Penarth is set to benefit from the Transport for Wales 2020 funding announcements.

The Rail Delivery Group have released a joint investment report which outlines their planned spending for 2020.

£40 million will be put towards a train refurbishment programme on Transport for Wales trains Communities.

One of the changes affecting local residents will be the permanent rolling out of smart cards after successful trials between Penarth and Cathays and Wrexham and Shrewsbury.

The wider changes they hope to achieve are outlined in the report. These include:

• From January 2020, Transport for Wales will offer free travel for children under the age of 11, as well as under-16s on off-peak services when accompanied by a fare paying adult.
• A new Transport for Wales Railcard will save 18-year-olds 50% on all fares
• In 2020 three new Community Rail Partnerships will be launched across South and West Wales Stations, tracks, depots
• In 2020 a new station will open at Bow Street on the Cambrian Line, connecting a new community to the rail network
• More than 200 ticket machines will be installed at stations, along with Wi-Fi Major upgrade work
• Electrification of the South Wales Mainline to Cardiff by January 2020 which means Intercity Express trains can run between London and Cardiff on electricity
• 2020 work will start on renewing Grade II listed Barmouth Viaduct, which provides a critical link for passengers travelling across Mid and North West Wales Now

In 2020 passengers will continue to see the benefits of record investment, with Transport for Wales committing £5 billion in rail improvements over the next 15 years.

This investment is combined with £2 billion for infrastructure improvements that will benefit passengers and freight users in Wales and the Borders New-look trains 2020 will mark the first major step in the transformation of the Wales and Borders train fleet, with the introduction of more modern trains across the Transport for Wales network.

Passengers will benefit from refurbished trains on services in South and West Wales, more modern carriages on long-distance services, and a more efficient fleet for local services in North Wales.

In 2020 Transport for Wales will be continuing a £40 million train refurbishment programme, refreshing the interiors of trains and installing in-seat electric charging points for passengers.

There will be more services in 2020, following the timetable change in December which will include a major increase in Sunday services across the whole Wales and Borders network.

For the first time, Sunday services will run between Cardiff and Maesteg in addition to winter Sunday services on the Conwy Valley Line.

Transport for Wales timetable improvement 186 additional Sunday services, including year-round full Sunday service on the Maesteg and Conwy Valley lines for the first time.

Passengers will start seeing improved station facilities across the network, including more than 200 ticket machines, Wi-Fi at more stations and a continued deep cleaning programme of platforms, benches and graffiti removal at stations.

Paul Plummer, chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group, said: "People want a better railway and we are investing in a long-term plan to make that happen. Next year, our passengers and the communities that rely on rail can expect more trains to more places and new carriages with more seats and better Wi-Fi. Those improvements will drive economic growth increase productivity and help set Britain up for success in the long term.

''The railway is vital to Britain's economic success with 1.4 million people taking trains into cities every weekday and rail freight delivering £30bn worth of goods to consumers across the country every year.

''As Britain leaves the European Union, improving rail connections will be vital to ensure that our economy thrives in the decades ahead.''

Mike Cherry, National Chairman at the Federation of Small Businesses, said: "Small businesses rely on Britain's railway to meet clients, attend meetings and ensure their staff can get to work, so investment in the network is very welcome.

''Rail services need to be reliable, regular and well-maintained, as well as providing decent wi-fi connections and proper power points.

''With 4.8million journeys being made every day and with three trains pulling away from a station every second, increasing the number of trains and services on an already congested network is challenging.

''Rail companies are working together to ensure that the new services are introduced smoothly and that the benefits of this enormous investment are felt across the country.

''The new investment plan comes as the ongoing independently-led Williams review into the railway prepares its final report and recommendations. In a submission to this review the rail industry offered radical proposals to reorganise the railway, increase accountability and make the fares system easier.''