Govern men lt aunch es Acceleration Unit to speed up transport infra struct ur perojects
WALESlookssetto bethefirst beneficiaryof the Government's new Acceleration Unit, launched on August21to speedup the delivery of transport projects.
A £343millionprogramme of investment in the Welsh rail network was announced alongsidethe new unit,which will be led by Campaignfor BetterTransporct hiefexecutive DarrenShirleya, ndwill report directlyto the Secretaryof State forTransporGt rantShapps.
Thefundingwill allowdesign workto beginfor the upgrade of CardiffCentrasl tation.Plans will also be developed for the upgradingand replacement of European Rail Traffic ManagemenSt ystem(ERTMS) digital signalling on the 150 mile Cam brian Coast Line from Shrewsburyto Aberystwythand Pwllheli.
Pilotscheme
The current system was introducedby NetworkRail in 2010asa pilot schemeb, ut digital signal ling technology has moved on significantly over the lastdecade.
Line speed improvements allowing shorter journeys between Cardiff and Swansea, Chest ear nd Ll an dud no Junction, andthe SevernTunneland Cardiffwill alsobestudied.
TheTransporSt ecretaryhas alsounveileda £1.1m injection for NetworkRailto develop plans to relieve overcrowding at LondonLiverpooSl treet;£6.4m to completea secondpassenger footbridgeat StAlbansCity station by Ja nu ary2022;£4m to design gauge enhancement and track improvements for freighttrainson the Great WesternM, idlandMainLines andat Darlingtona; nd£9.74m for signallingand infrastructure enhancement a st Twickenham, Bracknelal ndVirginiaWatera, s partof the Felthamand Wokingham signal ling renewal programme.
Mr Shapps aid:"Wewant to accelerate Britain' s recovery by investingin vital infrastructure
'Investment'
to helpget businessebsackon their feet, create job store place thoselostand levelup our country.
"Thecreationof the Acceleration Unit and investmentin our roadsand railwayswill ensurewe build back better, greene rand faster in the future'.'
Thecreationof the team followsthe establishment of a new Northern Transport Acceleration Council a,im ed at levellingup infrastructure acrossthe north'stowns and cities,forming a direct link between West min st ear nd local leaders.