Transport

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Buses and franchising, rail, roads and bridges, walking and cycling, school transport, electric vehicles, Cardiff Airport and the ports.

In the Programme for Government this sits under the well-being objective Unleashing the potential of the Welsh economy, and creating good well-paid jobs.

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See them all

ThemesEverything Buses Rail Roads, bridges and 20mph Walking and cycling School transport Electric vehicles Cardiff Airport and the ports

Showing the theme Roads, bridges and 20mph. The Programme commitments are the brief's as a whole.

Statements and debates: 13; in the Sixth Senedd
Contributions: 2,742; in the Sixth Senedd
Written questions: 471; in the Sixth Senedd

How often it comes up

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On this page

The debate so far
Where things stand
What the government has promised
From the Welsh Government
In the news
Key moments in the Senedd
Related votes
Who raises it
Who ministers have met
What the public thinks
Written questions
Petitions
In committee
From Senedd Research
Latest contributions
Month by month
How this brief is put together

The debate so far

In the Seventh Senedd, transport debate has centred on the M4 around Newport and the Menai crossings. Members have also argued over bus reform and the new north-south coach, rail devolution and funding, the default 20 mph limit, and congestion in Cardiff. School transport, potholes and port resilience have come up repeatedly.

The main arguments

Transport Minister Mark Hooper (Plaid Cymru) announced an 18-month study of road-based solutions for the M4 around Newport, plus junction changes. Jayne Bryant (Welsh Labour) and Natasha Asghar (Welsh Conservatives) oppose junction closures; Art Wright (Reform UK) asked where the traffic would go. Contributions: [1]

Where the parties stand

Welsh LabourShifted
Opposes M4 junction closures and now backs a relief road (Jayne Bryant, Ken Skates, Vikki Howells). Welcomes the north-south coach as following its earlier work, defends 20 mph on safety grounds, and cites the £14 billion UK rail commitment. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5][6]
How this has shifted: In June Jayne Bryant asked whether the blue route and junction closures were ruled out; by October Labour tabled a motion for a relief road. Plaid Cymru's Peredur Owen Griffiths said this contradicted its earlier position.
Welsh Conservatives
Presses for road building, especially the M4 black route and Menai crossing, and opposes junction closures. Calls for action on potholes, and opposes the default 20 mph limit. Janet Finch-Saunders welcomed the coach and the third crossing. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5][6]
Plaid CymruShifted
In government, Plaid Cymru's Mark Hooper commits to a third Menai crossing, an M4 study, bus franchising, a north-south coach and rail devolution. Members defend 20 mph, and say Labour could not resolve the M4 in office. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5][6]
How this has shifted: In June Paul Rock noted the Minister confirmed the black route would not be revisited. In October the Minister announced a study of road-based solutions for the M4 and restarted Menai crossing development.
Reform UK
Prioritises road building: an M4 relief road, A55 improvements and scrapping the default 20 mph limit. Opposes further rail devolution, questions costings and Menai funding, and presses on reliability of the coach service. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5][6]
Welsh Liberal Democrats
Jane Dodds wants investment in rail and buses across Wales rather than a roads focus. She backs rail devolution, claims credit for the £1 bus fare for young people, and raised the T4 service. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5]
Wales Green Party
Paul Rock opposes the black route on environmental grounds and fears road spending would reduce public transport investment. He defends 20 mph and urges support for footpaths and walking. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]

Where things stand

Statistics published by the Welsh Government. Each chart covers the years since the 2016 Senedd election, or as far back as the figures go, and marks each election since.

Bus journeys

71.7 million

2024-25

A year earlier: 71.4 million (2023-24)

Passenger journeys on local bus services in Wales each financial year, in millions.

The Department for Transport collects these figures from bus operators, and advises caution with single year-on-year changes.

Source: Welsh Government, Passenger journeys on local bus services. Accredited official statistics. Next update due in March 2027. Checked on 6 November 2026.

Show the figures

Bus journeys: every figure in the chart, newest first.
Period	Wales
2024-25	71.7 million
2023-24	71.4 million
2022-23	61.2 millionrevised
2021-22	53.3 millionrevised
2020-21	27.2 millionrevised
2019-20	92.4 millionrevised
2018-19	101.0 million
2017-18	98.9 million
2016-17	99.4 million

People killed on the roads

2025

A year earlier: 84 (2024)

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

How we show official statistics Figures on this brief quoted in the Senedd (14)

What the government has promised

The Programme for Government 2026 to 2030 belongs to the Seventh Senedd. Choose the Seventh Senedd to see how often each commitment has come up.

