineer" in black text on a white background.

Wales urged to overhaul transport network with third Menai bridge and rail reopenings

"A report setting out priorities for Wales’s transport system says the country needs major investment in roads, rail and airports to address long-standing connectivity problems between north, mid and south Wales."
Read More
The words "Swansea Bay News" in blue text with four circles next to them, two in blue and two in grey, on a white background.

CARMARTHEN: Renewed calls for £775m Aberystwyth rail link in major new transport report

"FRESH calls have been made to reinstate the Aberystwyth to Carmarthen railway as part of a major new report demanding billions of pounds in transport spending to get the Welsh economy “back on track”."
Read More
The words "Rail Business Daily" in black text with two pink slanted lines next to it on a white background.

Fresh call to reinstate the Aberystwyth to Carmarthen railway

"The ‘Getting Wales Back On Track’ report argues that much greater ambition is needed to connect Wales, hitting out at a lack of investment in mid and north Wales."
Read More
Black writing with the words "Nation Cymru" on it and a red dot separating the two words on a white background.

Report calls for billions in transport investment to transform Wales

"A new report from the Centre Think Tank sets out a bold programme of transport reform aimed at addressing major infrastructure weaknesses and delivering a more reliable, better-connected network across Wales."
Read More
A white background with the words "Herald", ".Wales" in red, and "The beating heart of the nation” in a green box. Next to this is a dragon in red.

Billions in transport investment needed to unlock Welsh growth, says think tank

"A new report from Centre Think Tank includes a call from the former First Minister of Wales, Lord Jones of Penybont, for greater investment in Welsh transport."
Read More
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."
Read More
The words "Cambrian News" in black text on a white background.

Aberystwyth to Carmarthen rail link backed as report calls for major transport investment

"A fresh report has backed plans to reinstate the Aberystwyth to Carmarthen railway as part of calls to invest major funds in transport in Wales."
Read More
The words "New Civil Engineer" in black text on a white background.

Wales urged to overhaul transport network with third Menai bridge and rail reopenings

"A report setting out priorities for Wales’s transport system says the country needs major investment in roads, rail and airports to address long-standing connectivity problems between north, mid and south Wales."
Read More
The words "Swansea Bay News" in blue text with four circles next to them, two in blue and two in grey, on a white background.

CARMARTHEN: Renewed calls for £775m Aberystwyth rail link in major new transport report

"FRESH calls have been made to reinstate the Aberystwyth to Carmarthen railway as part of a major new report demanding billions of pounds in transport spending to get the Welsh economy “back on track”."
Read More
The words "Rail Business Daily" in black text with two pink slanted lines next to it on a white background.

Fresh call to reinstate the Aberystwyth to Carmarthen railway

"The ‘Getting Wales Back On Track’ report argues that much greater ambition is needed to connect Wales, hitting out at a lack of investment in mid and north Wales."
Read More

Supporters

A white background with the logo in red, white and green with the words “Traws Link Cymru” and “West Wales Rail Campaign” beside it.

Traws Link Cymru

Traws Link Cymru aims to reinstate the railway lines between Aberystwyth and Carmarthen, and Afon Wen and Bangor, both of which were closed after the Beeching Cuts closed the routes.
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Videos

A plan to get Wales back on track

Torrin speaks about our plan to improve the Welsh transport system.

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Explaining our plan for transport in Wales

Our video on the Welsh transport system and a series of projects to improve transport links.

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Author

William Burrows

Deputy Director, Internal Operations

William is studying for a PhD at Leeds University within the School of Earth and Environment, with the Institute for Transport Studies and the Infuze Project. He has a masters in Economics from Swansea University and a degree in Economics from Aberystwyth University.

Foreword

Lord Jones

Former First Minister of Wales and Welsh Labour Leader

Carwyn was First Minister of Wales and Leader of Welsh Labour for nine years. He now sits on the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party and works as a Professor of Law at Aberystwyth University. Carwyn was also the Counsel General for Wales and a Member of the Senedd for Bridgend.

Outcomes

1,800 likes, 80 shares and 380 comments

The paper received over 1,800 likes, 80 shares, and 380 comments across all platforms. It also started a wider conversation around a new rail line to link north and south Wales.

7 pieces of coverage

The paper secured coverage across Wales, including coverage in print newspapers The South Wales Argus and Cambrian News, which have a combined circulation of over 8,000, alongside online outlets such as Nation.Cymru and The Herald Wales.

1,800 likes, 80 shares and 380 comments

The paper received over 1,800 likes, 80 shares, and 380 comments across all platforms. It also started a wider conversation around a new rail line to link north and south Wales.

7 pieces of coverage

The paper secured coverage across Wales, including coverage in print newspapers The South Wales Argus and Cambrian News, which have a combined circulation of over 8,000, alongside online outlets such as Nation.Cymru and The Herald Wales.