News story

£1 billion to improve transport connectivity in Wales

Plan to provide faster journey times across the UK includes bringing parts of North Wales within an hour of Manchester through upgrade of the North Wales Main Line.

From:
Department for Transport
Published
4 October 2023
  • government to redirect vast HS2 savings into unprecedented transport investment across the country, benefiting more people, in more places, more quickly
  • North Wales to benefit from a £1 billion investment to electrify the North Wales Main Line, bringing parts of the region within an hour of Manchester and strengthening connections across the Union
  • the electrification of the North Wales Main Line will mean more punctual, reliable journeys between Holyhead, Wrexham, Warrington, Liverpool and Crewe

A total of £36 billion in savings from HS2 will be reinvested in hundreds of transport projects across the country. 

Today (4 October 2023), we have announced the Network North plan, which will still see HS2 delivered between Birmingham and Euston in central London. 

But every penny that would have been spent extending the route will instead be redirected into local transport projects to drive economic growth and provide jobs.  

Network North will deliver greater connectivity across the country with faster journey times, increased capacity and more frequent, reliable services, and connections will also be strengthened across the UK.  

An unprecedented £1 billion investment will bring parts of North Wales within an hour of Manchester through a major upgrade of the North Wales Main Line, including electrification. 

It will mean journeys will become more punctual and reliable on the 105-mile route between Crewe, Liverpool, Warrington, Wrexham and Holyhead, where ferry services run to Dublin. 

The funding comes alongside £12 billion set aside for Northern Powerhouse Rail, allowing delivery of high-speed links between Manchester and Liverpool as previously planned.  

Read how HS2 funding is being redirected across the country

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Published 4 October 2023