Latest news with #PublicTransportSummit
Rhyl Journal
29-05-2025
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
New Llandudno to Liverpool train service welcomed by MS
This announcement from the Welsh Government is part of a campaign by the Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, Janet Finch-Saunders. Ms Finch-Saunders said: "Llandudno is one of the United Kingdom's leading tourist destinations, seeing around 10 million visitors annually. "People travel here from all over the world, but we do owe a particular thanks to residents of North West England. "To help ensure that more can travel via public transport to Llandudno, it is common sense to increase the number of direct rail destinations, such as by adding Liverpool. "This will also be of major benefit to constituents who currently have to change in Chester if they want to go shopping in the so-called capital of North Wales. "I am delighted that my campaign has helped secure a direct connection to the regional capital." The news comes after the Welsh Government confirmed plans to create a high-frequency public transport network for North Wales. Improvements are planned over the next year, the next three years and up to 2035. The news was announced at the first-ever Public Transport Summit in Wrexham last week by Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales Ken Skates. He said: "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. "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. "We have already delivered significantly for South Wales with the South Wales Metro. "Building on the £800m investment in new trains, the majority of which are already serving the North Wales region, now is the right time for North Wales to get the same level of ambition. "More services. More new trains. A better railway for North Wales."
Business News Wales
22-05-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
North Wales Public Transport Plan Will 'Drive Economic Growth and Prosperity'
Plans to improve the public transport network across North Wales are an opportunity to 'drive economic growth and prosperity for all', the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales Ken Skates has said. The vision for an integrated, high-frequency public transport network for North Wales, with frequent metro services at its heart, was unveiled by the Cabinet Secretary at Wales' first ever Public Transport Summit in Wrexham. The Welsh Government said Network North Wales was a 'bold passenger-focused programme of work' to better connect communities, with more rail and bus services and greater integration. It aims to unlock the economic potential of North Wales and the cross-border region, it said. Network North Wales will see metro style train services on the North Wales mainline, the Marches line (Chester to Wrexham) and a new, direct rail link between Wrexham and Liverpool. Improvements are planned for the next 12 months, three years and through to 2035. Longer term objectives include defining future targets for higher frequency services, reopening closed stations, creating new stations and exploring the role of new transport modes such as tram trains. Plans include: Commencing work on the line between Wrexham and Liverpool as the crucial first phase of delivering metro services direct between the two cities. Doubling train services between Wrexham and Chester next May. Bringing forward the introduction of 50% more services across the North Wales mainline from December 2026 to next May – resulting in a new service from Llandudno to Liverpool and extending the Manchester Airport service to Holyhead in place of Llandudno. Upon completion of rail line works at Padeswood, increase train services between Wrexham and Bidston to 2 trains per hour within the next three years, ahead of the introduction of 4 trains per hour that will run direct between Wrexham and Liverpool by 2035. The existing Borderlands Line will also be renamed the Wrexham – Liverpool line. Key stations on the Wrexham – Liverpool line will be improved in the next 12 months. Trains operating on the Wrexham – Liverpool line will be wrapped to reflect the communities and football clubs they serve. Introducing Pay as You Go tap in tap out technology – covering connections between Gobowen and Rhyl, and along the full length of the Wrexham -Liverpool line Working with Network Rail to determine the feasibility of a rapid delivery of a new test railway station at Deeside Industrial Park, to gauge demand for permanent services to the park. A new, multi-million pound electrification innovation fund to develop a plan to decarbonise the railway in North Wales and enable more frequent metro services and additional stations Match funding for step-free access at Shotton and Ruabon stations. Working with local authorities to develop plans for Gateway multi-modal interchanges at Holyhead, Bangor, Caernarfon and Wrexham. A new T13 bus service – connecting Rhyl, Ruthin, Denbigh and Wrexham. Examining options to re-open stations and build new stations to serve employment growth areas. A new bus network specifically designed to link communities with industrial estates in the Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone. The Welsh Government has already committed an investment of more than £13 million to begin delivery immediately and says it will draw on other funding streams to make the vision a reality. Ken Skates said: '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. '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. 'We have already delivered significantly for South Wales with the South Wales Metro. Building on the £800 million investment in new trains, the majority of which are already serving the North Wales region, now is the right time for North Wales to get the same level of ambition. 'More services. More new trains. A better railway for North Wales. And delivery at an unprecedented pace. 'This is a long term vision, which begins now with real changes. Including the roll out of Pay as You Go, – the tap on tap off deployment most of us only experience in London. Improved stations, increased services and an additional integrated bus service are all part of immediate changes over the next 12 months. 'It contains infrastructure priorities that have been agreed by UK and Welsh Governments, and re-confirms our long-held objective to electrify lines. 'This vision should outlast any single Minister, Government or economic and political circumstances. Working together, we'll deliver our ambitious plans that take us to 2035 and beyond.' Rail Minister Lord Hendy said: '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. '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.' The 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.'
