SEWTA - News

PRESS RELEASES 2005

29 December 2005 Make Sustainable Travel Your New Year Resolution

14 November 2005 Sewta Briefing Helps Members Track Transport

22nd August 2005 Moving People - Improving Rail: The Next Five Years

15th July 2005 S.Wales-London Rail Services Being Sacrificed For English Routes

10th July 2005 Long Term Rail and Bus Strategy

10th June 2005 Share a car to the Royal Welsh Show

22nd June 2005 Platform Extensions in the Cynon Valley

14th June 2005 Car Sharing is the new way to save money - and the planet

20th May 2005 Bassaleg's New £35,000 Bike Sheds Will Help Fight School Run Congestion

22nd April 2005 School Bike Trains Benefit All In Sustainable Transport Campaign

31st March 2005 Sewta Welcomes Strategic Framework For The Heads Of Valleys

22nd March 2005 New Look Bus Station Will Provide A Safe Passenger Environment

18th March 2005 New Bridgend Bus Station Wins Top Transport Award

9th March 2005 Women's Transport Summit Launch For New Transport Alliance

8th February 2005 Sewta Commission Strategy Plan For Freight Transport

SEWTA COMMISSION STRATEGY PLAN FOR FREIGHT TRANSPORT

The South East Wales Transport Alliance plan a comprehensive “who moves what where” study as part of their future freight traffic strategy review for the region.

Meeting at Cardiff City Hall, Sewta members from the 10 South East Wales local authorities and partners from the transport industry and users approved the £20,000 study suggested by its transport policy group which said that despite increases in rail freight more than 90 per cent of goods still went by road.

“Increases in white goods, food sales and the increasing customer demand for door-to-door deliveries and home shopping will add further pressures to the road network,” it warned.

Sewta Board chairman Tom Williams of Caerphilly said it was fundamental that a detailed survey was prepared to highlight the many road and environmental issues raised by the increase in freight traffic. This would include establishing who moves what where, identify the land and infrastructure used or required.

“Transporting more freight from road to rail is an objective of most public and private bodies and agencies but it must be recognised that the majority of freight will continue to be carried by road. Therefore efforts must be concentrated on improving our highway network and the quality, efficiency and sustainability aspects of moving freight by road,” said Mr. Williams.

He said it had to be remembered that the many issues raised by freight transportation were not local or confined to local authority boundaries but were UK and international.

The report from the Sewta policy group said that rail freight had experienced a decline in past years for bulk commodities but had benefited from an increase of 30 per cent in recent years (15 per cent in Wales over the last ten years). There had been an increase in trade from the construction, automotive, parcels and paper products industries but increased haulage lengths for coal and metals had underpinned the growth.

The UK as a whole had benefited from a strong import market particularly within the European Union. Cross channel roll on-off traffic had increased by nearly 50 per cent since 1996. Air freight accounted for only 2 per cent of the market by volume but 25 per cent by value. Like sea traffic it concentrated on specific locations in the UK with Heathrow and Gatwick dealing with 70 per cent. This concentration in the south east of England said the report, left limited scope for South East Wales but changes could affect the area so they had to be considered.

Sewta said the Welsh Assembly Government recognised that the majority of freight in Wales would continue to be moved by road. “Therefore WAG intends to concentrate on the quality and efficiency aspects of moving freight by road to facilitate the movement of goods and services by efficient and sustainable means,” said the policy group.

The Sewta report said the Welsh Assembly Government would continue to administer the Freight Facilities Grant despite its suspension in England by the Strategic Rail Authority. Plans had been announced for the development of a European rail freight terminal at Wentloog, Cardiff and last year a £1.72million grant had been awarded for a new rail freight facility at North Dock, Newport.

WOMEN'S TRANSPORT SUMMIT LAUNCH FOR NEW TRANSPORT ALLIANCE

The top experts in women’s transport issues meet in Cardiff next week to mark the launch of the new South East Wales Transport Alliance – Sewta.

