Welsh Government will be able to run an integrated transport policy as management of Welsh railways is devolved to Cardiff.

Network Rail, the UK government's owner of most of the rail infrastructure in Britain, is to devolve its Wales & Borders lines to Wales.

For the very first time in history, the Welsh railway lines will now have their own budget and managing director based in Wales.

Historically, the railway in Wales was built and operated by separate companies based in England. Now, operations and civil engineering of Welsh railways will be managed from Wales.

The Welsh Assembly Government will be able to implement an integrated transport policy as the railways in Wales will be working to objectives of the Welsh Assembly rather than the UK Government.

The devolution of the Welsh railways is expected to increase accountability and deliver improvements to passengers and freight users.

Local and regional Welsh train services have been managed in Cardiff since 2003, but the Welsh rail infrastructure was still in Network Rail’s large Western region, which was based in England and covered railways from London to Cornwall.