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Plans for North Wales metro service unveiled by Welsh Government
Plans for an 'integrated, high-frequency public transport network' for North Wales, including a metro service between Wrexham and Liverpool, have been revealed by the Welsh Government. More rail and bus services, pay-as-you-go technology and station improvements have been promised to be rolled out across the region over the next decade. The Welsh Government says the plan, branded Network North Wales, will 'unlock the economic potential' of the area and the cross-border region. Once completed, it would see metro-style train services on the North Wales mainline, the Marches line (Chester to Wrexham) and a new, direct rail link between Wrexham and Liverpool. Opposition politicians have criticised the announcement, with the Welsh Conservatives branding it a 'fantasy wish list'. While the Welsh government has not set out exactly how much the plans will cost, Stuart Cole, emeritus professor of transport at the University of South Wales, told the BBC he expects the work to cost around £2.1 billion. Plans for a North Wales Metro were first mooted as part of Welsh Labour's plan for the region in its 2016 manifesto, but little work has progressed on it in the decade since. Work on a South Wales Metro, which has seen the development of a London underground-style rail network across Cardiff and the Valleys, is due to be completed in 2026. The latest plans were unveiled by Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, at a Public Transport Summit in Wrexham on Thursday. Mr Skates said the Government has already 'delivered significantly for South Wales' and 'now is the right time for North Wales to get the same level of ambition'. The transport minister promised 'delivery at an unprecedented pace' with a long-term vision, including the rollout of pay-as-you-go, improved stations, increased services and an additional integrated bus service as part of immediate changes over the next 12 months. Speaking to the PA news agency, Mr Skates said the Welsh government, which is putting £13 million towards the plans this year, would fund the service improvements, station improvements and introduction of pay as you go. The UK government, which is responsible for the rail infrastructure itself, would be the 'principal funder' for those improvements, but it is unclear how much money they will be providing. 'We've laid out this vision today without any constraints in terms of budgets, because I think you need to present the vision in order to then put together a strong business case to secure the funding to make it a reality,' Mr Skates said. While he acknowledged Mr Cole's cost estimate, the Welsh government minister said they were 'deliberately not being constrained' by setting an amount. 'But often with rail, (schemes) take longer to deliver than planned, they cost more than estimated to deliver, but nobody regrets them when they're finally completed. 'I'm not going to be bound by an overall sum for this particular project, but it is ambitious and spans not just North Wales but parts of the north west of England.' In January, the UK government admitted that Welsh rail has been underfunded, with Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens saying it had not been 'good enough'. It followed a long-standing row over the lack of funding Wales received from the High Speed 2 rail project. Mr Skates said there have been 'excellent conversations' between the two governments and a 'pipeline of priorities' has been agreed. While he admitted they would have to wait for the UK government's comprehensive spending review (CSR), he thought Wales was 'in a really good position to be able to secure a good amount of funding'. 'We'll know for certain in a matter of weeks when the conference CSR is presented, but based on the discussions that we've had with UK government, we are in a better position today, I believe, than at any time in my memory, in terms of being able to draw down the funding to make our vision of Network North Wales a reality,' he said. Sam Rowlands, the Welsh Conservative shadow cabinet secretary for transport, branded it a 'disingenuous announcement' and said he would be surprised if it gets passed the early planning stages. He said: 'The £13m outlined is less than 1% of the full funding needed and with no funding commitment from the UK Labour Government this announcement is nothing more than a PR exercise from a panicked Welsh Labour administration. 'We were promised a North Wales Metro 10 years ago and Labour ditched UK Conservative plans to electrify the North Wales line, so I question the timing of this considering Labour's position in the polls with just one year to go until the election.' Welsh Liberal Democrat Westminster Spokesperson David Chadwick MP said: 'The continued lack of investment by the UK Government into rail services in Wales shows that Welsh Labour MPs hold little influence over their own Government. 'Far from fighting for Wales, the Welsh Secretary seems content for Wales to continue to get the same poor deal we had under the previous Conservative Government.' The plans include: – Commencing work on the line between Wrexham and Liverpool – Doubling train services between Wrexham and Chester next May – Bringing forward the introduction of 50% more services across the North Wales mainline from December 2026 to next May – including a new service from Llandudno to Liverpool and extending the Manchester Airport service to Holyhead in place of Llandudno. – Upon completion of rail line works at Padeswood, increase train services between Wrexham and Bidston to two trains per hour within the next three years, with four trains per hour running direct between Wrexham and Liverpool by 2035. The existing Borderlands Line will also be renamed the Wrexham – Liverpool line, with trains wrapped to reflect the communities and football clubs they serve. Key stations on the line will see improvements over the next 12 months.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
£2.1bn north Wales rail overhaul plans unveiled
