North East Wales Metro

14th March 2017

The Welsh Government has grand plans for a 'Metro' network in South Wales, and a North Wales equivalent has also been mentioned, although with out much detail until now. A document called 'Moving North Wales Forward' has now been issued, and can be downloaded in PDF from the Government website.

It has lots of maps, charts and diagrams, and a long list of proposed road improvements, plus a list of Rail improvements which is something of a rag-bag, including things already under way, and aspirations for a distant future:

1. Capacity Improvements, Chester Station: development of options to accommodate increased number of rail services through the station.
2. Integrated Transport Hubs and Improved Rail Access, Deeside: development of options to improve access by rail, bus and active travel to key employment sites in Deeside.
3. Integrated Transport Hubs, Wrexham: development of options to improve rail / bus / active travel [walking and cycling] interchange at Wrexham General Station and other key locations within the Wrexham catchment area.
4. Electrification of the North Wales Coast Main Line continue to work with partners to make the case for investment by the UK Government in this scheme to improve access to HS2 and the wider UK market.
5. Rail Capacity Improvements between Wrexham and Chester: development of options for further capacity improvements to facilitate additional rail services.
6. Signalling and Linespeed Improvements on the North Wales Coast Main Line: to be delivered by Network Rail and will facilitate faster and more reliable rail journeys.
7. Linespeed Improvements on the Wrexham Bidston Line: development of options to facilitate faster and more reliable rail journeys.
8. Holyhead Port Rail Freight Facilities: work with partners to identify opportunities to develop rail freight facilities at Holyhead Port and promote transfer of freight from road to rail.
9. New Wales and Borders Franchise: continue preparation of specification for new franchise to operate from 2018.
10. Direct Rail Services to Liverpool via Halton Curve: development of services between North Wales and Liverpool via Liverpool Airport using a re-opened Halton Curve.

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