The conference at 10.30 am on Thursday 17 th March in City Hall, Cardiff, will be opened by Welsh Assembly Government deputy minister for economic development and transport Tamsin Dunwoody-Kneafsey AM and the chair of Sewta, Councillor Tom Williams. Sewta is the new joint body formed by the local authorities in South-East Wales to work for better co-ordinated and more effective transport for people and business.

Under the title The Sewta Moving People Conference 2005: “Women’s Transport Issues” it will cover the whole spectrum of women travelling in Britain today from personal safety on buses, trains and taxis; 4 x 4’s and the school run to: “Who really are the best drivers- men or women?”

The speakers include the Mayor of London’s policy adviser on women’s issues Anni Marjoram; Professor Frank McKenna of the School of Psychology, University of Reading; Julia Thomas, the Streets for People Co-ordinator at Transport 2000 and also representatives of British Transport Police and Arriva Trains Wales.

Sewta Board chair Tom Williams of Caerphilly said:

“Travel for women, whether the focus is on personal safety or specific needs, is an important topical issue which Sewta sees as a priority to debate as we seek best practice, formulate policy and bid to deliver integrated transport to people in Wales. This conference will be a “must do” in the diaries of both transport professionals and the travelling public.”

NEW BRIDGEND BUS STATION WINS TOP TRANSPORT AWARD

Bridgend’s new bus station has won recognition in the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport National Awards 2005 for entries in the Passenger Transport Category.

Positive feedback in passenger and users surveys about the bus station impressed the judges so much they awarded the scheme a special prize.

The special award which was jointly sponsored by First Great Western was presented by Ms Tamsin Dunwoody-Kneafsey, the Welsh Assembly Government Deputy Minister for Economic Development and Transport at a ceremony in Cardiff Castle.

Praising Bridgend County Borough Council, the Deputy Minister said:

“This project successfully delivered its objectives in a creative and innovative way. The results are encouraging with positive and enthusiastic feedback from passengers. The application is clear and comprehensive with good use of illustrations and diagrams, which bring the whole project to life.”

The chair of the South-East Wales Transport Alliance – made up of 10 local authorities and partners- Councillor Tom Williams of Caerphilly, said:

“This is yet another example of good practice in providing the travelling public with first-class travelling facilities. We at Sewta congratulate Bridgend County Council.”

NEW LOOK BUS STATION WILL PROVIDE A SAFE PASSENGER ENVIRONMENT

An exciting new bus station development planned for Blackwood will provide passengers with a safer user-friendly environment.

Although Blackwood’s existing bus station is ideally located in the centre of the town it is generally agreed that it suffers from poor design and promotes anti-social behaviour. Now plans have been revealed for an exciting redevelopment scheme with work expected to start September 2005 and completion by summer 2006.

The South East Wales Transport Alliance (Sewta) has secured a transport grant to “provide passenger interchange facilities commensurate with modern expectations and a safer passenger environment.” The aim is to make this part of Blackwood more attractive to potential retailers and service sector employers alike.

The new facility will incorporate a ground-floor level café and waiting room and will provide a safe secure area for passengers by maximising natural light and providing high-quality lighting and CCTV systems. Passengers will also benefit from comprehensive information displays and, for the first time, a formal taxi rank.

The bus station improvements have been made possible thanks to a £2m funding bid by Sewta the new joint body formed by the local authorities in South-East Wales to work for better co-ordinated and more effective transport for people and business.

Sewta Board chair Tom Williams of Caerphilly said:

“The present bus station at Blackwood unfortunately enhances the feeling of isolation from the rest of the town. This had led to problems with anti-social behaviour and has created problems in connection with personal safety.

“The new Blackwood bus station will create a friendlier modern passenger environment and will be an attractive gateway to an important Valleys town. In addition the new layout will solve the difficulties experienced by larger buses manoeuvring in and out of the various bays.”

