Minister backs £1bn rail investment bid
A WELSH Government minister has backed a campaign to secure £1bn of rail infrastructure investment across Cheshire and North Wales.
Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure Ken Skates has laid out a joint framework which will see him support the Growth Track 360 campaign to support the much-needed work.
The North Wales and Mersey Dee (NW&MD) Rail Task Force, which is spearheading the campaign, met with Skates to provide him with an update on the Growth Track 360 campaign to secure better rail services in the area.
The NW&MD Rail Task Force, which includes political and public sector leaders and representatives from business, has been created to identify and promote rail improvements across North Wales and the cross border region.
The task force has produced the Growth Track 360 Rail Prospectus which sets out a vision for £1bn of rail investment across North Wales and the cross border region which would deliver 70,000 new jobs and increase the area’s gross value added (GVA) to £50bn.
The Growth Track 360 campaign has outlined a number of ‘quick win’ projects that will enable wider improvements to take place.
These include:
Line speed improvements as an enabler for faster, direct services to Manchester and Liverpool and their airports, and ultimately electrification of the North Wales line.
Half hourly services on the Wrexham Bidston line.
Further upgrades to the line between Wrexham and Chester and additional platform capacity at Wrexham to enable services from Wrexham to Chester and then Liverpool and Manchester
Chester station remodelling to allow more services to run into and through the station.
Skates said: “I was pleased to be updated on the good progress being made by the North Wales and Mersey Dee Cross Border Rail Task Force in moving forward with its aspirations as identified in their Growth 360 prospectus.
“Their vision of modern trains and faster and more frequent services is consistent with my proposals to introduce a better transport system for North Wales that will improve connectivity within and beyond the region.
“The support the Rail Task Force is getting from businesses and the general public further demonstrates improvements to rail services and infrastructure are needed.
“I am committed to supporting and working closely with the Rail Task Force to make this vision happen and to develop and deliver improvements. I also continue to press the UK Government to direct a fair share of its rail investment to Wales, including funding to electrify the North Wales mainline.”
Cllr Samantha Dixon, chair of the North Wales and Mersey Dee Rail Task Force and leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “We are grateful to the minister for meeting the Taskforce and hearing about the good progress that has been made since the launch of Growth Track 360.
“Since the prospectus was launched, we have been really pleased that so many businesses have supported our campaign. The importance of having better connections between the area and key destinations has been recognised by businesses through their support.”
“Among the issues discussed with the Minister were priorities for new services to be included in the Wales and Borders franchise renewal and infrastructure improvements to support these additional services.
“The importance of electrifying main rail routes and having good connections with the proposed HS2 hub were also raised. Growth Track 360 has received lots of support since its launch and it is clear that the Minister shares our agenda and will support our campaign.”
Cllr Liam Robinson, chair of Merseytravel said: “I believe this experience will be valuable to the Welsh Government in considering how to address challenges in securing sufficient rolling stock for the next Wales and Borderlands Franchise.”
Cllr Dilwyn Roberts, chair of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board, said: “The economic importance of improvements to our rail network and how investment can deliver sustained growth is a key part of Growth Track 360.”
The campaign has the backing of the region’s eight local authorities, the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership, the Mersey Dee Alliance, the North Wales Economic Ambition Board, the North Wales Business Council and the West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce.
The Growth Track 360 campaign is calling for:
The electrification of the line from Crewe to North Wales so the region can be linked to HS2 and fast London trains can continue to Bangor and Holyhead.
The doubling of frequency of trains between the North Wales Coast Line and Wrexham to Manchester through Chester.
The investment in new, modern, better equipped rolling stock.
Creating new services between Liverpool and Liverpool Airport to North Wales and Wrexham via Chester (Halton Curve).
Doubling journey frequency between Wrexham and Liverpool via Deeside and Bidston.