A £2.1bn plan to overhaul north Wales' railway network has been unveiled by Welsh Transport Secretary Ken Skates, but with no funding commitment from the UK government so far. The proposals include more services, the introduction of pay-as-you-go "tap in tap out" technology, electrification of lines and a Metro-style service linking Wrexham and Liverpool. Promising the plans would mean "better stations and more trains", Welsh ministers have committed an initial £13m, with substantial UK government cash needed to realise the proposals. The UK government has been asked to comment. Welsh railways underfunded, UK government admits Level crossings close so more trains can run The plans for an "integrated, high-frequency public transport network" were announced at a "Public Transport Summit", in Wrexham. Speaking at the event, Skates said: "Working together, we'll deliver our ambitious plans that take us to 2035 and beyond." The Welsh government is working with partnerships across "governments and borders across the north", he said, to "turn dreams into a reality". The plans include work on the Wrexham to Liverpool line as the first phase of introducing direct Metro services between the two cities. There are also proposals to double services between Wrexham and Chester by next May. As well as a 50% increase in north Wales mainline services, the proposals include the introduction of a new Llandudno to Liverpool route and extending the Manchester Airport service to Holyhead. Previous rail plans and funding promises for north Wales have been marked by plenty of stops and starts by both Welsh and UK governments. In 2023, former prime minister Rishi Sunak promised electrification for the north Wales mainline at a cost of around £1bn, a commitment that never came to fruition. Currently it is not clear if previous requests for rail funding will be granted by the UK government. Eluned Morgan has said the UK government is talking to Cardiff ministers about "significant investment" on a "long list of projects", which would "probably be in the shape of new stations". In a letter in January UK government Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander appeared to endorse a range of schemes in north and south Wales, including £335m worth of new stations between Cardiff and Magor. More recently, with Labour governments now at both ends of the line in Cardiff and London, there is still no promised funding from HS2 consequentials, with rail investment central to Morgan's lobbying of the UK governments through her Red Welsh Way approach. "Funding is the key issue," said Professor of Transport Stuart Cole. "£2.1bn is a reasonable figure, £1bn for the north Wales line and £1bn for the rest. Is it a political attempt to get more money? To get more votes? "There's an election coming in a year's time, and I have no doubt the Labour government in Cardiff would want to show they are getting strong support from London." The Welsh government says that the programme will be "similar in scale and ambition" to that of the South Wales Metro. "With the core valley lines the vast majority of money, some £750m of the £1.1bn to electrify the valley lines, came from the Welsh government and some £125m from the UK government," Prof Cole added. "The vision is great. But the funding is a difficulty. Where is the £2.1bn coming from?" "I'm sure Ken Skates is hoping to get more out of the UK government but there has to be something written down which says you're going to get it. HM Treasury in London has never been a giver of money to railways in Wales." Responding to that concern, Skates told BBC Wales "we must await the CSR", referring to next month's spending review in which UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves will outline her plans for the years ahead. "I'm very, very confident that Wales will do well from the Comprehensive Spending Review," he said. "But, first and foremost, you have to put the business case together to get the money and that's what we've been doing. The Welsh government had been working "incredibly closely with the UK government and colleagues", he said, to make sure key projects contained in the plans were "agreed as priorities" with the UK Department for Transport. This North Wales Network is a plan aimed at improving connectivity between North Wales and the "Northern Arc", an economic corridor in the north of England with focus on connecting cities and regions within England. Over the border similar ambitions have been expressed by Manchester Labour Mayor Andy Burnham. Following Labour's poor performance, and Reform UK's gain in the local elections in England, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram have renewed calls for UK government ministers to support a Liverpool to Manchester railway line. Burnham said the line was promised a decade ago and that it was no surprise many voters in the north of England "feel so alienated from the system".
North Wales Chronicle
22-05-2025
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Plans for North Wales metro service unveiled by Welsh Government
More rail and bus services, pay as you go technology and station improvements have been promised to be rolled out across the region over the next decade. The Welsh Government says the plan, branded Network North Wales, will 'unlock the economic potential' of the area and the cross-border region. Once completed, it would see metro-style train services on the North Wales mainline, the Marches line (Chester to Wrexham) and a new, direct rail link between Wrexham and Liverpool. Plans for a North Wales Metro were first mooted as part of Welsh Labour's plan for the region in its 2016 manifesto, but little work has progressed on it in the decade since. Work on a South Wales Metro, which has seen the development of a London underground-style rail network across Cardiff and the Valleys, is due to be completed in 2026. The latest plans were unveiled by Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, at a Public Transport Summit in Wrexham on Thursday. Mr Skates said the Government has already 'delivered significantly for South Wales' and 'now is the right time for North Wales to get the same level of ambition'. The transport minister promised 'delivery at an unprecedented pace' with a long-term vision, including the rollout of pay-as-you-go, improved stations, increased services and an additional integrated bus service as part of immediate changes over the next 12 months. He said: '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. '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.' The plans include: – Commencing work on the line between Wrexham and Liverpool – Doubling train services between Wrexham and Chester next May – Bringing forward the introduction of 50% more services across the North Wales mainline from December 2026 to next May – including a new service from Llandudno to Liverpool and extending the Manchester Airport service to Holyhead in place of Llandudno. – Upon completion of rail line works at Padeswood, increase train services between Wrexham and Bidston to two trains per hour within the next three years, with four trains per hour running direct between Wrexham and Liverpool by 2035. The existing Borderlands Line will also be renamed the Wrexham – Liverpool line, with trains wrapped to reflect the communities and football clubs they serve. Key stations on the line will see improvements over the next 12 months.