Artist's impressions of the new Blackwood bus interchange:-

SEWTA WELCOMES STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR THE HEADS OF VALLEYS

Sewta - the South-East Wales Transport Alliance - has welcomed today's (Thursday, March 31) launch of the Strategic Framework for the Heads of the Valleys by the Minister for Economic Development and Transport Andrew Davies.

This major programme will build upon the many unique strengths of the Heads of the Valley's communities, to build a confident, healthy, prosperous and sustainable future. Sewta, a partnership between the 10 local authorities in the region, and transport operators and their customers, embraces the whole of the Heads of the Valleys area.

Caerphilly Councillor Tom Williams, who chairs Sewta said: "The new Strategic Framework derives from several months of discussions between a number of organisations including Sewta, and the Welsh Assembly Government.

"Significant progress has been made, through Sewta's Transport Strategy, to raise investment in transport infrastructure and services. However, there is much still to do for the Heads of the Valleys to be able to compete for new investment effectively. This new Strategic Framework will give this work a new impetus.

"This new Strategic Framework will help to ensure that the transport needs of the area can be met as part of a regional integrated transport strategy."

SCHOOL BIKE TRAINS BENEFIT ALL IN SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT CAMPAIGN

Wales' first pupil Bike Train will run this week (Friday April 22nd) thanks to a Vale of Glamorgan Council sustainable transport initiative aimed at cutting down the number of cars on the "school run".

Launched as part of Bike to School Week the Council have used a Welsh Assembly Government grant to construct the cycle paths. The scheme will hopefully be the first of many in the area covered by the 10 local authorities who form the South East Wales Transport Alliance.

A Bike Train is the two-wheeled version of the Walking Bus where children help keep cars off the road at busy times by going to school together in a safe and supervised manner. On bikes it is a bit more complicated because children need intensive rider training before they can venture out into the traffic beyond the school gates.

But now enough years 10/11 children at Evenlode School in Penarth have qualified to complete the first Welsh Bike Train complete with "driver, engineer and guard".

The kids meet at a pre-arranged spot and then ride together a mile to school on a specially constructed route which crosses the main road on a new Toucan Crossing. Initiated by the Council, it is envisaged that parents will form a daily rota to accompany the children to school in the morning and from school in the afternoon.

"If children pick up the bike-to-school habit in junior school they will continue when they start secondary education with all the benefits of beating teenage obesity."

Sewta Board chair Tom Williams of Caerphilly said: "Bike trains must become part of everyday life in South East Wales if we are to have sustainable transport solutions - and healthy children. We applaud the Vale of Glamorgan Council for taking the lead with this initiative."

BASSALEG'S NEW £35,000 BIKE SHEDS WILL HELP FIGHT SCHOOL RUN CONGESTION

Bassaleg School's bike sheds are now bang up to date thanks to a Safe Routes to School grant from the Welsh Assembly Government.

Newport Mayor Paul Cockeram and GB Triathlete Anneliese Heard arrived on two wheels to officially open the new cycle compound which has the capability to store up to 70 bikes securely. They were greeted by geography/career teacher, Mrs Lynn Wilcox, who has acted as the school safe routes champion and led a group of seven pupils who produced a school travel plan which is designed to encourage pupils to walk or cycle to school on a more regular basis.

Bassaleg Safe Routes to School Scheme has been developed as a partnership between Bassaleg school's pupils and teachers, Newport City Council, Welsh Assembly Government (WAG), Sewta (the South East Wales Transport Alliance) and Capita Symonds. It is a sustainable transport initiative aimed at cutting down the number of cars on the "school run".

Martin Dolan Sewta Regional Travel Plans Co-ordinator said: "We are delighted with Bassaleg School's success with their Safe Routes to School project. The new bike storage facility will mean pupils can get to school in a healthy and environmentally-friendly manner taking dozens of school run cars off the roads every day."

