A new plan for a high-frequency public transport network across North Wales has been unveiled by the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates.
The network aims to connect communities with increased rail and bus services across the region, and will see the introduction of metro style trains on Network North Wales’ North Wales mainline, the Marches line (Chester to Wrexham) and a new direct rail link between Wrexham and Liverpool.
Changes on the line will begin immediately, with further improvements set to be implemented over the next twelve months, three years and through to 2035. Longer term objectives for the project include defining future targets for higher frequency services, the reopening of closed stations, the creation of new stations and the exploration the role of new mode of transport, such as tram trains, within the network.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, 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 £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.
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.
A total list of plans for the integrated network includes:
- 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 from May 2026
- Bringing forward the introduction of 50% more services across the North Wales mainline from December 2026 to May 2026 – resulting in a new service from Llandudno to Liverpool and extending the Manchester Airport service to Holyhead in place of Llandudno
- Increasing 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 (upon completion of rail line works at Padeswood)
- Renaming the Borderlands Line to 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 in order to gauge demand for permanent services to the park
- The establishing of 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
- Matching 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
- Introducing 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
- The introduction of a a new bus network specifically designed to link communities with industrial estates in the Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone
The network has thus far seen an investment of over 13 million GBP courtesy of the Welsh Government for the immediate delivery of the project.
