THE Labour Government’s latest plans for the South East Wales Metro plans actually consist almost entirely of the already announced Valley Lines Electrification scheme, a Plaid AM claimed.

Research enquiries for Assembly Members revealed that the Metro Phase 2 is expected to be completed by 2023, and that the £500 million to £600 million of Phase 2 funding announced by Labour last week includes the cost of Valley Lines Electrification.

The cost of electrification was estimated last year as being between £309 million and £463 million, but it has been confirmed in recent weeks that costs across a range of projects in the UK rail industry are escalating.

Rhun ap Iorwerth, who is Plaid Cymru’s shadow economy and transport minister, has warned that as things stand the region is likely to get little more than a conventional electrification scheme by 2023, and not the “transformational Metro project” that has been promised.

Mr ap Iorwerth AM said: “Scrutiny of the Labour Government’s recent announcement about the Metro shows that the majority of cash pledged is for Valley Lines Electrification. Plaid Cymru supports Valley Lines Electrification wholeheartedly. But Valleys Lines Electrification in itself doesn’t make up a Metro scheme. An innovative Metro is much wider than that and has to include light rail or tram links, a reliable bus network... and vitally is about the way they all work together.

“My warning is that what is being promised by 2023 is not actually a Metro scheme in terms of what other leading European capital cities have.

“Valley Lines Electrification is desperately needed, but Plaid Cymru’s view is that this is a bare minimum for the valleys and is long overdue.”

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “The South East Wales Metro is a transformative project that will improve transport connectivity across the region and be a catalyst for improving the economic and social prospects for south east Wales. At this early stage there are many different options available to us, including light rail, heavy rail, bus rapid transit and trams and we are keeping an open mind as we engage with the industry to find the best solutions.”