Safe Routes to School schemes are funded by Welsh Assembly Government Transport Grant over a 3 year period. Phase 1 consisted of installing 20 mph traffic calming measures the approaches to the Griffin entrance to the school including provision of a new pedestrian crossing on Caerphilly Road. Upgrading footways and the crossing near the Forge Road school entrance to create the opportunity for cycling was also necessary.

Now work will soon begin on Phase 2 of the project. Newport Council have secured £231,000 from the WAG to create a safe routes network from the Rogerstone area - the central feature of this will be a new wider footbridge across the River Ebbw. This new section will also provide links to the local feeder schools. Pupils at Bassaleg will also benefit from cycle training provided by the local road safety officer.

ARE YOU DOING IT?

CAR SHARING IS THE NEW WAY TO SAVE MONEY - AND THE PLANET

Are you doing it? is the question Welsh rugby's Grand Slam Dragon Dewi and the BBC's Scrum Four's sheep will be asking when they arrive at the Millennium Stadium today to launch south east Wales' new car share scheme as part of Green Transport Week.

Backed by a transport grant from the Welsh Assembly Government, Sewta (the South East Wales Transport Alliance) has set up an exciting new system where anyone anywhere can sign up to share journeys and costs.

Accessed via the internet sewtacarshare.com is a free service that links drivers with passengers to share car journeys together. You can car share to work, shopping, to the big game or a concert - or to anywhere from anywhere at anytime. It cuts travel costs, congestion and pollution.

You just sign up with a few personal details, log in and register your journey details for free. The system will then tell you if anyone else is going in the same direction, leaving it up to you to make contact through a secure e-mail connection, and arrange to share both the journey and the costs of travel.

Businesses can join up too to get their staff to work in a greener way - it is great if office car parking spaces are at a premium as sharers can be given priority.

Sewta chair Tom Williams said: "Car sharing is kind to the environment and your pocket. Everyone benefits from car sharing - those doing it can cut their travel costs, other road users gain by the reduction in congestion and it also contributes to the fight against global warming."

Millennium Stadium Business Development Manager Rupert Moon said: "Parking is always at a premium in Cardiff and we recommend that all visitors to Millennium Stadium events consider car sharing as a preferred method of travel if public transport is not a viable option for them. sewtacarshare.com will now make it easy for people to make car sharing happen."

The software behind the system has been provided by the specialist car-sharing company, lift share, which has established more than 200 car-sharing schemes for communities across the UK.

lift share now has over 2 million journeys and 70,000 members registered on one central database. This means that each user can choose whether to look for lifts within their own community, or from the whole lift sharedatabase, thereby increasing the likelihood that they'll find a match to their journey requirements.

PLATFORM EXTENSIONS IN THE CYNON VALLEY

Four car trains are now a reality for the Cynon Valley as all the platforms along the route have been extended by Network Rail to accommodate them. The works were made possible as Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, working through the Sewta consortium, successfully applied for Transport Grant funding of £2.6 million from the Welsh Assembly Government.

Work started in January this year to extend the platforms at Cwmbach, Penrhiwceiber. Abercynon North and Aberdare followed in February and the Fernhill work got underway in May. In addition to the platform extensions some other works are being carried out e.g., improving foot crossings and disabled access.

The extended platforms mean that Arriva Trains Wales can now use four car trains in the Cynon Valley, consequently helping to reduce congestion on peak time trains.

These improvements form part of a programme of works to improve services on the Aberdare line, which the Council has developed through close working with its Sewta partners. In 2001, a new station, passing loop and other track related safety improvements at Mountain Ash were completed following funding from the Welsh Assembly Government. Further safety improvements were introduced in 2002, when the rolling stock and track were fitted with the Train Protection Warning System (TPWS).

A half hourly train service was introduced on the Aberdare line in September 2003 with funding from the Strategic Rail Authority.

"The half hourly service has been very well received by train users", said Cllr Eudine Hanagan, Rhondda Cynon Taf Cabinet Member for Better Public Services and Transport.

