competitive and connected component of the Northern Powerhouse. Our investment in transport must deliver social, environ
Moving North Wales Forward Our Vision for North Wales and the North East Wales Metro March 2017
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Foreword by Ken Skates AM Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure
There is huge potential to deliver economic growth in North Wales and to add value to the Welsh and UK economy. A modern, high quality transport system is fundamental to achieving this, connecting businesses to markets, facilitating trade, exchange andtravel. I am committed to investing in transport in North Wales to ensure this region of Wales is a competitive and connected component of the Northern Powerhouse. Our investment in transport must deliver social, environmental and cultural benefits to make North Wales a great place to live and work. Abandoning more isolated communities to a life that is wholly dependent on the private motor vehicle is economically, ethically and environmentally unacceptable. I have committed an additional £50 million to move forward our plans for the North East Wales Metro. This is on top of the substantial commitments for North Wales set out in the National Transport Finance Plan 2015 which will also contribute to achieving our aims. We have an ambitious vision for transport in North Wales but we cannot achieve this on our own. We will engage and collaborate with public, private and third sector partners across Wales and the rest of the UK to deliver on our commitments.
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North Wales – Opportunities for Growth Our Economy
Leisure and Tourism
North Wales is well placed with access to markets not just in the region but also to markets across Wales, to the Northern Powerhouse and the Midlands, to London and the rest of the UK. North Wales contributes almost £13 billion GVA to the UK economy1. The industrial heartland of north-east Wales with West Cheshire and the Wirral make up the Mersey Dee economic sub-region. Together, the North Wales and Mersey Dee area has an economy worth around £26.5 billion GVA2.
North Wales has stunning landscapes and heritage, high quality sports and cultural facilities and has been recognised by the Lonely Planet Guide as one of the world’s top regions to visit in 2017. Tourism annual spend for North Wales exceeds £1.2 billion, of which £659 million is from domestic overnight visitors, £98 million from international visitors, and £481 million from tourism day visits3. Outdoor leisure in particular is a growing market with recent developments at Surf Snowdonia and at Zip World with the longest zip wire in Europe.
Jobs and Skills North Wales is the location of a range of nationally and internationally important industrial and commercial companies, with a particular focus on advanced manufacturing and research and development. We have a highly skilled workforce, supported by universities at Bangor and Wrexham and an extensive further education sector. Key development sites at Wylfa Newydd, Wrexham and Deeside will contribute to the expected doubling of the economy of the North Wales – Mersey Dee area by 2040.
1 https://statswales.gov.wales/Catalogue/Business-Economy-and-LabourMarket/Regional-Accounts/Gross-Value-Added-GDP/gva-by-measurewelsheconomicregion-year 2 https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossvalueaddedgva/datasets/ regionalgrossvalueaddedincomeapproach and http://gov.wales/docs/ statistics/2016/161103-regional-economic-labour-market-profiles-november2016-north-wales-en.pdf 3 International Passenger Survey (https://www.visitbritain.org/nationregion-county-data), GB Tourism Survey (http://dservuk.tns-global.com/ GBTSWalesLightViewer/ViewTable.aspx), and GB Day Visits Survey (http://gov. wales/docs/statistics/2016/160809-great-britain-day-visitor-2015-en.pdf)
WARRINGTON IRELAND
HOLYHEAD
LLANDUDNO JUNCTION
MANCHESTER & MANCHESTER AIRPORT
LIVERPOOL & LIVERPOOL AIRPORT
CHESTER
BANGOR
WREXHAM
LA
E
L
A
ID N
W
M
S
LONDON, CREWE & HS2
© Crown copyright 2017 Cartographics • Welsh Government ML/95/16.17
February 2017
&
M I D
Connecting Markets
S
S O U T H
D
North Wales and Mersey-Dee
Rail Motorway/Trunk Road Ferry Port Port Airport
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Our Commitment We are committed to delivering a transport system in North Wales that is internationally focused and facilitates a region that is ambitious, engaged and connected to the wider world. It will work for: People – Enable people to live healthy and independent lives, with equality of opportunity and access to jobs and services, enabling people into employment and sustaining jobs. Businesses – Provide the conditions to maximise economic development and employment access to markets in Wales, the rest of the UK and beyond, stimulating innovation and growth for a modern economy. Communities - Connect communities to facilities, jobs and services through sustainable and resilient infrastructure that supports socially cohesive and resilient communities. Environment – Encompass sustainable development principles with a transport network that is integrated and sustainable.
