East Devon's MP Sir Hugo Swire has welcomed last week's announcement that £2 billion will be invested in transport infrastructure and projects across the South West region.

This investment includes a new fleet of trains, worth over £360 million, which will increase capacity on trains on the Great Western route by 24 per cent and reduce journey times; more frequent train services between Plymouth and Penzance; and the completion of a new station at Newcourt in Devon, following over £700,000 of Government funding.

Funding has also gone towards improving the road network for cars, buses, cyclists and pedestrians.

This includes new high quality dual carriageway connections from Taunton to the M3; the removal of Severn bridge tolls; £1.6 billion to create a 1.8-mile tunnel to bypass Stonehenge; £11 million to expand park and ride sites near Bath, resulting in reduced congestion and both environmental and accessibility benefits; £103 million towards the Bristol MetroBus scheme, which has provided a 50km bus rapid transport network, with additional plans to extend bus service improvements throughout the area; and £6 million towards the creation of a pedestrian and cycle route in Bodmin.

A new sea wall will be built at Dawlish to provide better protection for the railway, removing disruption for passengers and protecting local homes from damage. Work on the new sea wall will begin in the Spring and is expected to be completed by 2021.

The investment across the region is detailed in the new Investing in the South West report, with a total of more than £2 billion already or soon to be invested to increase connectivity on the roads and railways, improve access and safety for more passengers, and provide a faster, more frequent public transport service.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: "We have embarked on the most extensive rail modernisation programme since the Victorian times, made the biggest ever single cash injection into our roads and improved regional transport links all around the country, ensuring we have a transport system that works for passengers now and for future generations.

"The Conservatives are investing on an unprecedented scale to improve our roads and trains, a system the last Labour government left in tatters. Labour's only answer on transport is to renationalise great swathes of it – driving up costs for passengers and driving down investment."

Commenting, Sir Hugo said: "The Conservative Government is committed to improving transport infrastructure across the country. This £2 billion investment has already made travelling across the South West easier and will continue to do so for people and businesses using roads and trains to access our brilliant towns, villages and cities.

"Today's announcement of a new sea wall being built in Dawlish demonstrates that we will fix these challenges for the long-term. This will help to ensure that the South West continues to be one of the country's most attractive destinations to commuters, to residents, to businesses and to tourists."