Growth Track 360

Members of Parliament and Growth Track 360 Call for Urgent Reviews of the Feasibility of the Electrification of the North Wales Coast Main Railway Line and the Fairness of the Department for Transport’s Investment Appraisal Processes

Growth Track 360 and Transport for the North recently held a well-attended briefing meeting for Members of Parliament from North Wales, West Cheshire and the Wirral in the House of Commons. 

The meeting gave its strong support for the priorities of Growth Track 360:

• Investment in the North Wales Coast Mainline to improve capacity and line speeds to enable North Wales Metro rail services every 15 minutes plus an express service every hour.
• Transformation of the Wrexham to Bidston, Borderlands Line into a Wrexham to Liverpool Service able to access the Liverpool Central Loop Line
• Track, Platform and Signalling Upgrades to Chester Station to increase the throughput of train services
• HS2 Hub stations at Crewe and Warrington to enable seamless future connectivity between North Wales and Chester with HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail

Members of Parliament asked Growth Track 360 to: 

• Press harder for the electrification of the North Wales Coast Main Line
• Obtain the estimated capital costs of the priorities so that Members of Parliament can present them to Ministers in the House.
• Challenge the Department of Transport’s Investment Appraisal process which is not delivering for Wales or the North of England

Growth Track 360 Chair and Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, Councillor Louise Gittins said: “I was delighted that so many Members of Parliament came together on a cross-party basis to hear about the priorities of Growth Track 360 and how we are working with Transport for the North to deliver them.

"Growth Track 360 is committed to electrification of the North Wales Coast Main Line. This will enable HS2 services to run direct from Crewe, through Chester and onwards to Bangor and Holyhead.

"Electrification will enable faster and more efficient trains while reducing carbon emissions. It is time to move on from old fashioned diesel fleets and deliver a modern, electrified UK Rail Network as part of a green investment package to decarbonise transport.

"GT360 has written to the Transport Minister, Huw Merriman MP, seeking funds for Transport for Wales and Network Rail to undertake an urgent feasibility study into electrifying the North Wales Coast Main Line between Crewe and Holyhead.

"Despite the strong cross-party consensus in favour of rail investment in our geography, we cannot access capital funds in a reasonable timeframe because the Department for Transport’s investment appraisal system favours London and the South East. It is time to challenge those processes which are working against Union Connectivity and Levelling Up.”

Growth Track 360 Vice Chair and Leader of Flintshire Council, Councillor Ian Roberts, said: “I welcome the support of Members of Parliament for electrification of the North Wales Coast Main Line.

"I am disappointed that capital funds have not yet been allocated to deliver Growth Track 360 priorities. There are two barriers to accessing funding: 

1. An overall shortage of funds, with too many projects chasing too few funds
2. A flawed investment appraisal process that directs most of what is available to London and the South East

"To make more money available for investment in the Wales and Borders geography I support the Welsh Government’s call for Barnett Consequentials for Wales from the HS2 project. This is the most efficient and direct way to obtain funding for electrifying the North Wales Coast Mainline and delivering the North Wales and Chester priorities.”

The investment appraisal process must also be reviewed with the English Regions and Devolved Administrations invited to give evidence on how the process can be made fairer. Fairer distribution of capital to Wales and the North of England aligns with the Government’s policy priorities of Levelling Up and Union Connectivity.

Ashley Rogers, Chief Executive of the North Wales Mersey Dee Business Council said: “All of Growth Track 360’s priorities enhance Union Connectivity. North Wales and Chester are major UK and international tourism destinations with many tourists travelling from Manchester Airport and the North West to North Wales. Growth Track hopes that the Government will respond positively to the Union Connectivity Review and allocate capital funds to make schemes happen

"Climate Change requires urgent action to reduce carbon emissions in the transport sector. Electrification and better public transport will give travellers a low carbon option for travelling within and to North Wales and Chester.”

Samantha Dixon MBE MP, who sponsored the GT360 meeting, raised electrification of the North Wales Coast Main Line in Welsh Questions following the meeting. The Secretary of State for the Office for the Secretary of State for Wales gave a supportive response:

https://twitter.com/SamanthaDixonMP/status/1661404767581601792?s=20.

About Growth Track 360

The aims of Growth Track 360 are described in a You Tube Video: https://youtu.be/C2FokJJDIZA. The video is taken from an event in the House of Commons held by GT360 on 20 February 2023.

1. Growth Track 360 is a public-private partnership established in 2016 uniting North Wales, the Wirral and Cheshire West and Chester. Its goal is improving cross-border transport connectivity with specific emphasis on rail. 
    
2. Growth Track 360 works closely with key stakeholders, their policies and objectives including the Welsh Government, Transport for the North, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Mersey Dee Alliance, Ambition North Wales, Transport for Wales, the West and Wales Transport Forum and the private sector.

Pictured - Growth Track 360 Briefing with Transport for the North and Members of Parliament.