Plaid Cymru would electrify all Wales' major rail links and start national coach firm

Plaid Cymru has unveiled its manifesto for the 2015 Westminster elections, vowing to fight for more funds to upgrade Wales' transport system, including electrifying all its railways.

The nationalists say that HS2 only connects English cities and want Wales to also get additional funding in line with this. The party, to appear alongside six other party leaders in a TV debate on Thursday, says the Welsh Government should have full control of funding for railways, with "the aim of all major lines being electrified by 2034".

Plaid Cymru MPs say they could have influence in a 'balanced parliament' with no party with a majority. The party would argue for funding to protect bus services, and would seek to expand Traws Cymru into "a dedicated Welsh national coach company, linking our towns and cities with regular services, especially where train links are not an option". 

On roads, the party supports a lower-cost 'blue route' upgrade to the M4, claiming that the 'black route' favoured by the Labour controlled Welsh Government - delayed last year after a deal with the Lib Dems - "would prevent other transport projects from taking place across Wales".

And it would bring the Severn Bridges into public ownership to cut tolls and re-invest any profits in Welsh transport infrastructure.