"Use of the service has increased by 50%. By making the platforms longer, and enabling the trains to have more carriages we can ensure that an even better service is provided for our residents,

"Improved frequency and bigger trains means that there is now a fast, reliable, and convenient alternative to the car. If passenger numbers continue to rise this work will help to reduce traffic congestion even more.

"We are working towards an integrated transport system for all of Rhondda Cynon Taf - this is another step towards it becoming a reality."

Andrew Davies, Minister for Economic Development and Transport said: "The Welsh Assembly Government is committed to developing and improving rail services in Wales. This investment is just the latest in a long line of investments in the Welsh rail network, including £50 million for increased capacity on Valley Line services. This improvement in service will be of real benefit to Cynon Valley residents."

Graeme Bunker, Managing Director of Arriva Trains Wales, said: "This is excellent news for our customers who will now be able to benefit from more seats on their journeys to and from work. We will continue to work closely with the Welsh Assembly Government and Sewta to provide the services that passengers want."

Robbie Burns, Network Rail's Western Route Director, said: "We are pleased that works to extend the platforms at Aberdare, Cwmbach, Fernhill, Penrhiwceiber and Abercynon North have been completed whilst maintaining full operation of the stations and train services. This is the result of dedicated project team, working to benefit the local communities."

HELP THE ENVIRONMENT - SHARE A CAR TO THE ROYAL WELSH SHOW

The thousands of visitors who travel by car to the Royal Welsh Show at Builth Wells are being urged to share their vehicle with other travellers to help ease congestion.

Backed by a transport grant from The Welsh Assembly Government, Sewta (the South East Wales Transport Alliance) has set up an exciting new system where anyone anywhere can sign up to share journeys and costs.

"Parking is always at a premium at The Royal Welsh Show and we recommend that all visitors to the event consider car sharing as a preferred method of travel if public transport is not a viable option for them. sewtacarshare.com makes it easy for people to make car sharing happen."

The software behind the system has been provided by the specialist car-sharing company, lift share, which has established more than 200 car-sharing schemes for communities across the UK.

lift share now has over 2 million journeys and 70,000 members registered on one central database. This means that each user can choose whether to look for lifts within their own community, or from the whole lift share database, thereby increasing the likelihood that they'll find a match to their journey requirements.

LONG TERM RAIL AND BUS STRATEGY FOR SOUTH EAST WALES EN ROUTE

The transport alliance Sewta has appointed consultants to develop strategy, infrastructure and implementation programmes to take bus and rail services in South East Wales into the second decade of the 21st Century.

Sewta (The South East Wales Transport Alliance) already has a large programme of Welsh Assembly Government-funded rail and bus improvements in hand including reopening the Vale of Glamorgan and Ebbw Vale freight lines to passenger traffic and a substantial increase in capacity and frequency on Valley lines services.

These works accompany major upgrades to other public transport including new bus stations, better park and ride facilities and improved bus infrastructure. Sewta is also the market leader in expanding cycle use in south east Wales.

The Sewta rail study for the period 2009 - 2018 is to be undertaken by the Jacobs Consultancy and due to be completed by the end of September 2005. It will involve consultation with industry stakeholders, definition of the key issues in the region and options for the rail strategy.

It will assess the options in two phases - preliminary assessment against the agreed local and national objectives and secondary appraisal through the application of new rail demand forecasting models. The study will take into consideration the operations and engineering implications and develop an implementation programme for the medium/ long term.

Sewta's regional bus strategy will be developed by consultants Faber Maunsell. This will cover the period 2005 - 2012 and will complement the rail strategy. The work will be completed by the end of the year.

The study will review existing bus and community transport service provision and use, and identify regional travel patterns. The geographical, economic and accessibility characteristics of the region and areas within it will be considered, to help prioritise bus infrastructure investment and bus service development for the future. The study will produce a strategy to make bus services in the region more attractive, accessible and effective, and to tackle the transport-related causes of social exclusion.

