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Transport (Wales) Bill

At Second Reading, the Liberal Democrats drew attention to the absence of railways in the Bill. I have since perused the Railways Act 2005 and see that there are many welcome powers and changes. However, I should be glad to see just a mention of railways and railway infrastructure in the Bill. Before travelling from Wesley’s Chapel, in the City, I asked the minister there how to get around. He said, ““You can either take a cab, which you’ll find just outside; you can take the Underground from one or two stations, on the Circle Line or the District Line, and there are buses about every four minutes””. I thought to myself, ““Gosh, in one or two of my Welsh communities, we have a bus every week. We have no choice””. That is why it is important that we support diversity so that buses are in, railways are in and even dial-a-taxi services are in. That is why integrating the transport system is essential, particularly in the Welsh rural heartland.