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Welsh Government sets out climate resilient transport plans

The Welsh Government has announced its plans to invest in transport infrastructure that is resilient and low-carbon, supporting the transition to net-zero.
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James Evison

The Welsh Government has announced its plans to invest in transport infrastructure that is resilient and low-carbon, supporting the transition to net-zero.

It said that officials are working with Transport for Wales as part of bus franchising to factor in flooding, overheating, severe weather and energy resilience for buses – so that as fleets are renewed, passengers and drivers benefit from newer vehicles better able to cope with extreme weather.

On the Strategic Road Network, it said that “lessons from recent storms, floods and heatwaves are shaping how roads are managed and maintained”, which would help Wales become better prepared for future disruption.

Resilience and adaptation training is being rolled out across all 22 local authorities to help manage flooding, landslips and storm impacts on the wider road network, it said.

Future transport policies also aims to deliver networks that are both resilient and low-carbon, with lessons from recent extreme weather events informing planning, so that future investments are better prepared for the climate conditions expected in coming decades. This applies across transport investment programmes, including rail, bus, Metro and road infrastructure.

A resilience exercise is being prepared over the coming months, with partners on both side of the Irish Sea, focussing on an unforeseen Welsh Port closure scenario.

This summer’s extreme heat caused some trains to be withdrawn due to cooling-system problems, led to speed restrictions, and placed pressure on bus services, roads and active travel routes.

Speaking in the Plenary earlier today [Tuesday 13 October 2026], the Deputy Minister for Transport, Mark Hooper, said:

“Climate change is already affecting Wales, with hotter, drier summers, milder and wetter winters, sea-level rise, and increased risks of flooding, drought and wildfire.

“Working with our partners, we are taking practical action to build a transport system that can withstand future pressures and continue to serve the people of Wales.

“We cannot prevent every disruption caused by extreme weather – but we can be better prepared, more resilient and more responsive.

“People rightly expect transport services to be there when they need them and we have a responsibility to make sure our network is ready to cope with a changing climate.”

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