A case for billions of pounds of investment in rail enhancement projects in Wales and the west of England will be outlined at a conference in Cardiff today.
The cross-border Western Gateway Partnership will unveil its Rail Deal report which calls for, amongst other projects, 30 new train stations in phases one and two of a long-term programme of investment, which it said would give an extra quarter of million people access to the rail network, as well an additional 23 services an hour.
Following on for its rail vision report in 2023, the partnership is also calling for the upgrading of existing major stations such as Cardiff, Bristol Temple Meads and Swindon.
It said rail investment is urgently need to address decades of neglect by successive 海角视频 governments on rail enhancement projects on both sides of the border, as well as helping to reduce emissions by providing a viable alternative to car journeys.
If its recommendations, which are not costed, are realised it said it would generate 拢17bn of economic benefits to the 海角视频.
The Rail Deal鈥檚 priority investments include:
- Delivery of six new stations between Cardiff and Monmouthshire - which includes the proposed Cardiff Parkway scheme - on the South Wales Mainline, which the report says would facilitate 1.5 million additional passenger train journeys a year.
- Early phases of the Metrowest programme which includes the new Portishead line and North Filton Station (Brabazon Arena).
Phase two calls for upgrades of Cardiff Central (for which funding has already been identified) and Bristol Temple Meads, a direct service to Heathrow Airport, the reopening of the Swansea District Line and electrification to Bristol (Filton Bank and Chippenham ) and Oxford.
It also calls for electrification of the South Wales Mainline to Swansea, as originally planned before being abandoned by the then Tory 海角视频 Government in 2017 on cost grounds, so resulting in electrification from London only reaching Cardiff.
Phase two also outlines capacity upgrades at network pinch points, including, Westerleigh, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Severn Tunnel, Temple Meads to Parson Street, Weston Super-Mare and Cardiff West.
Phase three includes phase two of Cardiff Crossail and improved rail connectivity between Bristol and Cardiff airports
However, for the programme to be realised in full, or in part, it will require either additional ringfenced funding from the Treasury, or the Department of Transport (DfT) having to fund from budgets going forward. Over the next 15-years the DfT has already made funding commitments of around 拢60bn, include the upgrading the TransPennine route and the next phase of high speed rail from London to Birmingham.
Earlier this month - in letters exchanged between Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander and Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens with Welsh Government Transport Secretary Ken Stakes - a 海角视频 Government for the first time acknowledged there has been significant under investment in Wales鈥 rail infrastructure.
Both secretaries of state said they were committed to working together to press the Treasury for a Welsh rail investment funding settlement, starting with the Chancellor鈥檚 three-year spending review due in June.
Over a 15-year period, which would spread over a number of three-year spending reviews, Wales should be looking for a rail enhancement commitment for projects of around 拢200m per annum - which would providing a funding commitment for rail enhancement schemes of between 拢2bn to 拢3bn.
The Welsh Government鈥檚 focus is on getting a fair funding deal for Wales. While the Western Gateway is making the case for investment on both sides of the border - where many of the proposed projects are mutually beneficial - stakeholders in the west of England, including combined authorities, will have to make their own funding case to the 海角视频 Government.
Western Gateway鈥檚 Rail Deal report has been developed with local authorities, businesses, Transport For Wales and Great Western Railway, amongst others.
The partnership bringing together 28 local authorities with businesses and universities to unlock potential and create economic growth. It鈥檚 reach is from Carmarthenshire to Swindon, covering a population of five million However, it is facing losing its core 拢1m of annual funding from the 海角视频 Government.
Sarah Williams-Gardener, chair of the Western Gateway Partnership, said: 鈥淭he Western Gateway area is poised to be the fastest-growing region outside of London, yet it has not had the critical investment in public transport infrastructure that other areas of the country have seen, particularly in rail.
"This Rail Deal is deliverable and proportionate to the extraordinary offer that our economy presents to the 海角视频.鈥淲e recognise that we need to have clear strategic priorities to make sure we are ready to deliver the change we need at pace.
鈥淭his deal shows we are serious and is a demonstration of collective will from across our local leaders, MPs, our transport bodies and the industry that is ready to deliver our area鈥檚 ambitions.鈥
Huw Thomas, leader of Cardiff Council and vice-chair of the Western Gateway said: 鈥淲e welcomed the acknowledgement from Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander MP earlier this month that Wales rail has been under-funded for years. We can clearly demonstrate through this Rail Deal that we have a shared vision and ambition to deliver for our communities to remedy this situation right away with only a relatively modest ask for investment.
鈥淭he Western Gateway has been crucial for unifying our area to gain the support we need to present this deliverable plan for our area鈥檚 rail services. I鈥檇 like to thank our board of 28 local authority leaders for getting behind this plan and ask 海角视频 Government to work with us to make sure we can deliver on the scale we need.鈥
Dan Okey, head of regional and Welsh development at Great Western Railway said: 鈥榃e have worked closely with the Western Gateway and their transport body partners for several years and we welcome the collective ambition for investment.
"We know that rail connectivity plays a vital role in supporting our communities and the plans for sustainable economic growth. At GWR we believe in looking to the future of our services, our trains and our network to make the railway more inclusive, more accessible and a more attractive proposition for customers.
" That is the ultimate ambition presented in this Rail Deal and we look forward to working with our partners at Western Gateway, Network Rail and across the industry to make it a reality鈥.
David McCallum strategic development programme manager and rail lead at Transport for Wales said: 鈥楾his Rail Deal is consistent with the ongoing work of the Wales Rail Board and its investment priorities and demonstrates the economic value of cross-border travel, for access to jobs, education and leisure opportunities. Investment in the South Wales Relief Lines for example will unlock the development of the Burns stations and increased services and connectivity to communities in south east Wales, North Bristol and Gloucestershire; whilst the electrification of mainline services to Swansea will help Wales meet its net zero goals, with increased frequency, reliability and speed of services to support mode shift to public transport and open new opportunities for our communities鈥.
The Rail Deal event will be held at the offices of law firm Hugh James.