Transport

Prioritise the resilience of connections across the Menai Strait through short and medium‑term improvements whilst planning for long‑term solutions.
Read it in the Programme
Work with partners to address road resilience in the South‑East Wales corridor.
Read it in the Programme
Promote road safety and ensure that our roads are safely maintained.
Latest figure: People killed on the roads, 91, 2025.
Read it in the Programme
Bring forward a renewed pipeline of short, medium and long‑term priority rail projects.
Read it in the Programme
Create a more integrated public transport network by expanding tap‑on, tap‑off, pay‑as‑you‑go ticketing, introducing simpler and fairer fares across bus and rail to improve services for passengers and communities across Wales, making travel simpler and more affordable.
Read it in the Programme
Continue to provide £1 single bus fares and £3 day tickets for children and young people aged 5‑21 and retain bus passes for over 60s and disabled people.
Latest figure: Bus journeys, 71.7 million, 2024-25.
Read it in the Programme
Transform bus services through franchising, bringing routes, fares and standards under a single publicly accountable system that puts passengers first. We will enhance links between communities through the new North‑South coach service and deliver an integrated network that improves access to services, supports economic growth, and helps reduce carbon emissions.
Latest figure: Bus journeys, 71.7 million, 2024-25.
Read it in the Programme
Deliver a renewed EV strategy for Wales.
Read it in the Programme
Put active travel at the heart of Wales’s transport system, making it a practical, safe and inclusive choice for more everyday journeys. We will reduce barriers to walking, wheeling and cycling to support our ill health prevention mission, and promote wellbeing and economic opportunity.
Read it in the Programme
Put children and young people at the heart of a joined‑up approach to learner travel, strengthening cross‑government working so that public services work together to improve access to education, including by addressing barriers to Welsh‑medium education.
Read it in the Programme
Take a strategic approach to secure Cardiff Airport’s long‑term sustainability and maximise its economic potential.
Read it in the Programme
Work with Welsh ports to strengthen their resilience and maximise their contribution to the Welsh economy, while pursuing full devolution of port regulation.
Read it in the Programme

Demanding fairness from Westminster: Fair funding

Fight for the rail funding we are owed and that we need to invest in Welsh rail – including consequential funding from HS2 – and for rail to be devolved.
Read it in the ProgrammeAlso followed in: Public finances.

Source: Welsh Government, Programme for government 2026 to 2030: New ambition for Wales, first published on 10 September 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Mentions are found by matching the names of plans, bodies and schemes; a mention says nothing about progress.

Related votes

18 June 2025

Welsh Conservatives Debate - M4 relief road

The Welsh Conservatives, led by Paul Davies, asked the Senedd to regret the scrapping of the M4 relief road and to call on the Welsh Government to build one. Labour's Jane Hutt replaced this with support for the Burns Commission's alternatives. The Senedd agreed Labour's version.

Motion without amendment
The Welsh Conservatives' original motion, regretting the scrapping of the M4 relief road and asking the Welsh Government to deliver one.
Rejected
For 12Against 32
Amendment 1, tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan
Heledd Fychan's amendment (Plaid Cymru). Its wording was not provided, so this cannot be described further.
Rejected
For 9Against 35
Amendment 2, tabled in the name of Jane Hutt
Jane Hutt's amendment (Labour), replacing the whole motion with support for the Burns Commission's transport recommendations and criticism of past Conservative governments' funding.
Agreed
For 23Against 21
Motion as amended
The final vote on the motion as changed by Labour's amendment, which backs the Burns Commission's alternatives instead of a new M4.
Agreed
For 23Against 21

25 September 2024

Welsh Conservatives Debate - 20mph speed limits

The Welsh Conservatives, led by Darren Millar, asked the Senedd to call for the default 20mph limit to be repealed (scrapped). Plaid Cymru and Welsh Labour each proposed replacement wording. The Senedd rejected the Conservative motion and Plaid Cymru's amendment, then agreed Labour's version, which backs a targeted approach to 20mph limits.

Motion without amendment
The Welsh Conservative motion as originally written, calling on the Welsh Government to repeal the default 20mph limit and work with councils on a targeted approach.
Rejected
For 14Against 37
Amendment 1, tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan
Amendment 1 from Heledd Fychan (Plaid Cymru): replace the motion with wording saying 20mph limits can help when applied sensibly, regretting delays, and asking for a properly resourced review.
Rejected
For

