Rail group proposals could boost N Wales
NORTH Wales train passengers could benefit from seven proposals put forward to the UK Government by an influential rail group.
The High Speed Rail Group (HSRG) has submitted transport proposals to Sir Peter Hendy’s Union Connectivity Review.
There are seven ideas in total across the UK – with two that could help boost services in North Wales.
The two North Wales proposals: Cardiff – Liverpool/Manchester/ North Wales: Upgrade of NewportCrewe railway to accommodate additional and faster services (including between North/Mid Wales and Cardiff).
Benefits: Cross-border link enhancements, provision of better north-south cross-Wales connections and better connectivity for the economically weak English border counties, especially Herefordshire.
Manchester Airport – ChesterBangor – Holyhead: Route electrification and use of the proposed Manchester Airport western rail link to attract passengers and freight to rail and take pressure off key sections of the national motorway.
Benefits: Boost to major businesses on North Wales/English border, enhanced labour market catchment for cluster of industries on the Mersey Dee border area.
Jim Steer, HSRG Board Member, said: “There is an urgent need for both new and improved transport links between the four nations of the United Kingdom, which have been systematically neglected for too long.
“Cross-border travel markets rail were growing strongly over period to 2019.
“Travel generates economic value, but the opportunity for further economic stimulus from this source will be lost if transport network capacity constraints are not addressed.”
Vale of Clwyd MP James Davies said: “The Union Connectivity Review remains an important opportunity for North Wales to secure the rail and road infrastructure improvements which have been needed for decades. As Chair of the Mersey Dee North Wales All-Party Parliamentary Group, I am liaising with Sir Peter Hendy, who is leading the review, to press the case for our region. for the
“It is my hope that his remit to ‘level up’ transport infrastructure and better join together all parts of the UK, can align with the decarbonisation
agenda to drive electrification of the Crewe to Holyhead railway line.
“We also need to see critical investments at Crewe, Warrington and
Manchester in particular to ensure that the connectivity and speed of our rail services matches that of other regions.”