Latest Rail News

22.08.13

Wrexham upgrade delays criticised

The Welsh Government must strengthen the country’s infrastructure, the Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister has urged. 

In a letter to the First Minister, the committee highlights the lack of progress on the Wrexham to Saltney Junction upgrade, which was paused to review processes and decision-making around the £36m scheme. 

David Melding, chairman of the committee, said: “The Wrexham to Saltney Junction scheme promises significant benefits for the people of North Wales and its delay is disappointing. 

“The committee would like to see ministers show leadership and clarity of purpose in bringing this scheme forward as soon as possible.” 

North Wales AM for the Liberal Democrats, Aled Roberts, said: “The First Minister has acknowledged that the re-doubling of the Wrexham to Saltney Junction railway line will aid economic development across the region. Yet, time and time we have seen delays to this project. 

“Only recently the Welsh Transport Minister cast further doubt about the future of this project by asking Network Rail to review its plans.  For that reason, I believe the committee is entirely right to seek clarity about the how much of a priority this project is for the Welsh Labour Government. At the moment, I’m not convinced it his high up the agenda at all. 

“Over the past few weeks I’ve been seeking clarity over the project’s future.  It should be relatively easy for the Welsh Labour Government to confirm its future, but all we are told is that we have to wait until autumn. That isn’t good enough.” 

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Comments

Nonsuchmike   24/08/2013 at 10:51

About time too! People from the greater Wrecsam/Buckley area desperately need this and are tired of infrequent, delayed & often cancelled services. I myself, having boarded @ Wrecsam Central for Liverpool, had to alight and spend two scintillating hours standing on the platforms @ Wrecsam General before a tawdry journey and long wait before Saltney Junction - so long in fact that I thought they were building a new station there - and a crawl into Chester, followed by another wait and an eventual connection to 'Pool. Whatever your political party, there is only one way to solve the problem of poor services, overcrowding, need for more frequent trains and fewer breakdowns - and that is the laying down of more rail lines by way of duelling where single, and re-introducing/new configurations where none currently exists (two more tracks north of Welwyn Garden City, Cornholme chord, etc).

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