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On Wednesday, Hooper held discussions with UK government ministers and officials in Whitehall to outline his proposals concerning the future of rail services. During an interview with BBC Wales, he expressed strong dissatisfaction with the £30 million investment announced, describing it as a mere “tiny fraction” of the funds required and stating, “This figure is an insult to the people of Wales.”
He further criticized the UK government for its ongoing lack of investment in Wales’ rail infrastructure, emphasizing that this neglect highlights the urgent need for devolving rail powers. Hooper challenged the notion that the stations involved in the project were not “shovel-ready,” reminding listeners that the UK government had pledged these funds back in February. Since then, agreements have been made with Network Rail to have Transport for Wales take the lead on delivering the station developments.
Transport for Wales is prepared to commence work immediately, but Hooper stressed that the UK government must now fulfill its promise. He conveyed this message directly to the rail minister during their meeting. Supporting this stance, the Welsh government pointed out that although Wales accounts for 10% of the rail network across Great Britain, it receives only 1% of Network Rail’s expenditure, underscoring a significant funding disparity.
The Cardiff Parkway development, initially expected to open by 2024, faced delays throughout the planning phase. While Cardiff council approved the plans in April 2022, the Welsh government under Labour took further time to evaluate the project due to its wider national significance. Ultimately, former First Minister Eluned Morgan granted the necessary planning permission in January 2025
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