South Wales Metro to bring jobs and stop road 'chaos'

Up to £600m is to be spent on a new metro for south east Wales within five years, it has been announced.

It is likely to be a mix of light rail, trams, improved trains and faster buses by 2020 in Cardiff and the valleys.

It is in addition to planned rail electrification and will run as a "not-for-dividend" part of the next all-Wales rail franchise from 2018.

The economy minister said it could be "chaos" on roads unless the issue of public transport was sorted out.

Edwina Hart has tasked rail and business experts to finalise plans before work starts in 2017.

Mrs Hart said with housing expansions it would be "absolute chaos" on the roads unless the transport infrastructure was sorted out and an integrated system was the way forward.