UK Parliament / Open data

Rail Infrastructure: Wales

Proceeding contribution from Huw Merriman (Conservative) in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 10 May 2023. It occurred during Debate on Rail Infrastructure: Wales.

I will complete the HS2 part, because I sense the hon. Gentleman might have something to add on that.

Although Wales will not receive any HS2 services, it is positively impacted by HS2’s construction and operation. As I have stated, the UK Government are responsible for heavy rail infrastructure across England and Wales; they spend money in Wales directly rather than funding the Welsh Government to do so. Current plans would see Welsh passengers benefiting from an interchange at Crewe, with HS2 providing shorter journey times to north Wales than is currently possible on the west coast

main line. Journeys from Bangor to London using new HS2 services will take an estimated two hours and 30 minutes, down from the current three hours and 17 minutes on the direct Avanti West Coast services. HS2 will free up capacity on the existing west coast main line, which could be used for additional services.

Passengers from Wales will be able to quickly access services to Heathrow and central London via an interchange at Old Oak Common with the Elizabeth line, as the hon. Member for Neath mentioned, without having to go via London Paddington. HS2 will continue to provide Welsh companies and workers with opportunities to work in the HS2 supply chain—44 of HS2 suppliers are Welsh small and medium-sized enterprises. We will of course continue to engage collaboratively with Transport for Wales and regional stakeholders in Wales and border areas as we progress proposals for improved connectivity and journey times on the existing rail network while HS2 comes into being.

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
732 cc194-5WH 
Session
2022-23
Chamber / Committee
Westminster Hall
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