21 November 2023

Amendment 63

Motion
Rejected
For 14Against 38

21 November 2023

Amendment 80

Motion
Agreed
For 38Against 14

21 November 2023

Amendment 64

Motion
Rejected
For 14Against 38

21 November 2023

Amendment 72

Motion
Rejected
For 14Against 38

11 October 2023

Amendment 49

Motion
Rejected
For 1Against 5

11 October 2023

Amendment 79

Motion
Rejected
For 2Against 4

11 October 2023

Amendment 62

Motion
Rejected
For 1Against 5

11 October 2023

Amendment 61

Motion
Rejected
For 1Against 5

11 October 2023

Amendment 82

Motion
Rejected
For 2Against 4

11 October 2023

Amendment 50

Motion
Rejected
For 1Against 5

11 October 2023

Amendment 51

Motion
Rejected
For 1Against 5

11 October 2023

Amendment 80

Motion
Rejected
For 3Against 3

13 September 2023

Welsh Conservatives Debate - The Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit) (Wales) Order 2022

The Welsh Conservatives (Darren Millar) asked the Welsh Government to repeal the 20 mph default speed limit order, due to start on 17 September 2023. Plaid Cymru (Heledd Fychan) replaced this with wording that keeps the limit and asks for reviews, more local exemptions and funding. The Senedd agreed the Plaid Cymru version.

Motion without amendment
This was the vote on Darren Millar's original motion, which called on the Welsh Government to repeal the 20 mph speed limit order.
Rejected
For 15Against 38
Amendment 1, tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan
This was the vote on Heledd Fychan's amendment, which replaced the whole motion with wording that notes the benefits of 20 mph and asks for reviews, local exemptions and funding.
Agreed
For 38

8 March 2023

Welsh Conservatives Debate - The roads review

The Welsh Conservatives, led by Darren Millar, tabled a motion regretting a lack of engagement by the Welsh Government's roads review panel and criticising its advice to scrap road projects. Plaid Cymru's Sian Gwenllian amended it to seek more investment in public transport and electric vehicle charging. The Senedd agreed the motion as amended.

Motion without amendment
This vote was on the Welsh Conservatives' original motion, which regretted the panel's lack of engagement and criticised its call to scrap road projects.
Rejected
For 15Against 39
Motion as amended
This vote was on the motion with Sian Gwenllian's amendment in place of point 3, so it called for urgent investment in public transport and electric vehicle infrastructure.
Agreed
For 53Against 1

12 July 2022

The Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit) (Wales) Order 2022

The Welsh Government, through Lesley Griffiths (Welsh Labour), asked the Senedd to approve an order lowering the default speed limit on restricted roads in Wales from 30 mph to 20 mph. Restricted roads are mostly those with street lighting. The Minister said it would start on 17 September 2023. The Senedd agreed the motion.

Vote on legislation
Whether to approve the draft order that lowers the general speed limit on restricted roads in Wales from 30 mph to 20 mph, as put forward by the Welsh Government.
Agreed
For 39Against 15

How these votes work: the Senedd first votes on the motion as written. If that fails, it votes on each amendment in turn, then on the motion with any agreed changes.

Explanations are written by AI from the published motion and the debate. Check the wording on the vote's page before quoting.

Votes are tagged from their own titles and the agenda item they were held under.

What the public thinks

48% of Welsh adults said the condition of streets, roads and pavements would be very important to their vote.
37% of Welsh adults said public transport would be very important to their vote.
15% of Welsh adults said the level of traffic congestion would be very important to their vote.

Ipsos asked 747 Welsh adults aged 16+ between 2 April 2026 and 8 April 2026, before the 2026 Senedd election. People could choose as many issues as they liked. More on public opinion.

Asked what the Welsh Government should prioritise, people put the cost of living (52%) and health (49%) far ahead of anything else.
All answers
- The cost of living and inflation52%
- Health49%
- Immigration and asylum25%
- The economy25%
- Housing19%
- Education18%
- Transport15%
- The environment and climate change14%
- Crime13%
- Tax8%
- Welfare benefits8%
- Britain's relationship with the EU6%
- Defence and security6%
- Family life and childcare5%
- Pensions4%
- Welsh independence4%
People could choose more than one answer.
YouGov Barn Cymru poll, Apr 2026 to Apr 2026. Adults in Wales aged 16 and over; 1,201 answered. The question: “And which of the following do you think the Welsh Government should prioritise? Please tick up to three options.”
In October 2026, people named health (48%) and the economy (44%) as the most important issues facing Wales, ahead of immigration (33%) and housing (24%).
All answers
- Health48%
- The economy44%
- Immigration and asylum33%
- Housing24%
- Education20%
- Welfare benefits16%
- The environment15%
- Crime12%
- Britain leaving the EU10%
23% feel unsafe travelling by public transport after dark.
All answers
- Very safe31%
- Fairly safe46%
- A bit unsafe18%
- Very unsafe6%
National Survey for Wales 2024-25, Apr 2024 to Mar 2025. Adults in Wales aged 16 and over; 4,700 answered. The question: “How safe or unsafe do you feel travelling by public transport after dark?”

