Welsh Liberal Democrats want to 'Get Wales Moving'

3.45.20pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 1st Mar 2007

Welsh Liberal Democrat Enterprise, Innovation and Networks spokesperson, Kirsty Williams, has unveiled her party's ten-point plan to revive Wales' ailing transport network.

Ideas include greater support for community transport, and investigating the potential for the Assembly Government to buy trains, and then lease them to the operating companies, to ensure a higher standard and improve passengers' experience.

Ms Williams said: "The current transport infrastructure is unfit for purpose. Businesses are losing money due to delays and congestion, passengers are fed up of being left waiting at the station or crammed into carriages like sardines. The Welsh Liberal Democrats want to get Wales moving again, with a focus on improving public transport, to offer a real alternative to car use.

"If we had trains and buses which were clean, safe and reliable, with routes that took passengers where they wanted to go and timetables that matched up, all at a price that seemed fair for the level of service received, persuading people to leave their cars at home would be easier and fairer. Congestion and pollution are not simple problems, but I am confident that the Welsh Liberal Democrats have the vision and the energy to start tackling these issues, and stop Wales grinding to a halt."

Notes:

· The Welsh Liberal Democrats launched their transport plan at the National Assembly for Wales this morning, copies of which can be downloaded from their website (www.welshlibdems.org.uk) .