Process

The initial stage, which aligns with WelTAG Stage 0+1 / PoW Stage 0+A and is typically led by TfW, sets the foundation for each Station Network Plan, including station and route selection, initial stakeholder engagement and early business case development.

Key activities and deliverables

• Station selection
  TfW ranks stations based on their potential to support walking, wheeling, and cycling using the 2020 Sustrans "Propensity to Actively Travel to Stations" study. The study highlights stations where active travel improvements could have the biggest impact on shifting how people travel. This propensity assessment is then combined with existing TfW or local authority work programmes (such as service enhancements), the local Active Travel Network Map and close collaboration with local authorities and CJCs to align with regional priorities and funding opportunities within the Regional Transport Delivery Plans. This will then lead to a regional prioritisation of stations, agreed with the relevant CJC and local authorities, ensuring that selected locations reflect both strategic potential and deliverability.
   
• Route selection
  Routes to selected stations are appraised using TfW’s Active Travel Network Maps prioritisation tool and other data sources, such as Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation and Stats Wales collision data, and includes engagement with local authorities to consider local context. Focus is typically on routes rated as likely to have a “high” or “very high” impact in changing how people travel. This involves:
  
  - Review of the Active Travel Network Maps database
  
  - Stakeholder engagement
  
  - Site visits for route audits (if required) and review of existing facilities
  
  - Analysis of survey data and trip attractors.
   
• Memorandum of understanding
  Local authorities are asked to formally outline their support for relevant schemes through a Memorandum of Understanding, which includes a tailored annex outlining roles and responsibilities of the various project partners.
   
• Strategic outline business case development
  A long list of route options is developed using the Welsh Transport Appraisal Guidance five-case approach, demonstrating:
  
  - Strategic fit: How the improvements align with broader goals.
  
  - Well-being: The positive impact on the community.
  
  - Affordability: The financial viability of the scheme.
  
  - Management: Who will manage the scheme and its risks.
  
  - Deliverability: How the different parts of the scheme will be procured and delivered.

Project governance

The Station Network Plan development process will be supported by a dedicated review group of each Station Network Plan, ensuring proposals are well-evidenced, regionally aligned, and read to progress. The group will include representatives from local authorities, CJCs and TfW. Acceptance of the proposals by the LAs will be required and must be recorded in order for schemes to progress through the development stages.

TfW has previously been responsible for setting up the review group during the establishment stage, in collaboration with the relevant local authority. The group acts as a steering and stage-gate panel, reviewing and approving key deliverables before each transition to the next phase.

Project execution plan

A key output of this stage will be a Project Execution Plan (PEP), outlining proposed routes and/or station improvements. This plan will be progressively refined through subsequent project stages, ensuring alignment with stakeholder priorities, technical assessments, and funding opportunities.

Following the establishment stage, the concept stage focuses on options development and establishing a shortlist of route options, informed by engagement with the public and key stakeholders. This stage aligns with WelTAG Stage 2 / PoW Stage B.
 

This stage (WelTAG Stage 3 / PoW Stage C+D) focuses on the preliminary design of the single route option, refining technical details and preparing the scheme for detailed development. This stage also refines the available resources and funding.
 

This stage (WelTAG Stage 3 / PoW Stage E) finalises the scheme design, ensuring it meets all technical, legal, and delivery requirements. The scheme is prepared for tender and construction.
 

Important note: When TfW has led on the scheme development stage (concept, preliminary, or detailed design), all deliverables will be formally transferred to the local authority at this stage, as the responsible Highway Authority. It is assumed that all internal approvals between departments have been secured by the LA to enable progression of the project through the various stages. The LA then assumes ownership of the documentation and is expected to progress the scheme in line with the Memorandum of Understanding and WelTAG requirements.

This stage (WelTAG Stage 4 / PoW Stage F) focuses on the physical delivery of the scheme. As Highway Authorities, local authorities are typically best placed to lead construction and implementation.
 

The final stage of closeout (WelTAG Stage 5 / PoW Stage G) comprises monitoring and evaluation, which are essential to understanding the impact of each scheme and are a core requirement of the process. Clear objectives will be agreed early on and used to guide how progress is measured. The approach to monitoring will be outlined in the Project Execution Plan and tailored to your SNP’s goals and the monitoring and evaluation requirements of the funder. This could include strategic input to ensure alignment with regional transport goals.

Route user volumes can be evaluated in surveys, with automatic traffic counters, route user surveys and via travel plan surveys at nearby schools and local businesses etc. This type of survey can also capture change in attitudes and behaviour.

The evaluation shall also consider if the SNP has generated further demand along connecting links to the transport interchange - to be included as future projects and/or in the Active Travel Network Map.

Further detail on the recommended approach for monitoring and evaluation is provided in the Active Travel Act Guidance, Chapter 16.

Process overview and deliverables

The process can now include check-ins, structured touchpoints between local authority officers (the scheme promoters) and a reviewer acting on behalf of Welsh Government (the funder). These meetings are designed to ensure that schemes are being developed in the right way, in the right locations, and in accordance with the WelTAG and PoW process. Held at key decision points, check-ins help confirm quality, value for money, and risk management. They offer an opportunity to address challenges constructively.
 

Check-in 1: Options selection

Check-in 2: Preliminary design

Check-in 3: Pre-delivery

Check-in 4: Completion

For further detail on the methodology and implementation, readers are encouraged to refer to the recently published TfW Active Travel Advisory / Active Travel Delivery Guidance, September 2025.