Important transport projects such as high-speed rail and road links between Wales and England are not being given enough priority, MPs say.

The Welsh Affairs Select Committee is calling for better co-operation between UK and Welsh ministers to create a joined-up public transport policy.

It also wants later timetabling of trains between south Wales and London to promote entertainment and tourism.

The Tansport report summary on rail said that greater coordination of different rail franchises is needed. A failure to predict passenger increases, insufficient rolling stock and high peak fares is "highly disappointing".
First Great Western - later timetabled trains to maximise entertainment, sport and tourism opportunities, while electrification should be a "priority"
Source: Welsh Affairs Select Committee report

It also suggested that high peak-time fares were discouraging people from leaving their cars at home. Those passengers who did decide to take to the train found there was often insufficient rolling stock, especially at busy times.

The committee also said that there had been only minor improvements to the service on the First Great Western main line, and the general level of service remained "unacceptable".

"If people are going to be persuaded to leave their cars at home and take public transport, then the services they use must be up to scratch," said the committee chairman, Dr Hywel Francis.

The committee's report on cross-border transport warned that important road links were not being funded as they were not a priority for English regions and also said trains were not good enough.

"Although we heard of some examples of good practice, for example in the north-east, too many opportunities for improvements are being missed."

Top of the list of priorities for the MPs is the electrification of the rail line between London and Swansea.

The committee said it would lead to significantly better services for passengers.

The report also suggested that later running of trains from south Wales would help promote entertainment and tourism in the area, something it said had been seen in cities like Bristol and in Yorkshire.

   he DfT, the Welsh Assembly Government and local authorities on both sides of the border must review their priorities and ensure closer working

"We are now arriving at the situation where the English department for transport and the Welsh Assembly Government are in some respects behaving as if they're in totally different countries and possibly in different parts of the world. And this is something we have really got to start addressing."

Both the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Welsh Assembly Government said rail transport was a vital issue for them.

"The government will be investing £15b in the rail network across England and Wales over the next five years, and we have been working closely with the Welsh Assembly Government to examine the detailed case for electrification of the Great Western main line between London and Swansea," said a DfT spokesperson.

The committee was also critical of public transport links to major airport hubs, such as Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester.