Latest news with #NetworkNorthWales
Wales Online
04-07-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Work to upgrade North Wales cross border rail line given the go-ahead
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Work to transform the Wrexham to Liverpool line has been given the green light, with upgrades on the line at Padeswood confirmed. The Welsh Government says it is the first major step to realise more rail services between the two cities. Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales Ken Skates and Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens visited the site yesterday (Thursday) to see the planned upgrades. The Welsh Government says the UK Government has committed to supporting the work at Padeswood as part of last month's Comprehensive Spending Review. The overall UK Government investment in Welsh rail, worth at least £445 million, will see people across Wales benefit from better access to jobs and opportunities as a result of improved infrastructure and more frequent services . A Welsh Government statement said: "The work will see a major component of the Network North Wales vision delivered within three years, resulting in two trains an hour operating along the line. Padeswood also serves the Heidelberg cement works, and the upgrade will make it easier for freight to enter and exit the site." (Image: Ian Cooper/North Wales Live) Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales Ken Skates said: 'Delivering the upgrade at Padeswood will bring real economic benefits, helping the cement works and improving connectivity between Wrexham and Liverpool, increasing services to two trains per hour. 'It was fantastic to hear the UK Government's commitment to this project, which campaigners have pushed for over many decades. Two governments, working in partnership, will deliver this key part of the Network North Wales. 'Network North Wales is about delivering an integrated, high-frequency public transport network, connecting people to jobs, opportunity, community and a better quality of life. "While Padeswood is predicted to be delivered in the next three years, more immediate changes include 50 per cent more trains on the North Wales mainline, more trains between Chester and Wrexham and the start of the roll out of Pay as You Go delivering better transport in the region.' Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said: "The UK Government is investing in Wales' future and unleashing our country's economic potential. "We promised we would deal with the historical under-investment in Wales' rail network and announcing at least £445 million in the Spending Review delivered on that pledge. 'Working alongside Welsh Government it will mean brand-new stations, upgrades on the line in places like Padeswood and more and faster trains on the key lines across North and South Wales, connecting people with jobs and helping to grow the economy.' Work will now take place on the design of the scheme ahead of implementation. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Find out what's happening near you
North Wales Live
04-07-2025
- Business
- North Wales Live
Work to upgrade North Wales cross border rail line given the go-ahead
Work to transform the Wrexham to Liverpool line has been given the green light, with upgrades on the line at Padeswood confirmed. The Welsh Government says it is the first major step to realise more rail services between the two cities. Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales Ken Skates and Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens visited the site yesterday (Thursday) to see the planned upgrades. The Welsh Government says the UK Government has committed to supporting the work at Padeswood as part of last month's Comprehensive Spending Review. The overall UK Government investment in Welsh rail, worth at least £445 million, will see people across Wales benefit from better access to jobs and opportunities as a result of improved infrastructure and more frequent services . A Welsh Government statement said: "The work will see a major component of the Network North Wales vision delivered within three years, resulting in two trains an hour operating along the line. Padeswood also serves the Heidelberg cement works, and the upgrade will make it easier for freight to enter and exit the site." Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales Ken Skates said: 'Delivering the upgrade at Padeswood will bring real economic benefits, helping the cement works and improving connectivity between Wrexham and Liverpool, increasing services to two trains per hour. 'It was fantastic to hear the UK Government's commitment to this project, which campaigners have pushed for over many decades. Two governments, working in partnership, will deliver this key part of the Network North Wales. 'Network North Wales is about delivering an integrated, high-frequency public transport network, connecting people to jobs, opportunity, community and a better quality of life. "While Padeswood is predicted to be delivered in the next three years, more immediate changes include 50 per cent more trains on the North Wales mainline, more trains between Chester and Wrexham and the start of the roll out of Pay as You Go delivering better transport in the region.' Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said: "The UK Government is investing in Wales' future and unleashing our country's economic potential. "We promised we would deal with the historical under-investment in Wales' rail network and announcing at least £445 million in the Spending Review delivered on that pledge. 'Working alongside Welsh Government it will mean brand-new stations, upgrades on the line in places like Padeswood and more and faster trains on the key lines across North and South Wales, connecting people with jobs and helping to grow the economy.' Work will now take place on the design of the scheme ahead of implementation.
