A multi-billion-pound investment vision to upgrade the rail network of South Wales and the South West of England, including reducing journey times between Cardiff and Bristol by 20 minutes, has been revealed.
The Western Gateway Partnership - made up of city regions, local authorities, businesses and universities on both sides of the border - say significant investment is needed to ensure that both South Wales and the South West don't fall further behind other parts of the UK on rail investment.
They highlight the huge funding being committed by the UK Government to the rollout of high speed two from London, firstly reaching Birmingham, and although now delayed, then cities such as Manchester in the North England.
The transport vision, which it wants to see achieved by 2050, has been developed in partnership with Transport for Wales - the Welsh Government's transport body.
It highlights Cardiff as being the “least well directly connected major city” in the UK.
As well as backing more stations along the South Wales Mainline and expansion of the South Wales Metro, it calls for funding for initial phases of MetroWest and the Swansea Bay Metro.
It also makes the case for more rail electrification and speed enhancements, increased numbers of four-track railways to allow for increased capacity, and improvements to the Severn Crossing.
If all those projects were completed, the Western Gateway says it could allow for up to four trains per hour between Bristol and Cardiff, with journey times cut from 50 to 30 minutes. Journey times between Swansea and Bristol could be reduced from 90 minutes, once an hour, to 60 minutes with three trains an hour.
The partnership said the proposals would also be cost-effective compared to other major rail projects. It estimates that it would cost £1-2bn in the short term to deliver already committed and planned developments up to 2035. - while the cost of the total package of long-term developments up to 2050 has been estimated to cost £7-8bn.
That compares to the Northern Powerhouse Rail programme, which is estimated to cost £17.2bn, and HS2 which is likely to cost £72.3bn in total.
Katherine Bennett chair of the Western Gateway, said: “Our area has so much to offer. With 14 of the 15 largest aerospace manufacturers based here and home to the largest group of high-tech cyber businesses in Europe, we are ready to help deliver a greener, fairer future for the whole of the UK and beyond.
“This vision sends the signal that we are ready for the investment needed to unlock our potential. A better rail system with improved connectivity and new stations is key to creating the jobs and homes the area needs and our partnership is ready to work with Government and the private sector to deliver this.”
Wales - hopes this ‘will lay path for the faster and more reliable services we need’
David TC Davies, Secretary of State for Wales, said: “Connectivity within South Wales and South West England is vital to growing our regional economy. I welcome the ambition of Western Gateway and am pleased to have recently announced significant funding to help develop a number of key priorities including tackling congestion on the South Wales corridor.”
Jane Mudd, leader of Newport Council and vice chair of the Western Gateway Partnership said: “This vision is key to making sure our area gets the rail system our communities deserve. An effective and fast rail network will be essential if we want to make sure we can decarbonise our transport system and reach our climate change goals.
“The Global Centre for Rail Excellence in South Wales will put the UK at the forefront of rail innovation and we need the infrastructure to match that.
“Welsh and UK Government’s recent announcement of funding for a new study to examine improvements to the South Wales Main Line shows a recognition that more needs to be done. This vision lays out what we as the area’s elected politicians see as the key areas to improve and I hope will lay the path for the faster and more reliable services we need.”
South West - ‘Time Government acknowledged our area should be next in line for investment’
Toby Savage, Lleader of South Gloucestershire Council and vice chair of the Western Gateway Partnership: “Working with our transport bodies and industry, we have a huge opportunity here to vastly improve connections across the border between England and Wales. Through our partnership, we’ve identified many shared strengths between both countries and these sectors will get a huge boost through an improved rail service.
“It has been a difficult time for rail in recent months, but this vision gives a deliverable long-term ambition, putting confidence in our nation to build back better. With more journeys between Bristol and Cardiff than Leeds and Manchester, we know the demand is there and believe it is time Government acknowledged that our area should be next in line for investment to unlock our potential.”
Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol and Western Gateway board member, said: “Better public transport between major cities like Bristol and Cardiff, along with wider investment in intercity transport, is essential to decarbonise and grow our economy. With over 80,000 car journeys taking place over the M4 Prince Of Wales Bridge every day, and predictions that this will increase, we desperately need long term solutions. I am proud of the cross-party leadership we have been able to provide through our partnership of local leaders and businesses.
“Developments like the £95m we secured for Bristol’s Temple Meads and Temple Quarter show how investment in our area’s transport can drive wider regeneration providing a gateway to Wales and South West England. I look forward to making the case for central government to back this vision to unlock the full potential of our Western Gateway area.”
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