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Our Vision for an Integrated Transport Network We will create a sustainable, reliable, efficient and quality integrated transport network across the region. It will connect people, communities and businesses to jobs, facilities, and services and maximise the economic opportunities of connectivity across Wales and our borders. We will provide the policy framework and the necessary tools using the Well-being of Future Generations Act and WelTAG – the Welsh Transport Appraisal Guidance – to guide the development and delivery of the most effective solutions. Our transport systems will deliver: Benefits
Social, Economic, Environmental & Cultural Well-being
Priority Areas
Impacts
Sustainable
Encourages use of sustainable fuel and materials
Connected
National and International connectivity including to ports and airports
Equitable & Adaptable
Accessible transport facilities and services
Resilient
Integrated
Safe
Reduced emissions and improved air quality
Active travel routes in communities to local facilities and bus and rail networks
Access to key centres and services
Meets rural and urban needs
Efficient, stable transport networks and services
New and improved Multi-modal Transport Interchanges
Responsive to technological advances
Provides travel opportunities for all
Responsive to climate change
Integrated, frequent bus, rail and community transport services
Reduced journey times
Easily accessible, reliable travel information for all modes
Direct services to HS2 at Crewe
High quality and affordable
Direct and frequent bus and train services to employment sites
Responsive to democratic and social changes
Reliable journey times
Park and Ride / Park and Share
Multi-modal ticketing
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North East Wales Metro and Cross-Border Connections There are strong links between the economy of North East Wales and that of North West England. The 2011 census recorded significant cross-border commuter flows amounting to one million journeys per month. Significant daily flows to work are from North Wales to Chester and Cheshire (17,500), to Merseyside (3,500) and to Greater Manchester (2,200). Similarly about 20,000 workers cross the border each day into Wales. There are also around 3,000 commuter trips from North East Wales to Shropshire daily highlighting the importance of cross-border links to the English Midlands4. Cross-border routes through North East Wales are important for road freight transport, particularly for freight between mainland Europe, England and Ireland. There are also important local and regional strategic transport links to and from North East Wales to North West Wales, Llangollen, Corwen and to Mid, South and West Wales. A selection of the complex cross-border commuter movements within the Mersey Dee area are illustrated here.
www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk Commuting Patterns in the United Kingdom, 2011 Census 4
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INTEGRATED TRANSIT NETWORK VISION FOR NORTH EAST WALES TRAVEL TO WORK AREA
TO LIVERPOOL BIDSTON/ LIVERPOOL
SITE BUS LINK
BIRKENHEAD
SOUTH H PARKWAY
CORE MATRIX BUS LINKS PARK & RIDE/PARK & SHARE
H
HUB/INTERCHANGE
MANCHESTER & AIRPORT
HOOTON
YN
FL IN T
PR ES TA T
YL
AM
H
SH
BY LS
RHYL TOWN NORTHWEST WALES LLANDUDNO IRELAND HOLYHEAD
OD FR
N
M56 HAWARDEN BRIDGE
OR NC
RE
53
N.B. Other coloured lines represent key frequent rail corridors
N
AIRPORT
M
RU
KEY EMPLOYMENT ZONE
E PO LLE RT SM E
CHESTER ZOO
DEESIDE ENTERPRISE ZONE, AIRBUS & INDUSTRIAL PARK
H
DENBIGH
H
H
IN CH A
W
QUEENSFERRY/ SALTNEY
NO RT H
ST ASAPH
SHOTTON
H
IC H
H H
M
CHESTER
BODELWYDDAN & BUSINESS PARK
AL TR
H
MANCHESTER
H CHESTER BUSINESS PARK
NORTHOP
A55
CK LE Y
H
H
H
BU
M
OL
D
NORTH WREXHAM
A483
The North East Wales Integrated Transport Task Force, established by the Welsh Government in 2013, developed a possible network for a Metro in the North East Wales travel to work area. This is shown here.
LIVERPOOL
HE
We will work with authorities across the border, most notably Cheshire West and Chester Council, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership, Transport for the North and Midlands Connect. Working together, we will deliver a joined up public transport system that meets the needs of people in both Wales and England and provides fast, frequent and reliable services to existing and planned employment opportunities.
The Task Force included representatives from the public, business and third sectors across the Wales – England border. The Task Force work has influenced projects we are currently taking forward and we will build on this work as we develop in collaboration with partners our plans for the North East Wales Metro.
RH
Many of the key employment sites on both sides of the border are not well served by public transport with resulting congestion and delays on the road network as people choose to drive to work and reduced employment opportunities for those who rely on public transport. The potential for future job growth is substantial in the cross‑border area with an estimated 45,000-55,000 increase in jobs over the next 20 years. Improvements to public transport systems and the road network will be needed to cater for the resulting increased demand on our transport networks.
