Key Points
- Transport for Wales (TfW) is undertaking a public consultation on the Swansea Bay and West Wales Metro plans.
- Consultation Period is from 3 November to 13 December 2026.
- Phase A involves the provision of an extra two trains per hour service between Swansea and Pembrey & Burry Port.
- A new station has been proposed at Cockett together with a new platform at Swansea High Street Station and modification of Pembrey & Burry Port.
- Phase B involves provision of two extra trains per hour between Swansea and Ammanford via Neath.
- The potential new stations under Phase B are: Landore, Winsh-wen, Morriston, Llandarcy, Felindre, Pontlliw, and Ammanford.
- These plans involve laying of new track to connect the rail lines, upgrade of track and signalling system.
- According to TfW, neither phases have been fully funded and thus will require funding from the UK Government capital funds.
- Development of these plans has been funded by the Welsh Government.
- This public consultation will receive views on travel patterns, likely patronage of these plans and arrangements concerning stations and access to them.
- The drop-in sessions are going to be held in various places such as Swansea Station, Cockett Community Centre, Burry Port, Llanelli, Ammanford and Neath.
Swansea (Wales Times) November 03, 2026 – Transport for Wales has launched a public consultation on proposals to expand rail services across uk/local/swansea/">Swansea Bay and West Wales, including up to four additional trains per hour across two proposed routes, a possible new station at Cockett and potential stations at seven further locations.
The consultation, which opened on Tuesday, 3 November and will remain open until Sunday, 13 December 2026, covers two phases of the Swansea Bay and West Wales Metro project. As reported by Railnews, the public are being asked for their opinions on proposals to provide more trains in the Swansea Bay area.
Transport for Wales said the plans could give passengers more choice about when they travel and bring rail services closer to more communities. The organisation stated that the proposals could make it easier for people to reach jobs, education, healthcare and leisure without relying on a car.
What Is Being Proposed?
The consultation covers two separate rail proposals: a Swansea to Pembrey & Burry Port route and a Swansea to Ammanford route via Neath.
Phase A proposes up to two additional trains per hour between Swansea and Pembrey & Burry Port in Carmarthenshire. According to Transport for Wales, a possible new station at Cockett could provide local people with a new way to access the railway and travel towards Swansea, Llanelli, Carmarthen and beyond.
To support the proposed increase in services, the plans include a new platform at Swansea High Street station and changes at Pembrey & Burry Port station to allow trains to change direction more easily.
As reported by WalesOnline, the first phase would require a new platform at Swansea’s High Street station and alterations at Pembrey & Burry Port station. The publication reported that the proposed Cockett station would be located around two miles north-west of Swansea city centre.
Swansea Bay News reported that Transport for Wales has drawn up plans for a train every half hour from a new station at Cockett, with lifts to both platforms and a cycle shelter, but no car park. The outlet reported that the new Swansea platform would be known as Platform 0 and would be located on the northern side of the station, next to Platform 1 and towards New Cut Road.
According to Swansea Bay News, the proposed platform and new track connection at the eastern end of Swansea station are intended to give the half-hourly local trains their own place to start and finish without tying up the four platforms used by main line and west Wales services.
At Pembrey & Burry Port, Swansea Bay News reported that Platform 2 would be extended towards Llanelli and a new stretch of track laid beyond it so that trains can reverse there.
What Does Phase B Include?
Phase B, which Transport for Wales describes as being at an earlier stage of development, proposes up to two new train services per hour between Swansea and Ammanford via Neath.
Transport for Wales said potential new stations at Landore, Winsh-wen, Morriston, Llandarcy, Felindre, Pontlliw and Ammanford could bring more communities within reach of the rail network.
The proposed services would connect with other rail services at Neath, opening up onward travel towards Cardiff and further afield.
Transport for Wales said the Phase B proposals would require new track linking two railway lines, alongside track and signalling improvements.
Swansea Bay News reported that the second part of the plan would put two trains an hour on the Swansea District Line, a freight-only railway that loops north of the city, running from Swansea to Ammanford through Neath. The outlet reported that the scheme would need a new piece of track at Cwrt-sart, near Neath, to join the main line to the District Line, as well as signalling work and places for trains to turn at Pontarddulais and Ammanford.
WalesOnline reported that the new track, track upgrades and signalling improvements form part of the second phase, which is at an earlier stage of development.
How Can the Public Respond?
Transport for Wales is running the consultation and has been working with the Welsh Government, Network Rail and the councils covering Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot and Pembrokeshire.
The public can respond through an online survey available until 13 December 2026. Transport for Wales said the survey asks how people currently travel, whether they would use the proposed services, and which stations and access arrangements matter most to them.
Amanda Phillips, Transport for Wales strategic development programme manager, said:
“We want to give people more choice about how they travel, with more frequent trains and new connections between communities across Swansea Bay and West Wales.”
As reported by Swansea Bay News, Ms Phillips said the survey takes a few minutes and asks how people get around today, whether they would use the new services, and which stations and access arrangements matter most.
Transport for Wales has also arranged a series of drop-in sessions. According to Swansea Bay News, these include Swansea railway station on Tuesday, 10 November from 8am to 5pm; Cockett Community Centre on Wednesday, 25 November from 2pm to 6pm; and the Quadrant on Thursday, 26 November from 9am to 5pm.
Further sessions are planned at Burry Port station on Monday, 16 November from 8am to 11am; Burry Port Library from noon to 3pm; Llanelli station on Wednesday, 18 November from 8am to 10am; Pentre Awel from 11am to 4pm; Ammanford Library on Thursday, 19 November from 10am to 2pm; and Neath station on Friday, 20 November from 8am to 4pm.
