The £2.1bn new train service that will ‘transform' the UK with metro service and direct city routes

Scottish Sun

23-05-2025

RAIL ROAD The £2.1bn new train service that will 'transform' the UK with metro service and direct city routes
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PLANS for a dynamic new passenger-focussed metro service have been unveiled.
A London underground-inspired train service is set to unlock 'economic potential' and connect communities with the upcoming North Wales Metro.
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Network North Wales is promising to deliver a better passenger experience
Credit: Alamy
Boasting frequent services, Network North Wales will see the train services on the North Wales mainline, the Chester to Wrexham Marches Line and a direct rail link between Wrexham and Liverpool.
Ambitions include higher frequency services, reopening closed stations, the birth of new stations and new transport modes such as tram trains.
The Welsh Government has committed more than £13m to make the bold transport changes.
Cabinet Secretary for transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, explained: "We now have the best possible partnership in place to deliver Network North Wales.
"UK Government, local government, Transport for Wales and English local authorities are working with us to deliver this bold programme of work to better connect communities, with more rail and bus services and greater integration, new stations, new transport routes, new trains, new buses, new technology."
He continued: "A network of public transport services that will include cross-border turn-up and go bus and rail services, extending the Northern Arc from Hull to Holyhead.
'With unprecedented partnership across governments, across borders and across the north, we have the opportunity to turn dreams into reality, to deliver on an enduring vision for what our a public transport network should look like.
'Most importantly, we have an opportunity to deliver the principal purpose of public transport – to drive economic growth and prosperity for all.'
Rail Minister Lord Hendy added: "We are determined to build a modern and integrated transport network across the whole of the UK, delivering our Plan for Change and driving economic growth by better connecting people to homes, jobs, education and business opportunities.
"Through close collaboration between our two governments, we're demonstrating how we can deliver a stronger, more connected rail network that truly meets passengers' needs and transforms everyday journeys across Wales.
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"Our collaborative approach will extend to these exciting proposals, which represent a significant opportunity to transform connectivity across the region and unlock new opportunities for communities."
Secretary of state for Wales Jo Stevens said: "Network North Wales is an exciting plan to deliver a better passenger experience across the region.
"Economic growth is the number one mission of the UK Government and improving transport is vital to achieve that ambition.
"Working in partnership with the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales we will connect people to a range of well-paid jobs across North Wales, thousands of which will be created by our Wrexham and Flintshire Investment Zone and our Freeport in Anglesey."
The Welsh Government said immediate changes are in place, with ambitious plans to begin over the next 12 months and heading into 2035.
Sun Travel's favourite train journeys in the world
Sun Travel's journalists have taken their fare share of train journeys on their travels and here they share their most memorable rail experiences.
Davos to Geneva, Switzerland
"After a ski holiday in Davos, I took the scenic train back to Geneva Airport. The snow-covered mountains and tiny alpine villages that we passed were so beautiful that it felt like a moving picture was playing beyond the glass." - Caroline McGuire
Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen
"Nothing quite beats the Shinkansen bullet train, one of the fastest in the world. It hardly feels like you're whizzing along at speed until you look outside and see the trees a green blur. Make sure to book seat D or E too - as you'll have the best view of Mount Fuji along the way." Kara Godfrey
London to Paris by Eurostar
"Those who have never travelled on the Eurostar may wonder what's so special about a seemingly ordinary train that takes you across the channel. You won't have to waste a moment and can tick off all the top attractions from the Louvre to the Champs-Élysées which are both less than five kilometres from the Gare du Nord." - Sophie Swietochowski
Glasgow to Fort William by Scotrail
"From mountain landscapes and serene lochs to the wistful moors, I spent my three-hour journey from Glasgow to Fort William gazing out the window. Sit on the left-hand side of the train for the best views overlooking Loch Lomond." - Hope Brotherton
Beijing to Ulaanbatar
"The Trans-Mongolian Express is truly a train journey like no other. It starts amid the chaos of central Beijing before the city's high-rises give way to crumbling ancient villages and eventually the vast vacant plains of Mongolia, via the Gobi desert. The deep orange sunset seen in the middle of the desert is among the best I've witnessed anywhere." - Ryan Gray