Leader Live
04-07-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
Transformation of Wrexham-Liverpool rail line to begin
Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales Ken Skates and Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens visited the site on Thursday, (July 3) to see the planned upgrades. (Image: Newsquest) The UK Government committed to supporting the work at Padeswood as part of last month's Comprehensive Spending Review. The overall UK Government investment in Welsh rail, worth at least £445 million, will see people across Wales benefit from better access to jobs and opportunities as a result of improved infrastructure and more frequent services. The work will see a major component of the Network North Wales vision delivered within three years, resulting in two trains an hour operating along the line. Padeswood also serves the Heidelberg cement works, and the upgrade will make it easier for freight to enter and exit the site. (Image: Newsquest) Ken Skates, cabinet secretary for Transport and North Wales said: 'Delivering the upgrade at Padeswood will bring real economic benefits, helping the cement works and improving connectivity between Wrexham and Liverpool, increasing services to two trains per hour. 'It was fantastic to hear the UK Government's commitment to this project, which campaigners have pushed for over many decades. Two governments, working in partnership, will deliver this key part of the Network North Wales. 'Network North Wales is about delivering an integrated, high-frequency public transport network, connecting people to jobs, opportunity, community and a better quality of life." Jo Stevens, Secretary of State for Wales said: "The UK Government is investing in Wales' future and unleashing our country's economic potential. (Image: Newsquest) MORE NEWS: "We promised we would deal with the historical under-investment in Wales' rail network and announcing at least £445 million in the Spending Review delivered on that pledge. 'Working alongside Welsh Government it will mean brand-new stations, upgrades on the line in places like Padeswood and more and faster trains on the key lines across North and South Wales, connecting people with jobs and helping to grow the economy.' Work will now take place on the design of the scheme ahead of implementation.
Business News Wales
18-06-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
New North Wales Transport Plan to Target Employment Access Issues
Plans to overhaul public transport in North Wales will better connect people with employment via a 21st century, metro-type service. Ken Skates MS, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, will be outlining details of the Network North Wales proposals at a breakfast meeting of Wrexham Business Professionals at the city's Maesgwyn Hall on Friday, June 27. According to Mr Skates, who is also the Senedd member for Clwyd South, far too many people are being 'cut out of the jobs market' because they can't access reliable transport to the workplace. He said the Welsh Government's vision for an integrated, high-frequency transport system will drive economic growth in the region and provide key bus services to centres of employment. The problem was flagged at a Wrexham Business Professionals meeting last July. Rachel Clacher, co-founder of Moneypenny, the UK's leading provider of telephone and web-based communications for businesses, told the meeting that she had come across numerous examples of public transport failing to meet the needs of employers and employees. She highlighted the plight of a young Gwersyllt woman who spent four hours travelling the eight miles to and from her work at Wrexham Industrial Estate each day because bus services were infrequent and were badly linked. Mr Skates said: 'Network North Wales is going to address that very concern. There are still a huge number of job offers that are being rejected by young people, by people of all ages in fact, because they can't get public transport to and from their workplace. 'There are far too many businesses that still tell me that bus services are few and far between. So, there are going to be a number of major interventions that form part of Network North Wales. We are going to be introducing new legislation to regulate the bus network, so we will be redesigning the bus network to help people in and out of work. We are going to be utilising the status of Flintshire and Wrexham as an Investment Zone to roll out a really ambitious new bus network which will better link communities with centres of employment like Wrexham Industrial Estate and Deeside Industrial Park. 'We've worked very closely with Transport for Wales, Flintshire Council and Wrexham Council to develop this bespoke bus network for the Investment Zone which will better connect people with centres of employment.' Mr Skates said he wanted to get to a point where public transport, or the lack of it, didn't prevent anybody from securing, and keeping, a job. He said: 'Public transport isn't just about moving people from A to B, it's about generating growth, it's about dealing with economic inactivity and economic inequality. Public transport, in my view, is the third public service and so it must meet the requirements of all people. So, through Network North Wales we will be better connecting people with employment – that's the primary purpose of creating a 21st century metro-type, transport service across this region. 