Most businesses will tell you that after paying wages, transport costs are the biggest cost they face. This includes the transport of goods, people and information.

When you think of transport you will probably think about the big jugernaughts, lorries and cars on the roads. But Wales is part of an island so how does all of the produce we use from around the world get here? We also grow produce and manufatcure products in Wales so how does it get to our customers around the world?

In Wales, ships are a major part of our transport infrastructure. Ports are just as important. Without ports in Wales many of our businesses would fail.

Inside Wales transport is dominated by the road networks. Railways used to be very important in moving both people and goods but in recent years they have declined in importance. However railways are very good at moving heavy materials cheaply over land and also large numbers of people without producing as much greenhouse gases.

Goods trains in Wales

What happens next?

Many people believe that the railways will make a comeback. The problems we are facing is that we rely too much on the road systems; the roads are getting more and more congested and often even reach a standstill. Every Friday evening there is a long traffic jam on the section of the M4 motorway after it enters Wales over the Second Severn Crossing. In North Wales the main East - West road route way between Europe and Ireland isn't even a motorway.

Passenger trains in Wales

Business leaders in Wales are warning that the road networks in Wales are 'creaking' and that unless something is done businesses will have to go elsewhere - even our excellent harbour facilities which bring so much employment and money to Wales could be in trouble.

M4 Traffic Jam