A £24 million improvement programme is set to uplift rail infrastructure in Wales.

Announced by transport minister Edwina Hart, the scheme will see major upgrades take place at Aberystwyth, Rhyl, Pontypridd, Port Talbot Parkway and Ystrad Mynach stations. Developments will include better facilities, access and capacity.

However, the news comes after a report by the Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) and the Credo group found Wales' rail system was the second-worst in the UK. In terms of usage, access and coverage, it achieved a score of 28 per cent, only above the east of England (26 per cent).

CBT's chief executive Stephen Joseph suggested this is because the network is run by Whitehall, whereas the more independent Scotland scored much higher (44 per cent).

He said: "The research exposes the huge disparities in the quality of train services across the country. Importantly, it suggests the answer is to give local administrations more control over their rail networks."

The highest scoring region was London, with 54 per cent.