Councillor Tom Williams of Caerphilly, Chair of Sewta, said: "We already have a major programme of improvements underway. These studies will take us beyond the current programme into the second decade of the 21st Century. They will give us and our partners longer term programmes of integrated transport to ensure the current drive for improvement continues."

Geoff Smith, Jacobs' Project Manager for the study said: "The rail network already plays its part in supporting the economy and travel needs of the region. This study will be focused on the future needs of the region and the rail network and service developments that will be required in the future. We are working with the stakeholders and other relevant parties in the Capital Region to identify what is required of the rail network and we look forward to evaluating the different strategy options."

S WALES-LONDON RAIL SERVICES BEING SACRIFICED FOR ENGLISH ROUTES

Maintaining, let alone enhancing, the South Wales mainline service in Wales is not amongst the Westminster Government's transportation priorities, says the transport alliance Sewta.

The Sewta (South East Wales Transport Alliance) Board meeting at Cardiff City Hall (15.07.05) was told that officer level talks with the Strategic Rail Authority had confirmed fears that the Government's Greater Western franchise specification fails to provide an adequate base for a 10 year development plan for the South Wales main line and favours travellers in the South of England.

A decision on who will win the Greater Western franchise will be announced on December 21 with the new operator taking over in April 2006 but before then there is provision within the tendering process to take into account any significant responses, and Sewta will urge the SRA to review the franchise specification.

Sewta says the Greater Western franchise specification has been set in the context of the Government's primary objectives for railways. In doing so, it pays little regard to the policies of the Welsh Assembly Government, which are more positive and seek to develop rail services as a key mode in the delivery of a balanced and sustainable transport agenda in Wales. Thus, for example there is a suggestion that the Cardiff-London service should be reduced to one train an hour at some times of the day

Although the Westminster Government is seeking an operator that is committed to continuous improvement, its main focus is on the drive to improve operational performance, the closer matching of demand and supply and to secure value for money for taxpayers through the reduction of Government subsidy to the rail industry.

Sewta believes it therefore lacks imagination and follows on from the disappointing Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS) for the Great Western Main Line, in seeking to use the franchise to maximise capacity over key sections of route such as Paddington to Reading, where there are already capacity issues caused by the mix of long distance and commuter traffic, freight and airport services.

The problems on the approaches to Paddington are likely to be compounded by the Crossrail project and the draconian powers contained in the Bill for that project, which provide for the Secretary of State for Transport to instruct the Rail Regulator to give Crossrail trains priority over all other traffic on the Great Western main line.

Thus, in Wales, the main line service proposals are far from being regular in their pattern, with stopping patterns in England being the main driver, resulting in some journeys to Wales operating at different minutes past the even and odd hours.

After a debate the Sewta Board determined to seek:

· a review of the proposed service specification for the new Greater Western franchise in order to secure a more positive development of the rail network within and leading to Wales;

· the inclusion of the off-peak half-hourly services between Paddington and Cardiff within the base case and that greater consideration be given to their extension through to Bridgend and beyond.

Councillor Tom Williams of Caerphilly, Chair of Sewta, said: "What we have heard today confirms our belief that maintaining let alone enhancing the South Wales main line services is not amongst the Westminster Government's transportation policies and that Welsh services are being sacrificed in favour of English routes. We are talking here about reducing the level of a major inter capital train service. This is a situation that cannot be allowed to pass without a forceful collective response from all the partners in Sewta."

Sewta already has a large programme of Welsh Assembly Government-funded rail and bus improvements in hand including reopening the Vale of Glamorgan and Ebbw Vale freight lines to passenger traffic and a substantial increase in capacity and frequency on Valley lines services.

MOVING PEOPLE - IMPROVING RAIL: THE NEXT FIVE YEARS

The transport alliance Sewta has updated its five year rail improvement programme, following a review.

