Discussions about electrifying the railway line between Cardiff and Swansea are “back on the table”, the leader of Swansea Council has said. Cllr Rob Stewart spoke at the Green Economy Conference in Swansea.

Britain’s Department for Transport did not comment on the Swansea Labor Party’s statement. But a group called the Wales Rail Board is said to be prioritizing proposals for new infrastructure.

The Coalition government, led by Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron, promised in 2012 to electrify the line between London Paddington and Swansea, but the Cardiff to Swansea section was delayed five years later due to major cost overruns. Many considered this a blow to Wales’ second city, as then West and South Wales councilor Dr Dai Lloyd of Plaid Cymru said: “Wales doesn’t stop at Cardiff, but the Conservatives clearly think so. “Infrastructure beyond Cardiff is crucial if we are to strengthen the Welsh economy.”

British ministers have said the introduction of “dual-mode” trains, which switch from trams to diesel, will run between Cardiff and Swansea as quickly as trams. Electrification of the stretch between the two cities was estimated to cost around £430 million at 2012-23 prices.

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Scientist and transportation consultant Mark Barry told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the viability of electrification has never gone away. He said lighter electric trains accelerate faster and have a better environmental footprint than diesel and dual-mode trains.

Professor Barry, from Cardiff University’s School of Geography and Planning, said one of the most expensive elements of electrifying a railway line is building bridges to accommodate overhead power lines. However, he said an alternative method using permanently grounded sections, which has been implemented on the Core Valley lines in south-east Wales, has reduced the length of overhead power lines required and could have potential for the Swansea to Cardiff line. “Maybe you can cover some of the costs,” he said.

Professor Barry said the electrification of Cardiff and Swansea was among the goals of leaders in south Wales and the west of England who were pushing to improve journey times and service frequencies through a collaboration called Western Gateway. According to him, the “elephant in the room” was financing.

The Local Democracy Information Service asked the Department for Transport whether the Cardiff to Swansea electrification proposal is being considered again and, if so, what stage discussions are at and whether preliminary cost estimates have been made. He did not respond directly to the question, but said: “Wales Rail Board has begun work to identify priority infrastructure proposals in Wales, with more information on specific projects in due course.”

The Railway Board for Wales, established in 2021, has high-level representation from the Welsh Government, the Department for Transport, the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales, Transport Wales and Network Rail and is responsible for decision-making and the development of priority schemes. . . Its meetings are held behind closed doors, the agenda and minutes are not published. The council does not control the money coming from new rail investment as this remains within the scope of existing agreements with the UK government.

Meanwhile, leaders of Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot and Pembrokeshire councils are seeking support to improve transport across the four counties, including faster trains to and from west Wales, new stations on the Swansea and District line and a new station at Cockett on the line between Swansea and Bury Port. These are key elements of a wider transport project for the region called Swansea Bay and West Wales Metro.

The proposed new stations on the mainly freight Swansea and District Line are Pontlliw, Felindre, Morriston and Winch Wen, with Landore also reopening. Transport for Wales worked to identify the preferred location for each station. Cllr Stewart said the feasibility of building them was the strongest of any rail investment project in Wales. “We are seeking support from the UK and Welsh governments and the Railway Board of Wales to deliver the metro now that Transport for Wales has largely completed all the necessary feasibility studies,” he said.