Chancellor rules out tolls on M4 relief road
The UK Government say that they hope to announce plans for a new road around Newport with a couple of months
The Beeching Report: 50 years on
Today marks 50 years since the publication of the Beeching report, which led to the closure of large sections of Wales' rail network.
10th anniversary of free bus travel in Wales
Wales' bus travel scheme, which allows over-60s and people with impairments to travel for free, is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
Live updates
Rail improvements 'will help boost local employment'
– Mark Langman, Network Rail route managing director, WalesThis new viaduct and redoubling of the railway through Gowerton will remove the current bottleneck created by the stretch of single line and provide capacity to run more trains in the future.
This project joins a number of other rail improvement projects in South and West Wales that will help deliver better journeys and boost economic growth in the area.
As well as making it easier to travel to and from West Wales, they will help to boost local employment opportunities.
Viaduct will 'improve train services to West Wales'
Network Rail video
Network Rail and Arriva Trains Wales say the new Loughor Viaduct will carry improved train services to West Wales.
It will carry two tracks between Swansea and Llanelli instead of the previous one.
Advertisement
Loughor Viaduct work is almost finished
Work on a £48m project to replace the Loughor Viaduct between Swansea and Llanelli, and upgrade a 5.25-mile stretch of railway, is close to completion.
The old Loughor Viaduct has been replaced and work is focusing on laying two tracks through Gowerton for the start of services on Monday.
Osborne says M4 relief road will not have tolls
George Osborne has told ITV News that there will be no tolls on any new M4 relief road around Newport.
But on a visit to Cardiff, the Chancellor said he hope to give the go ahead to a scheme that would improve the road within a couple of months.
No M4 deal yet - Welsh Government
The Welsh Government has welcomed George Osborne's promise that an announcement on a scheme to improve the M4 at Newport will come in the next two months. But a spokesperson said there are 'important issues that remain to be resolved.'
We have been pressing for an agreed funding package for a strategic enhancement to the M4 for many months. It's very welcome that the Chancellor has expressed support in principle and said a decision will be made on the details shortly. However, no deal has been done yet and we will continue to work through the important issues that remain to be resolved.
Chancellor rules out tolls on M4 relief road
The UK Government say that they hope to announce plans for a new road around Newport with a couple of months
Read the full storyAdvertisement
Osborne rules out new M4 tolls
The Chancellor, George Osborne, has ruled out using tolls to pay for a new stretch of the M4 motorway around Newport. He dismissed claims that the Treasury was considering such a move as 'misreports.'
He told our Political Editor Adrian Masters that he's 'never seen or considered a proposal to toll the M4.' But he said he hoped to give the go-ahead 'in a couple of months' to a scheme to improve it which has been the subject of talks with the Welsh Government.
George Osborne: 'No plans to use tolls' on M4
George Osborne tells me he doesn’t know where reports of a toll road for a new M4 came from. No plans to use tolls.
From @adrianmasters84 on Twitter:George Osborne tells me Welsh Govt doesn’t want tolls for new M4 & he’s not planning it. First he heard of it was when he read it in press.
From @adrianmasters84 on Twitter:Welsh Govt: M4 Toll plan 'is unworkable'
by Owain PhillipsThe Welsh Government has strongly denied reports that tolls could be levied on motorway traffic around Newport. One source has told ITV Cymru Wales that it is an unworkable idea.
Talks are well advanced about using toll income from the Severn Bridges to pay for M4 improvements, including a possible relief road for Newport.
'Cautionary welcome' for M4 toll plans
The manager of a road hauliers in Llanelli has given a 'cautionary' welcome to news of a possible relief road around the M4 in Newport. It could be funded from the tolls on the Severn Bridges after the cost of building the Second Severn Crossing has been paid off.
Ian Jarman, Manager for Owens Road services, says that it would be a 'good investment in Wales' but that the charge 'needs to be small.'
He said that they already spend around £250,000 a year on the Severn Bridge tolls. He warned the UK and Welsh Governments not to 'tie them up in knots' with inflationary rises like they have seen with the Severn Bridge tolls.
Today's top stories