'We're going to see pretty immediate movement on it as well. We're going to see a 50 per cent increase in rail services across North Wales from next May, we're going to see a doubling of rail services between Wrexham and Chester from next May. Work will be commencing on the Wrexham to Liverpool line to eventually make that a direct service into Liverpool with metro-type services providing four trains an hour – that's the ambition in the next 10 years. 'There's going to be a huge amount of movement over the coming months. People will see re-wrapped trains between Wrexham and Bidston, reflecting the communities those services serve. There will be an increased frequency on rail routes. We're going to be upgrading the stations, and of course, as I've said, we going to be rolling out that employment bus network which is going to be vital. 'From September we are going to be rolling out a young people's bus deal which means that 16 to 21-year-olds won't have to pay more than £1 for a bus journey in Wales.' Mr Skates commended the work of the Wrexham Business Professionals organisation, a group made up of successful businesses and skilled professionals working together to promote regional prosperity and shine a light on the enterprise and expertise that exists in the region. He said: 'There is something really magical happening in Wrexham at the moment, but the Wrexham Business Professionals have been solid supporters of the community for many years.' Ian Edwards, a leading member of the group, welcomed the news and said a redesign of the city's public transport set-up was badly needed to help employers and employees. He said: 'We've all heard the stories of people not being able to get to Wrexham Industrial Estate and things needs to change. For the public transport system to work and to serve the industrial estate properly, it can't just be one bus an hour – that won't work for anybody. The bus services need to be frequent, reliable and comfortable.' Louise Harper, from Wrexham Business Professionals, said: 'The meeting on June 27 will give a useful insight into the benefits the Network North Wales programme will deliver for businesses and their workers. We would encourage business leaders to come along to find out more about this exciting transport project.' Other guest speakers at the meeting at Wrexham's Maesgwyn Hall, starting at 8.30am on Friday, June 27, include Laura Hall, managing director of Holt-based Maverick Diagnostics, and Amanda Davies from Wrexham Council, who is leading Wrexham's bid to be named UK City of Culture 2029.
Leader Live
17-06-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
MS update on bespoke bus network for Wrexham and Flintshire
Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales An ambitious vision to deliver an integrated transport network for North Wales – with frequent metro services at its heart – was unveiled by the Welsh Government in Wrexham recently. Network North Wales is a bold, passenger-focused programme of work to better connect communities – with more rail and bus services and greater integration. I outlined our plans at Wales' first ever Public Transport Summit, which was held at Wrexham University. They aim to maximise opportunity and unlock the economic potential of North Wales. Far too many people – particularly young people – are being cut out of the jobs market because they can't access reliable transport. Utilising the recent designation of Flintshire and Wrexham as an Investment Zone by the UK Government, we've worked very closely with Transport for Wales, Flintshire Council and Wrexham Council to develop a bespoke bus network which will link local people with centres of employment like Wrexham Industrial Estate and Deeside Industrial Park. The Welsh Government's vision will drive economic growth in the region. We are already introducing new legislation to regulate the bus network, which will be redesigned to help people into work. Network North Wales will also see metro-style train services on the North Wales mainline, the Marches line (Chester-Wrexham) and a new, direct rail link between Wrexham and Liverpool. Immediate changes are being delivered, with a raft of further improvements planned over the next 12 months, three years and through to 2035. Longer-term objectives include reopening closed stations, creating new stations and exploring the role of new transport modes such as tram trains. If you're a constituent of Clwyd South and need help or advice, email or call 01978 869058. I also have a surgery in Rhosllanerchrugog on July 18, so please get in touch with my office for details and to book an appointment.