The programme was first developed in 2000 and subsequently received Welsh Assembly Government support in 2001. This review reflects the changes, which have affected the rail industry at both the UK and an all-Wales level.

During the intervening period Railtrack was placed into administration, to be replaced by Network Rail, Arriva took over the new integrated Wales and Borders franchise and the Railways Act 2005 transferred responsibility for the funding and specification of services within and bordering Wales to the Assembly. These changes have inevitably impacted on the delivery and make up of the schemes within the programme.

With the Assembly's Transport Review identifying its key priorities and seeking to make a significant investment in strategic rail schemes, Sewta's five year plan concentrates on identifying a clear, deliverable programme of investment to begin to implement these conclusions. It targets a combination longer platforms, longer trains and targeted capacity enhancements, which initially would continue to use the existing track and signalling layout at Cardiff Queen Street.

A good start has been made. Earlier this year, the Vale of Glamorgan line was re-opened and the platforms on the Aberdare line were lengthened to enable the operation of longer four carriage trains.

Later this month a re-signalling contract will be let to enable the operation of four trains an hour from Bargoed from December. Construction work is also due to start shortly in preparation for the re-opening, early in 2007, of the Ebbw Valley line for passenger use.

Other projects, which are being developed for implementation within the current programme involve the lengthening of the platforms on the Rhymney to Penarth and Cardiff to Treherbert corridors to accommodate increasing numbers of six car trains by 2008, together with new stations at Llanharan (2006), Energlyn (2009) and Brackla (2010) and frequency enhancements to Merthyr (2008), Rhymney (2009) and Maesteg (2010).

Councillor Tom Williams of Caerphilly, Chair of Sewta, said: "Rail services are an important part of public transport in the Sewta area and we are experiencing considerable growth in their use. Our updated programme identifies a number of key projects that address this. With our partners, we are determined to continue to develop and improve our transport infrastructure to offer people in the Sewta region a practical alternative to the car."

SEWTA BRIEFING HELPS MEMBERS TRACK TRANSPORT

The South East Wales Transport Alliance (Sewta) is providing a special briefing to keep members of the National Assembly for Wales up to date on transportation projects in South East Wales.

AMs and their staff have been invited to attend the briefing at the Welsh Assembly on Wednesday November 16th 2005 where they will be addressed by Sewta Chair Tom Williams of Caerphilly Council and other Sewta directorate officials.

AMs will hear about the successes of Sewta's first full year, the Sewta Business Plan and its five-year Rail Improvement Programme which includes the opening of the Ebbw Valley Railway Line.

The briefing, being held in Committee Room 5 between 12 - 2pm, is being hosted by Cardiff South and Penarth AM Lorraine Barrett.

MAKE SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL YOUR NEW YEAR RESOLUTION

The transport alliance Sewta is asking people in South East Wales to make some sustainable travel decisions for their New Year resolutions.

Giving up smoking or chocolate or getting more exercise are the usual resolutions that are made this time of year but what about helping the environment and road congestion by making one of these Sewta suggestions yours for 2006:

· Try using public transport to go to work - you may be pleasantly surprised!

public transport can be cheaper than parking your car and less stressful than edging forward slowly in a queue of traffic

· Carshare -even if it's just with a partner- or register with sewtacarshare.com

- it's free and you can use it to arrange both regular commutes or one-off journeys with people throughout South East Wales

· Try walking or cycling to school

- chat with your friends along the way instead of getting a lift with mum or dad.

· If you only have a short journey to work then try walking

- it's better for your health and there's no need to worry about parking.

· Get a bike - and use it!

- your employer may help you to buy one to get to work

· Use Park and Ride facilities to cut down congestion in city centres

- and it will save you money

· Cut C02 emissions by buying a small city vehicle for short regular trips

- when there is no public transport or for the school run instead of a 4 x 4.

· avoid the stress of driving on holiday

- relax on a train or coach trip

· and finally . walk to the Newsagent to buy your daily newspaper