According to Wales’ deputy first minister Ieuan Wyn Jones, faster rail journeys between north and south Wales will be a key component of the Welsh Assembly Government’s (WAG) new transport strategy.

The WAG is developing a national transport strategy due to be launched in the spring and would be tailored to maximise economic benefits.

Jones said that despite tough spending limits, improving Wales’ public transport links and road networks were priorities. He pledged that transport spending would exceed the £50m committed for 2007-11 in last year’s Labour-Plaid Cymru coalition deal.