RUTHIN H
CREWE WREXHAM
H
H
CORWEN
LLANGOLLEN
H
WREXHAM INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
For LONDON
SHREWSBURY/ WEST MIDLANDS
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We are already delivering transport improvements across North Wales Whilst our plans are being developed we are already investing in key projects. These will contribute to the achievement of our longer term aims for improvements to rail and road capacity and resilience, active travel facilities and schemes to facilitate the development of and support for bus, rail and air services. Maps 1 and 2 reflect some of the main projects we are currently developing. Further major schemes will need to be to be developed and taken forward to deliver our transport vision and modernise transport services and infrastructure. Highway schemes currently being developed are for: 1. A third crossing over the Menai Straits to provide additional capacity, improve resilience and reduce congestion. Works could start by end 2020. 2. A55 Abergwyngregyn to Tai’r Meibion improvement will upgrade this section to current standards and improve drainage, resilience and safety. Works are planned to start in 2017. 3. A55 Junctions 15 and 16 replacement of the roundabouts with grade separated junctions to improve safety and journey time reliability. Works could start in 2019. 8
4. A55/A494/A548 Deeside Corridor Improvement package of measures including highway scheme to improve connectivity, safety and resilience and reduce congestion on a key strategic link into North Wales. A public consultation on two options is being held March-June 2017 with a preferred route expected to be announced before end of 2017. 5. A494 River Dee Bridge Improvement provision of a new bridge which will allow an upgrade of the existing bridge which is in poor structural condition. 6. A487 Caernarfon to Bontnewydd Bypass will improve connectivity and road safety, reduce congestion and reduce traffic in built up areas. Works could start late 2017. 7. A487 Pont ar Dyfi, Machynlleth construction of a new bridge upstream of the existing historic bridge to improve connectivity and resilience. The existing bridge is unsuitable for current traffic volumes and is prone to closure due to flooding. Works could start in 2017. 8. A483 Junctions 4 and 5 improvements development of options to improve capacity at key junctions with the A483 trunk road to west of Wrexham to facilitate potential employment and housing development.
9. A483/A5 Halton Junction improvement development of a scheme to improve capacity and reduce queuing. 10. A55 to Holyhead Port improvement development of a scheme to improve access onto the A55 for vehicles leaving Holyhead Port, to reduce congestion and delay, especially for freight vehicles and to improve conditions for local road users. 11. A55 Route Study study of existing and projected traffic issues on A55 across North Wales taking account of key strategic economic growth and development opportunities and identification of options to accommodate increased traffic where appropriate. 12. A483 Route Study study of existing and projected traffic issues between A483 Gledrid Roundabout, Chirk and Rossett Interchange, taking account of key strategic economic growth and development opportunities and identification of options to accommodate increased traffic where appropriate.
Crosby
WYLFA NEWYDD
Kirby
Bootle Cemaes
Amlwch
St Helens
M57
LIVERPOOL
Bidston
M62
Warrington
Birkenhead Holyhead 10
ISLE OF ANGLESEY
11
Llangefni
A55
Penmaenmawr
Beaumaris
Menai Bridge
Bangor
Bontnewydd
6
Rhuddlan
3 Conwy
3
Abergele
Llanfairfechan
2
11
Holywell
Ellesmere Port
St Asaph
Flint Connah’s Quay
4
Denbigh
CONWY
4
A5117
5
Chester
Mold
Winsford
A55
Llanrwst
A5
Ruthin
12
DENBIGHSHIRE
Penygroes
Crewe
A494
8
A5
A470 A487
Blaenau Ffestiniog
Maentwrog Penrhyndeudraeth
Porthmadog
Pwllheli
Llangollen
GWYNEDD
Wrexham
WREXHAM Whitchurch
9
Bala Market Drayton A494
SNOWDONIA N AT I O N A L PA R K
Abersoch
A5
Chirk
A470
Harlech
Nantwich
A483
Ruabon
Llanbedrog
Northwich
A550
4
FLINTSHIRE
Betws-y-coed
Criccieth
M56
M53
Neston A55
A470
Llanberis
Runcorn
Heswall
Mostyn
Bethesda
Y Felinheli
Caernarfon
Rhyl Colwyn Bay
1 Motorway Trunk Road Rail network Ferry Port Port Airport
Widnes
Prestatyn
Llandudno
Benllech
M6
A5
Oswestry
Wem
A5
Moving North Wales Forward Map 1: Highway Schemes Under Development © Crown copyright 2016 Cartographics • Welsh Government • ML/95/16.17
January 2017
Barmouth
Dolgellau
A483
A458
A470
7
Tywyn
1 A third crossing over the Menai
POWYS
A487
Welshpool
A489
Machynlleth
A458
12 A470
A483
Montgomery
Aberdovey A487
Newtown
Shrewsbury A55 Junctions 12 and 13 Abergwyngregyn to 2
A5
Tai’r Meibion Improvement 3 A55 Junctions 15 and 16 improvement schemes Telford 4 A55/A494/A548 Deeside Corridor Improvement 5 A494 River Dee Bridge Improvement A49 6 A487 Caernarfon to Bontnewydd 7 A487 Pont ar Dyfi, Machynlleth 8 A483 Junctions 4 and 5 Improvements 9 A483/A5 Halton junction improvement 10 A55 to Holyhead Port Improvement 11 A55 Route Study Church 12 Stretton A483 Route Study
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Rail and integrated transport schemes currently being developed are for: 1. Capacity Improvements, Chester Station development of options to accommodate increased number of rail services through the station.
