I will write to the hon. Lady, because I am due to work across Government to try to boost the ambitions for Crewe as HS2 comes to it. Only last week, I had a meeting with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to discuss Crewe and what we could do to make sure HS2 leaves an ambitious legacy there. I will write to her, because those discussions and our intended deep dive may give her the further detail that she is deserving of.
I was mid-flow; I was about to say that level crossings are being upgraded to allow Transport for Wales to operate longer and more frequent trains on routes across Wales. Signalling systems are being upgraded to state-of-the-art digital technology, which will support the introduction of new high-performance Welsh-built trains with greatly improved passenger facilities and comfort. The Cardiff capital region is benefiting from more than £250 million of UK Government investment in the core valley lines, Cardiff Crossrail and the transformation of Cardiff Central station—schemes that can be delivered only through strong and effective collaboration with the Welsh Government and local authority partners. I am committed to that collaboration.
That work is happening now, but there is a lot more coming down the pipeline. Hon. Members will know that Lord Hendy’s independent review of UK transport connectivity was published in November 2021. In response, the Government set aside funding to support feasibility studies into options for strengthening some of the UK’s main transport arteries, in line with Lord Hendy’s
recommendations. I am pleased to say that my Department’s officials have been engaging positively with the devolved Administrations and delivery bodies to identify potential projects for that funding to support.
I believe that the hon. Member for Newport East (Jessica Morden) mentioned the south Wales relief lines upgrade. That is now being progressed to a full business case, which the Department will carefully consider very shortly. We will continue to engage with the Welsh Government, with Transport for Wales and with the other devolved Administrations and will consider opportunities to collaborate further on projects that address the recommendations of the Hendy review.
Looking further ahead, the way people use the railway is changing. We are investing in ensuring that it supports passengers, freight and the economy of the future. I can tell the hon. Member for Neath not only that will we provide more details about the enhancement pipeline, but that we are signing off on projects and getting on with them right now. They have to be affordable, while also responding to demand for travel. In that context, and in response to a recommendation from the Welsh Affairs Committee, we are pleased to have established a Wales Rail Board to further strengthen collaboration between the UK and Welsh Governments. The board, which meets regularly, is establishing a strategic programme of rail infrastructure and service development in Wales, including cross-border connectivity. That programme will represent a shared vision between the UK and Welsh Governments on the rail infrastructure required to address strategic transport issues and deliver meaningful benefits to the population of Wales and the United Kingdom.
Let me move to the matter of the global centre of rail excellence. I welcome the great news given to us today by the hon. Member for Neath, who has been a great champion of this constituency jewel. She has invited me to visit it; I look forward to doing so, I rather hope by the end of June. The establishment of the centre, which is supported by £30 million of UK Government funding alongside contributions from the Welsh Government and the private sector, has the potential to support innovation in the UK’s rail industry and put Wales firmly on the map as a powerhouse in the testing of cutting-edge technology. I look forward to visiting. I also look forward to visiting, if I can, CAF Wales, as it is so nearby. I am grateful for the invitation.
Time is pressing, and I should mention the hon. Lady’s point about the Restoring Your Railway scheme and the restoration of the closed Beeching lines. We have had a very successful programme, and more than 200 right hon. and hon. Members have sponsored projects. Of course, it is not possible to take all projects forward, but I am proud that we are able to take some forward. I have already visited one that has opened, and many more will be invested in.
Access for All was also mentioned. It is important that we ensure that the railway is accessible to all. Some 220 stations across the UK have been made fully accessible, and another 1,500 stations have been given improvements to assist in that regard. Another programme is available, and I look forward to assessing applications.