“If you think we didn’t get hold of the lines until 2021 and by 2025 most of the work was substantially complete,” said Price.
“And today we basically have 100% new trains – it’s not as quick as we originally said but compared to any other project in the UK, it’s very quick.”
TfW have said introducing the tram-trains fully into service and operating four trains an hour on the three lines between Cardiff and Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil and Treherbert is the “final piece of the South Wales Metro jigsaw”.
“The reason for, I guess, the relatively slow pace is that we need to train quite a few hundred crew then do signalling work at Queen Street station in Cardiff,” said Price.
“I do fully expect to see four trains an hour by the end of next year definitely.”
The Welsh government said TfW had already delivered “transformative improvements on the valleys network” and new trains would eventually “unlock turn-up-and-go” services across the valleys and Cardiff.
“Whilst some issues have delayed the introduction of the new tram trains TfW remains on target to complete the full rollout by the end of next year,” it added.