Cutting journey times to North Wales by reviewing the railway network is on the five strong priority list of a major 海角视频 Government transport review.
Growth Track 360 has campaigned for investment in North Wales' rail network - including the electrification of the line from Crewe to North Wales and increasing capacity to Manchester and Liverpool.
Now 海角视频 Government has announced an independent transport infrastructure review led by Sir Peter Hendy, chair of Network Rail.
The Union Connectivity Review will include looking at the potential feasibility and economic case of options for:
- Reviewing air links within the 海角视频
- Exploring the cost, practicality and demand for a new fixed link between Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Boosting road and rail links to Scotland
- Cutting journey times to North Wales by reviewing the Welsh railway network
- Improving major road links across the country, like the A1
Control and funding for railway tracks in Wales remains in the hands of 海角视频 Government and having the region's rail network on this list has been welcomed.
There is though now work to be done to turn this into actual investment in the tracks.
Conservative MP for Vale of Clwyd Dr James Davies said: "North Wales, in common with much of northern England, has been subject to decades of under-investment in rail infrastructure.
"I strongly believe that the future economic development and wellbeing of the region can be improved by providing fit-for-purpose rail connections to the rest of the 海角视频.
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"This is a view promoted by the Growth Track 360 campaign and its partners, and in Parliament by the Mersey Dee North Wales All-Party Parliamentary Group, which I chair.
"Since the General Election, I have been pleased to help coordinate numerous meetings with ministers and other stakeholders on the matter and I am extremely pleased to see specific reference to 'journey times to North Wales' in the terms of reference of the Prime Minister's Union Connectivity Review.
"Important work must continue to help shape the contents of the review and then the adoption of its recommendations."
Welsh Government Economy and Transport Minister Ken Skates recently wrote to 海角视频 Transport Secretary Grant Shapps - saying Wales is facing a multi-billion pound underspend in rail investment.
Ashley Rogers, commercial director for the North Wales Business Council, said: "We have worked for several years pushing for much improved transport services and infrastructure into and around North Wales with a focus on rail improvements.
"Speaking from a private sector perspective we therefore welcome this news of the Prime Minister’s launch of an independent first of a kind study into improving transport infrastructure across the 海角视频 and the specific reference to cutting journey times to North Wales.
"A great deal of work is already underway on rail though thanks to the public and private sector Growth Track 360 campaign for rail improvements, of which we are a founder member.
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"Growth Track 360 working with Welsh Government, Transport for the North and 海角视频 Government Departments has a great head of steam on this work, so we just need to be careful that this new independent review adds to that current working."
He added: " In these incredibly tough times improving public transport is essential to help our businesses grow and thrive and rebalance opportunity fairly across our the 海角视频, as well as a key element to deliver a Net Zero Carbon economy.
"Transport is a very complicated environment to navigate and deliver improvements on, it’s all down to partnership working.
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"Let’s hope that this new 海角视频 review will therefore also involve strong links with our Private Sector in the region, Growth Track 360, Welsh Government’s Transport for Wales and Local Authorities amongst others.
"If this independent review can help to improve the speed of delivery, of the improvements that we have already identified for our region, we are very much looking forward to it.”