Further Funding Mooted For Additional Wrexham to Chester Rail Improvements

The Wrexham to Chester railway line could receive an additional £10m in funding to deliver additional improvements.

With the £49m project to redouble a section of the Wrexham to Chester railway line entering into its final stages, the Welsh Government is examining options to ‘increase capacity and improve flexibility’ on the line.

An ‘unspecified’ £10m transport project was first mooted for North Wales in September 2014.

Wrexham AM Lesley Griffiths corresponded with the Welsh Government at the time, arguing the funding could be used to make further improvements to the existing redoubling project. Having long campaigned for rail improvements in the region, Ms Griffiths has welcomed the latest developments.

She said: “As the £49m redoubling project nears completion, I am pleased the Welsh Government has outlined an additional £10m for the Wrexham to Chester line. Further options are being examined which will ultimately help improve services for local passengers, and I will continue to pursue this matter with the Welsh Government.”

“In addition, the Welsh Government has funded an independent review of timetabling between Wrexham and Chester. Grant funding has also been provided to Wrexham County Borough Council looking at the possibility of developing a transport hub at Wrexham General Station.”

“With progress also being made on the North East Wales Metro, this latest announcement, coupled with the existing projects, further demonstrates the Welsh Government’s commitment to investing in our region’s infrastructure.”

The funding was announced in a Written Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy & Infrastructure, Ken Skates AM, which also noted the work that has been undertaken on the Wrexham to Bidston line.

After disruption last autumn caused by leaves falling on the track, Arriva Trains Wales and Network Rail have measures in place to regularly inspect the line and manage the vegetation accordingly.

Last week Network Rail thanked passengers for their patience during the successful upgrade work recently carried out between Wrexham and Chester.

Picture – Network Rail