Growth Track 360: Electrification of North Wales main key to unlocking region’s global tourism potential

A cross-party partnership has reiterated its calls for rail investment to unlock North Wales and the border counties of England as global tourist destinations.

It comes after the publication of ‘Wales as a global tourist destination’ by the House of Commons Welsh Affairs Committee.

Business and local authority leaders from North Wales, the Wirral and Cheshire West and Chester in the Growth Track 360 partnership have now renewed their call for rail investment to allow their cross-border region to take full advantage of the opportunities identified.

This includes the complete modernisation of Chester station as the gateway for tourism to Cheshire and North Wales and the electrification of the North Wales Main Line from Holyhead to Crewe and Warrington.

The partnership argues that this would allow HS2 trains to run directly from London and Birmingham to Chester and into North Wales with one change for Heathrow Airport at Old Oak Common.

Growth Track 360 are also campaigning for:

• Upgrades to the North Wales Coast Main Line to increase capacity and line speeds to enable the North Wales Metro concept which will support tourists in moving around the region by public transport more easily;
• Transformation of the Wrexham-Liverpool service to allow for frequent, direct services between the city centres; and
• Improvements to bus and active travel networks throughout the cross-border region.

Growth Track 360 Chair and Leader of Cheshire West & Chester Council, Councillor Louise Gittins, said: “Growth Track 360 submitted written evidence to the House of Commons Welsh Affairs Committee’s inquiry deploying well-evidenced arguments that our cross-border region is being held back in fulfilling its potential for economic growth boosted in part by tourism due to the lack of sustained and strategic investment in enhancements to the quality and capacity of our public transport networks.

“This new report adds further to our compelling case which cries out for joint action by the Welsh and UK Governments.”

Growth Track 360 Board Member, Deputy Leader of Wrexham Council, Councillor David Bithell, said: “The House of Commons Welsh Affairs Committee’s report proves once again that there is a direct correlation between the quality of public transport provision serving a region and the propensity of both international and domestic visitors to select it as a tourism destination.

“We are pleased to see Growth Track 360’s evidence published alongside that of many other distinguished organisations and individuals in the tourism field but want to see our oven-ready solutions acted upon in meaningful timeframes.”

Ashley Rogers, GT360 Business Representative, Chief Executive of the North Wales Mersey Dee Business Council, added: “The international connectivity of North Wales would be transformed by completion of HS2 to Crewe and electrification of the existing line through Chester, making us just one change of train from London’s Heathrow Airport whilst vastly improving our connectivity to Manchester Airport.

“Our cross-border region is already world class in its offer for international Visitors but our transport infrastructure to get them here is not.

“The House of Commons Welsh Affairs Committee’s report must not gather dust on a shelf but should instead be acted upon by the two Governments.”