From surveys that publish their full tables. Each figure links to the source. Shares are rounded. The Welsh Government has paused the accredited official statistics badge for 2024-25 because samples were smaller than usual; it says national figures remain reasonable estimates.

Month by month

Contributions tagged in each month of the Sixth Senedd. No sittings were held in August 2021, August 2022, August 2023, December 2024 and August 2025.

Show the numbers

Month	Contributions
May 2021	3
June 2021	55
July 2021	20
August 2021	No sittings
September 2021	39
October 2021	22
November 2021	22
December 2021	22
January 2022	35
February 2022	24
March 2022	28
April 2022	5
May 2022	29
June 2022	66
July 2022	52
August 2022	No sittings
September 2022	25
October 2022	43
November 2022	29
December 2022

How this brief is put together

This brief follows the Programme commitments listed above and tags the record with the phrases below. Keyword matching can miss business that discusses the issue in other words, and can tag a passing mention.

Show the phrases it uses

A contribution is tagged when its English text contains one of these phrases. Capital letters don't matter, except in abbreviations, which must match exactly. It is also tagged when the title of the agenda item or question it was part of contains one, as long as the contribution is at least 30 words long. The brief is also tagged whenever one of its themes is.

Phrases for the brief as a whole

“transport”
“public transport”
“transport infrastructure”
“Transport for Wales”

Abbreviations

“TfW”

Buses

“bus franchising”
“bus services”
“bus service”
“bus routes”
“bus route”
“buses”
“bus network”
“bus fares”
“bus fare”
“bus passes”
“bus pass”
“concessionary fares”
“concessionary travel”
“TrawsCymru”
“north-south coach”
“Bus Services (Wales)”

Rail

“rail services”
“rail service”
“railway”
“railways”
“rail electrification”
“rail funding”
“rail infrastructure”
“rail projects”
“Network Rail”
“South Wales Metro”
“North Wales Metro”
“Core Valley Lines”
“trains”
“north Wales main line”
“Wales and Borders”

Abbreviations

“HS2”

Roads, bridges and 20mph

“20mph”
“20 mph”
“roads review”
“road building”
“potholes”
“pothole”
“M4 relief”
“M4”
“A55”
“A465”
“Heads of the Valleys”
“trunk road”
“trunk roads”
“road safety”
“speed limit”
“speed limits”
“road maintenance”
“Menai”
“Britannia Bridge”
“Menai Suspension Bridge”
“Brynglas tunnels”
“road resilience”
“congestion”
“traffic congestion”

Walking and cycling

“active travel”
“cycling”
“cycle paths”
“cycle path”
“cycle lanes”
“walking and cycling”
“walking, wheeling and cycling”
“safe routes to school”

School transport

“learner travel”
“school transport”
“home-to-school transport”
“school buses”
“school bus”

Electric vehicles

“electric vehicle”
“electric vehicles”
“electric car”
“electric cars”
“EV charging”
“charging points”
“charge points”
“charging infrastructure”

Abbreviations

“EV”
“EVs”

Cardiff Airport and the ports

“Cardiff Airport”
“airport”
“Holyhead”
“Fishguard”
“Pembroke Dock”
“port of Holyhead”
“Welsh ports”
“port regulation”
“air passenger duty”

Period	Wales
2025	91
2024	84
2023	98
2022	96
2021	86
2020	74
2019	95
2018	108
2017	101
2016	103

The debate so far

The main arguments

The debate so far

The main arguments

Where the parties stand

Welsh LabourShifted

Welsh Conservatives

Plaid CymruShifted

Reform UK

Welsh Liberal Democrats

Wales Green Party

What the government is being pressed on

What the public is asking for

Who ministers are meeting

In the Sixth Senedd (2021 to 2026)

Where things stand

Bus journeys

People killed on the roads

What the government has promised

Transport

Demanding fairness from Westminster: Fair funding

From the Welsh Government

In the news

Key moments in the Senedd

Related votes

Welsh Conservatives Debate - M4 relief road

Welsh Conservatives Debate - 20mph speed limits

Amendment 63

Amendment 80

Amendment 64

Amendment 72

Amendment 49

Amendment 79

Amendment 62

Amendment 61

Amendment 82

Amendment 50

Amendment 51

Amendment 80

Welsh Conservatives Debate - The Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit) (Wales) Order 2022

Welsh Conservatives Debate - The roads review

The Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit) (Wales) Order 2022

Who raises it

Which parties raise it

Members who raise it most

Who ministers have met

What the public thinks

Written questions

Petitions

In committee

From Senedd Research

Latest contributions

Month by month

How this brief is put together

Phrases for the brief as a whole