Mark Isherwood
North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called for an oral statement from the Welsh Government on the redoubling of the rail line between Wrexham and Saltney following its Transport Minister’s decision to reduce the scheme.
Originally 7.5 miles of the line was to be redoubled, but the Welsh Government revealed before Christmas that this has now been reduced by two miles.
Raising the matter in this week’s Business Statement in the Assembly Chamber, Mr Isherwood expressed concern that despite consultations being carried out with rail travellers on other lines, those travelling between Chester and Wrexham were never consulted before the £44 million contract was signed off.
He said:
“Further to the Minister’s letter on the north-south Wales Journey Time Reduction Project for the redoubling of a section of the line between Wrexham and Chester, I would like to extend that to an oral statement because this is a matter that merits proper scrutiny in the Chamber.
“The reason I say that is because rail users in Wrexham have told me that an opportunity has been lost, with the taxpayer left to fund £44 million to allow the aspiration of one extra train from Cardiff every few hours, ruling out extra capacity to run future trains for the north-west of England.
“They also point out that there has been a consultation of rail travellers on the Cambrian line, between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury, and as a result of this the Welsh Government has announced that the two-hourly service will become hourly from May next year. A similar consultation on rail travel on the Fishguard line is taking place, funded by the Welsh Government, but rail travellers between Chester and Wrexham were never consulted before the £44 million contract was signed off.
“Your constituents and mine deserve this to be fully aired and scrutinised, Minister, and I hope that you will respond with that in mind.”
The Minister for Local Government and Government Business, Lesley Griffiths AM, told Mr Isherwood that there is not time this term for an oral statement, but said “I think that it is important that a written statement is published before summer recess.”
