Having looked at some of the strengths and weaknesses of transport policy for Wales things now turn to geography.
In today’s piece:
- Where do weak points and gaps exist in the Welsh transport network?
- Is Wales poorly connected to the rest of Great Britain and Ireland? If so, what connections could be prioritised for improvement?
- What other international links ought to be prioritised for improvement (with one eye on independence)?
After another break, the run-in (starting August 21st) will consist of the final five articles looking at specific transport modes including road transport policies, where new railway stations should/could be built, what railways could/should be reopened, where bus rapid transit could work, other policy changes with independence, international comparisons etc. I’ll save that for then.
This one is more general, focusing on transport corridors with a national or regional impact and it’ll all inform those final five articles.
That’s not because transport at local level is less important, it’s more because I’ll be here all day if I had to include it. There could be some bits and pieces I’ve missed out too.
Brace yourselves for a lot of maps.
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Our options are limited when it comes to ferry links: Ireland or bust, pretty much.
The lack of a direct sea link to mainland Europe from Wales is notable. Though in the context of independence, if an independent Wales opted to join the EU then having a direct sea link to mainland Europe would be useful if not essential.
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We’re fortunate Cardiff Airport has connecting flights with at least four major international hub airports – which I’m defining as airports with 10million+ annual passengers that offer regularly scheduled direct flights to at least two continents other than Europe.
Of course, the main transcontinental international hubs for south Wales will be Heathrow and Gatwick, while mid and north Wales will be served similarly by Birmingham and Manchester airports respectively.
There’s a big difference though in having to travel 2-3 hours to catch a long-haul flight than having them available in relatively close reach (Part IV, Part X).
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Most of these destinations are served by low-cost carriers flying to/from Bristol Airport such as Ryanair and Easyjet. Though the main advantage Cardiff has over Bristol is having a runway capable of handling larger long-haul aircraft.
Looking at it objectively, our proximity to at least 5 major airports in England, which give access to a full range of international flights, isn’t that bad for Wales. It’s just a question as to whether poor international air links disadvantages Wales as a tourist and business destination in our own right.
