Transport in Wales
[1] Around 80 per cent of traffic on Welsh roads is cars, taxis and minibuses, mainly on east–west routes in north and south Wales.
The major artery is the M4, which enters Wales via the Second Severn Crossing and terminates at Pont Abraham in Carmarthenshire.
It links Llanelli, Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot, Bridgend, Cardiff and Newport directly to London and the rest of southern England, and indirectly to the Midlands via the A449, A40 and M50.
The second major road is the A470 dual carriageway that connects Cardiff with the South Wales Valleys towns.
It suffers from severe congestion especially during peak hours due to significant in-commuting to the Cardiff area.
The road begins from the M56 motorway, connecting North Wales with Chester and Manchester Airport, both in England.
This route has served as the main passage for London-Dublin traffic for many years although its usage has been superseded by the A55 coast road.
The A470 begins in Cardiff Bay and passes through Cardiff, north-to-north-westerly, on to Pontypridd, Abercynon, Merthyr Tydfil, Brecon, Builth Wells, Rhayader, Llangurig, Llanidloes, Llandinam, Commins Coch, Mallwyd, Trawsfynydd, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Dolwyddelan and Betws-y-Coed, terminating at Llandudno.
Megabus operates services from Cardiff to Bristol, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle.
TrawsCymru is sponsored by the Welsh Government and offers intra-Wales routes, which are: Fflecsi is a demand-responsive transport service operating across Wales.
[7] Milford Haven is the fourth-largest port in the UK in terms of tonnage, and the busiest for oil products.
Whilst from North Wales the North Wales Coast Main Line connects Holyhead with a choice of ferries, either Stena Line or Irish Ferries to Dublin Port, for connecting buses to Dublin Connolly railway station.
[10] Wales' railway network developed in conjunction with that of the rest of the United Kingdom during the nineteenth century.
In the latter half of the nineteenth century, tourism was booming and railways served resorts such as Llandudno, Barry Island and locations along the Cambrian Coast Line.
[14] In the north, the bulk of rail travel is concentrated around Wrexham General and the Llandudno Junction to Chester section.
[20] The Llandudno and Colwyn Bay tramway, demolished in 1956, has a preservation society which has restored some original carriages.
[23] Notable heritage railways include: According to the National Survey for Wales 2017–18, almost 2% of the Welsh population cycled daily for active travel purposes.
The scheme is due to be completed over a fifteen-year period and is aimed at promoting active travel by bicycle in the city.
Fewer than 4% of the respondents in Carmarthenshire, Newport, Denbighshire and Blaenau Gwent said that they actively travel by bicycle at least once per month.
[24] Sustrans maintains several routes in Wales which form part of the National Cycle Network.
The North Wales air passenger market is small and Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham airports provide the main access.
