Great Western Coffee Shop

UK ministers also said that plans for a West Wales parkway station at Felindre, Swansea, had moved forward.

Rail operator Transport for Wales would run services to the £20 million station but the Welsh Government said it should be part of a wider transport investment for the region.

Mr Cairns [Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns] also said the UK Government was "committing to progressing plans for a West Wales Parkway station".

Supporters of the parkway station say it would cut 14 minutes off a journey between Carmarthen and Cardiff, make West Wales more accessible by rail, help take cars off the road and speed up the development of the adjacent Parc Felindre business park.

Leaders in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire back the parkway proposal, but concerns have been voiced about its potential impacts on Swansea and Neath given that trains would miss out these two heavily-used stations.

Question marks have also been raised about the subsidy required to run services to a new parkway, and whether it would be a genuine transport hub.

But Mr Cairns' department has insisted the parkway station would not lead to a reduction of existing train services to Swansea and Neath.

An earlier analysis of parkway options by Arup, on behalf of rail operator Transport for Wales, shortlisted Felindre, Llandarcy and Llansamlet as the best three sites.

Each had various strengths and weaknesses, with Felindre - on the Swansea and District Line - having the greatest potential as a strategic park and ride for a wide area.

A separate study by Professor Stuart Cole, from the University of South Wales, said Felindre would unlock "suppressed" rail demand west of Swansea.

He also said a bus interchange should be added at the station because it would not have a rail link to Swansea's High Street station.

Last month it emerged that traffic on the M4 was growing at a faster rate west of Swansea than around Cardiff and Newport.

The Department for Transport figures showed the biggest increase was at junction 47, Penllergaer, which experienced a 78% rise since 2000.

Thousands of new homes are planned in Penllergaer and nearby communities, and Swansea Council chiefs want the Swansea and District Line to form a new commuter line between the city and Llanelli as part of a new Swansea Bay Metro.

Speaking earlier this year, council leader Rob Stewart said: "A new parkway station should be part of a Swansea Bay Metro network but it cannot be the only thing we get."

Neath Port Talbot Council leader Rob Jones has said investment should instead be focused on the South Wales Main Line track to enable trains to travel at 125mph between Cardiff and Port Talbot.

The Welsh Government has reiterated that any new parkway station should be part of a wider plan for connectivity across the Swansea Bay region and must not detract from plans to regenerate Swansea and Neath.

“The best way to do this would be through a joined-up plan for a Swansea Bay Metro, with full powers and funding over rail infrastructure devolved to the Welsh Government," said a Welsh Government spokeswoman.

“The Welsh Government has said that Transport for Wales will provide services to a new Swansea parkway station; that is providing that the UK Government covers any non-recoverable costs."

Swansea Conservative leader and deputy leader, councillors Lyndon Jones and Myles Langstone, said they were delighted by the UK Government's parkway station commitment.

"This is something that have long campaigned for, as we believe that it will create new opportunities for Swansea and West Wales and act as a catalyst for investment, creating jobs and provide our region with an economic boost, as well as giving Swansea a second mainline railway station," they said.

"This will also be of great benefit for communities to the west of Swansea like Clydach, Morriston, Llangyfelach, Penllergaer, Gorseinon and Pontarddulais, because it will bring significant improvement in journey times and encourage more people to travel by train."

Pushpins show options for "Swansea Parkway"