- 20/07/2017
- Posted by: Lesley Griffiths MS
- Category: News
Options are being assessed to help ensure an additional £10m outlined for the Wrexham – Chester railway line benefits passengers in Wrexham.
Wrexham AM, Lesley Griffiths, who has long-campaigned for rail improvements in the region, received a response from Ken Skates AM, the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Economy & Infrastructure, confirming the extra funding will further ‘improve the passenger experience in the Wrexham area.’
With the £49m project to redouble a section of the line north of Wrexham completed, the Cabinet Secretary has confirmed the additional £10m will complement the previous investment.
Welsh Government and Network Rail officials are currently examining the most cost effective ways of utilising the extra, including ways of improving journey reliability, delivering station improvements and enabling additional services to operate in future.
The preferred approach will be outlined in the autumn, with work starting the next financial year.
Lesley Griffiths AM has welcomed the latest developments and said: “Welsh Labour Government investment is making a difference in Wrexham. As the £49m redoubling project draws to a conclusion, an additional £10m has been confirmed with the overriding aim of delivering further benefits for local passengers.”
“It is clear the Welsh Government recognises the importance of investing in our region’s infrastructure and I will continue to pursue these matters in the future.”
An ‘unspecified’ £10m transport project was first mooted for North Wales in September 2014. Lesley Griffiths AM corresponded with the Welsh Government at the time, arguing the funding could be used to make further improvements to the existing redoubling project. In March, the Welsh Government announced a further £10m to ‘increase capacity and improved flexibility’ on the Wrexham – Chester line.
