Pandemic Metro delays
THE coronavirus pandemic is likely to mean delays for the £750m South Wales Metro network. The project will see a system of heavy and light rail, trams and new buses crossing the region with several new train stations.
THE coronavirus pandemic is likely to mean delays for the £750m South Wales Metro network.
The project will see a system of heavy and light rail, trams and new buses crossing the region with several new train stations.
It is set to be completed in 2023, but bosses have now conceded the finishing date could be pushed back a few months because of supply chain issues.
Transport for Wales (TfW) chief executive James Price insisted any hold-up would only be “marginal”.
Speaking on BBC Radio Wales, Mr Price said: “The key thing is that we have been able to continue to build it as planned. We have been out and about on the network for the last three weeks.
“The only delays we will see is down to the supply chain and some factories who have had to shut down in various parts of Europe for a short period of time.
“The headline message is – there will be no significant delays and the delays now as a result of taking it into public ownership will be simply down to some marginal delays in the supply chain
“We only stopped for a few days at the very start of the pandemic and we have been out and about on site ever since.
“It is clearly a continuing battle dealing with the pandemic and we never know what it is going to throw at us.”
The news follows the nationalisation of Transport for Wales at the weekend, after the Welsh Government took control following a drop in passenger number during the pandemic.
The new arrangements will see day to day rail services become the responsibility of a new publicly owned subsidiary of Transport for Wales, which includes a new partnership between Transport for Wales, Keolis and Amey.
Transport Minister Ken Skates has said the move will help secure the future of passenger services in Wales and the Borders area, protect jobs and maintain the Welsh Government’s ambitious plans for Metro.
The Welsh Government has spent £167m to keep TfW afloat after passengers dropped by 90%.
Transport boss Mr Price said he was “confident” demand would go back to normal after the pandemic had ended.
“In Wales, people still use the car and don’t use public transport and we know that with climate change that we need to get more people on public transport so we are strong of the view that demand will come back,” he added.
“It is likely to be less peaky in the morning and evening, and more balanced flow throughout the day.”