Growth Track 360 has given a cautious welcome to the UK government’s commitment to electrify the North Wales Coast Main Line (NWCML), while expressing bitter disappointment at the cancellation of HS2 north of Birmingham and warning that significant infrastructure work needs to be done to make the case for electrification.

The Department for Transport (DfT) document ‘Network North: Transforming British Transport’ sets out plans to fund the electrification, but only by abandoning the unstarted sections of the HS2 rail project. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak mentioned MWCML electrification in his speech to Conservative Party Conference on 4 October.

NWCML electrification is one of Growth Track 360’s long-term strategic objectives. It will enable fully electric train services to run from North Wales and Chester to London and Manchester.

However, it wants that there is substantial work to be done to improve rail infrastructure in order to make a compelling business case for electrification, including:

• Wrexham to Liverpool Transformation: Twenty-First Century Travel in a Corridor of World Class Industries
• North Wales Coast Mainline: Expanding Overseas and British Tourism Sustainably in an Area of Extraordinary Beauty, and
• Chester Station Modernisation: A Millennial Gateway for a City of Millennia.

The Growth Track 360 coalition, set up in 2016, comprises business and local authority leaders from North Wales, the Wirral, Cheshire West and Chester, and campaigns for improved cross-border transport connectivity with specific emphasis on rail. It works closely with the Welsh Government, Transport for the North, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Mersey Dee Alliance, Ambition North Wales, Transport for Wales, the West and Wales Transport Forum and the private sector.

Growth Track 360 held a fringe meeting at the Conservative Party Conference on Monday 2 October. It also hosted a fringe meeting at the Labour Party Conference on Monday 9 October, with speakers including l9cal councillors and City of Chester MP Samantha Dixon.

Growth Track 360 Chair and Leader of Cheshire West & Chester Council, Councillor Louise Gittins, said: “Whilst I am bitterly disappointed by the cancellation of the northern leg of HS2, last week’s announcement on the North Wales Coast Main Line from the Prime Minister represents a huge achievement for the advocacy by the cross-border and all-party Growth Track 360 alliance over the past seven years.  We have succeeded in moving this project from the fringes of transport policy into the mainstream of rail investment decisions.  I will press for the re-instatement of HS2 because Growth Track 360 has always envisaged an electrified North Wales Coast Main Line being fully integrated with HS2 at Crewe and Northern Powerhouse Rail at Warrington. Nevertheless, Growth Track 360 recognises the huge value the modernised route will have when connected to the existing rail network.

“The UK Government cannot deliver electrification of the North Wales Coast Main Line without a business case.  We look forward to seeing more details of how the commitment made by the Prime Minister will be implemented and, in particular, how Chester station will be transformed as the gateway to North Wales and Cheshire.”

Growth Track 360 Vice Chair and Leader of Flintshire Council, Councillor Ian Roberts, said: “Efforts by Growth Track 360 and our allies amongst parliamentarians of all political parties have secured vitally important recognition at the highest levels of the UK Government that the North Wales Coast Main Line railway is a vital economic artery deserving of substantial modernisation.  We now need to see the detailed proposals set out in a business case for implementation of the scheme by a future government. The case must be backed by robust financing with sensible forecast dates for completion, so that local business and new investors in our cross-border region can make their decisions with confidence.”

Ashley Rogers, Growth Track 360 Business Representative and Chief Executive of the North Wales Mersey Dee Business Council, said: “Having been presenting the case for electrification of the North Wales Coast Main Line to Conservative politicians and activists as recently as last Monday, I was delighted to see the pledge from the Prime Minister – backed up by a DfT document – on the following Wednesday.  I pay tribute to all my colleagues in Growth Track 360 from both sides of the border, all political parties and the business community in reaching this landmark moment.  Our work is far from over, however, as we must ensure that the project is delivered in full and as soon as practicable along with the other important elements of the Growth Track 360 programme.  I look forward to the UK Government announcing development funding and the starting on business case work forthwith.”