Plaid Cymru has detailed its transport plans, including a pledge to renationalise the railways.

Party spokesman Simon Thomas said it was time to reverse the privatisation of the railways undertaken by John Major's Conservative administration.

Detailing the Welsh nationalists' election policies, Thomas also criticised the failure of Labour in Westminster and Cardiff to improve transport links in Wales.

He said that while it was possible to fly from Cardiff to Malta in four hours, the journey from the Welsh capital to Holyhead would take over five hours.

"New Labour has sent Wales on a road to nowhere. Public transport is simply not a priority for this government," said Thomas.

"The truth is that passengers are paying more and getting less.

"It is an embarrassment that in the 21st century it takes longer to get from South to North Wales than it does to get to Malta."

Railways

Thomas said that under current plans Welsh railway passengers would have to wait until 2007 before the service matches the level of 20 years ago.

"We know that reversing the Tory privatisation of the railways is the best way forward," he said.

"It is a policy supported by the trades unions and by most Labour supporters.

"But Tony Blair has ignored logic and continued to pursue his ideological commitment to using the private sector at any cost."

The nationalists argue that around £800m is taken out of the rail industry every year as returns to private lenders and investors.

"Any private sector investment in the railway must ultimately be paid for by farepayers and taxpayers - with interest," Thomas said.

"The most conservative estimates indicate that gradually bringing the railway system back into public ownership could produce immediate cash savings of £500m a year."

EU cash

Plaid Cymru's other policy commitments include investing European Union funding in improving the road network, developing an integrated Welsh transport system and promoting continental-quality coach travel.

"Other countries have used their European funding to invest in their transport infrastructure," Thomas added.

"When Plaid Cymru forced a vote in Parliament, Labour MPs voted against allowing Wales to receive another seven years of European funding.

"Instead New Labour want that money taken from communities in Wales and given back to the Treasury.

"They are so fixated on sticking to Margaret Thatcher's European agenda that they are willing to stop much needed in Wales road, rail and other transport services."