North Wales Metro
North Wales Metro or North East Wales Metro is a series of improvements to the transport network that was proposed in early 2017 and is part of Welsh Labour's plan for North Wales.[1][2][3] Labour has pledged to open the system by 2035. The proposals were included in the 2018 Wales & Borders franchise contest.[4]. The metro is conceptually a multi-modal system with a combination of bus, heavy rail and light rail services linking major settlements and employment areas with hubs located in Wrexham, Chester and Deeside.[5]
In April 2018, a cash boost of £1.2 million was award to the proposed scheme which included a new station at Deeside.[6]
As of June 2017 the first services for the new metro service have been unveiled as part of the new Wales & Borders franchise operated under Transport for Wales.
Plans
The plans would see new stations at Deeside Industrial Estate and North Wrexham, upgrades to train stations, and new bus routes to improve connections. Further upgrades to existing rail routes are also proposed.
As part of the new Wales & Borders franchise it has been announced that the first metro line will be designated as the Borderlands Line running between Wrexham and Bidston. Electro-diesel Class 230 metro trains will be deployed in 2019 followed by an increase in services to 2 trains per hour in each direction from 2021, one as a stopping service and the other as an express with limited stops.[7]
References
- ↑ "Welsh Government - North East Wales Metro". gov.wales.
- ↑ Barry, Sion (2 March 2017). "Vision revealed for a North East Wales Metro". Wales Online.
- ↑ Davidson, Tom (15 April 2016). "Where the North Wales Metro will - and won't - be stopping".
- ↑ "Arriva pulls out of Welsh rail bid". BBC News. 30 October 2017.
- ↑ "250 new jobs for Wrexham as packaging company picks Llay for new HQ – £50m investment expected".
- ↑
- ↑ "North East Wales Metro details revealed as Ken Skates gives detail on Wales-wide 'transformation of transport'". Wrexham.com.