How Much Could the Project Cost?
Transport for Wales has said final costs are not yet known and funding is not guaranteed.
As reported by WalesOnline, Transport for Wales said in September that the first phase of the plan was expected to cost less than £50 million according to a “high level” estimate, while the second phase was estimated to cost in excess of £150 million.
Rail Magazine reported in October that a fresh attempt was being made to secure the £200 million needed to push forward the Swansea Bay and West Wales Metro. The publication reported that the business case had been presented to the Welsh Government and that consultation was due to take place in November.
Nation.Cymru reported in September that plans for new railway stations and more frequent passenger services, costing an estimated £200 million, were being updated as part of the long-awaited metro project.
Transport for Wales has said the Welsh Government is funding development work, but neither phase is currently fully funded for delivery. The organisation said delivery would depend on funding being secured from the UK Government.
As reported by Nation.Cymru, Ben George, Transport for Wales’ head of regional transport, said: “The delivery of the Swansea Bay and West Wales Metro will require public sector investment and will be subject to the development and approval of robust business cases.”
Mr George said that, because rail infrastructure is non-devolved, realising the benefits for people living and working in Swansea Bay would require the UK Government’s support, cooperation and collaboration, including capital funding for the necessary improvements. He added that ongoing operational costs would be met by the Welsh Government.
What Else Does the Metro Include?
The wider Swansea Bay and West Wales Metro project also includes plans beyond the two rail routes now subject to consultation.
WalesOnline reported that the metro project aims to help improve the speed and reliability of bus journeys, better integrate rail and bus timetables and ticketing, make rail and bus stations more accessible for cyclists and pedestrians, and trial the use of buses powered by hydrogen in certain areas.
Transport for Wales said the Swansea Bay and West Wales Metro is in the early stages of development and is being developed in partnership by Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire local authorities, alongside the Welsh Government and the new Corporate Joint Committees.
Swansea Bay News reported that the tram-train line from Swansea to Neath and the Neath valley, and plans for hourly trains to Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven, are separate and are not part of this consultation.
Nation.Cymru reported that Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart said Transport for Wales was updating the business cases for two phases of rail improvements, including expanded passenger services on a line mainly used by freight trains.
Cllr Stewart said: “This will increase the frequency of trains at Swansea High Street while connecting communities across Swansea, service high-travel employment areas, and provide faster journey times to west Wales.”
What Happens Next?
Transport for Wales said feedback from the consultation will help shape the next stage of development. It said further development and assessment are needed before the proposals can be delivered.
The organisation said the proposals build on a detailed study carried out for the Welsh Government in 2021 and have been developed collaboratively with partners from across the region and the wider rail industry.
Swansea Bay News reported that Transport for Wales does not expect existing services to be cut as a result of either proposal. The outlet also reported that timetables and stopping patterns for both routes are still being worked out.
Transport for Wales said people can find out more and complete the survey through its Have Your Say website at haveyoursay.tfw.wales.
Background of the Development
The Swansea Bay and West Wales Metro is a long-term programme intended to improve public transport connectivity across Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot and Pembrokeshire.
Transport for Wales says the project is in its early stages and is being developed with the Welsh Government, local authorities, Corporate Joint Committees and Network Rail. Its stated aim is to provide better connectivity and the potential for faster services between West and South Wales.
The latest consultation follows earlier work on the project. Nation.Cymru reported that the metro was one of 43 projects included in Transport for Wales’ investment document, Today, Tomorrow, Together: A vision for rail across Wales and Borders.
The project has also faced funding uncertainty. As reported by Nation.Cymru, Neath Port Talbot Council documents from July stated that proposals for St Clears railway station and the Swansea Bay Metro had not secured funding through the 2025 Spending Review. The documents said the next UK Government Spending Review was expected in 2027.
Transport for Wales told councillors that the Wales Rail Board would assess future rail proposals against objectives being developed before submitting recommendations to the Department for Transport and the UK Government for consideration in the next spending review.
Separately, a proposed £1 billion tram-train link between Swansea and the Neath valley remains recognised in longer-term regional rail plans but has not been identified as an immediate delivery priority, according to reporting by Yahoo News UK based on Neath Port Talbot Council material.
Prediction: What It Could Mean for Residents and Commuters
If the proposals progress, residents in Swansea, Carmarthenshire and Neath Port Talbot could see more frequent rail services and closer access to stations in areas currently outside the passenger rail network.
For commuters, Phase A could provide up to two additional trains per hour between Swansea and Pembrey & Burry Port, potentially offering more flexibility for travel to work, education, appointments and leisure. A new Cockett station could reduce reliance on travel into Swansea city centre to access the railway.
For communities along the Swansea District Line, Phase B could introduce passenger services on a route currently used mainly by freight trains. Potential stations at Landore, Winsh-wen, Morriston, Llandarcy, Felindre, Pontlliw and Ammanford could make rail travel more accessible for people living near those locations.
The plans could also affect people travelling beyond the immediate area. Transport for Wales says the proposed Swansea to Ammanford services would connect with other rail services at Neath, creating onward travel opportunities towards Cardiff and further afield.
However, the scale of any eventual impact will depend on consultation feedback, further development work, business-case approval and the availability of UK Government capital funding. Transport for Wales has made clear that neither phase is currently fully funded for delivery, meaning the proposals remain at a planning and engagement stage rather than a confirmed construction programme.