6. Signalling and Linespeed Improvements on the North Wales Coast Main Line to be delivered by Network Rail and will facilitate faster and more reliable rail journeys.
2. Integrated Transport Hubs and Improved Rail Access, Deeside development of options to improve access by rail, bus and active travel to key employment sites in Deeside.
7. Linespeed Improvements on the WrexhamBidston Line development of options to facilitate faster and more reliable rail journeys.
3. Integrated Transport Hubs, Wrexham development of options to improve rail / bus / active travel interchange at Wrexham General Station and other key locations within the Wrexham catchment area. 4. Electrification of the North Wales Coast Main Line continue to work with partners to make the case for investment by the UK Government in this scheme to improve access to HS2 and the wider UK market. 5. Rail Capacity Improvements between Wrexham and Chester development of options for further capacity improvements to facilitate additional rail services.
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8. Holyhead Port Rail Freight Facilities work with partners to identify opportunities to develop rail freight facilities at Holyhead Port and promote transfer of freight from road to rail. 9. New Wales and Borders Franchise continue preparation of specification for new franchise to operate from 2018. 10. Direct Rail Services to Liverpool via Halton Curve development of services between North Wales and Liverpool via Liverpool Airport using a re-opened Halton Curve.
Crosby
WYLFA NEWYDD
Kirby
Bootle Cemaes
Amlwch
St Helens
M57
LIVERPOOL
Bidston
M6
M62
Warrington
Birkenhead Holyhead
8 ISLE OF ANGLESEY Llangefni
A55
4
Motorway Trunk Road 7 Rail network Ferry Port Port Airport
Prestatyn
Llandudno
Benllech
Widnes
4
Rhyl Colwyn Bay
Menai Bridge
Bangor
A55
Conwy
A55
Llanberis
1 Chester Mold
7
Crewe
A494
Nantwich
3 Wrexham
A5
A470 A487
A483
Blaenau Ffestiniog
Ruabon
GWYNEDD Porthmadog
© Crown copyright 2016 Cartographics • Welsh Government • ML/95/16.17
January 2017
WREXHAM Whitchurch
A5
Chirk Bala Market Drayton
A470
Harlech
A494
SNOWDONIA N AT I O N A L PA R K
Abersoch
Map 2 - Rail and Integrated Transport Schemes under Development
Llangollen
Penrhyndeudraeth
Pwllheli
Moving North Wales Forward
4
5
DENBIGHSHIRE
Betws-y-coed
Llanbedrog
Winsford
A55
Ruthin
Penygroes
Criccieth
Northwich
4
Connah’s Quay
Llanrwst
A5
A5117
Denbigh
CONWY
Caernarfon
A550
2
M56
10 Ellesmere Port
Flint
FLINTSHIRE
Bethesda
Y Felinheli
Holywell
St Asaph A470
6
M53
Neston
Abergele
Llanfairfechan
Runcorn
Heswall
Rhuddlan
Penmaenmawr
Beaumaris
7
6
A5
Oswestry
Wem
1A5 Capacity Improvements Chester Station
Barmouth
Dolgellau
A483
A458
A470
Holyhead to Chester and Crewe / Warrington
Welshpool
Machynlleth
7 Linespeed Improvements on the Wrexham-Bidston Line A470
A483
Montgomery
Aberdovey A487
5 Rail Capacity Improvements between Wrexham and Chester Telford
6 Signalling and Linespeed Improvements on the North Wales A49 Coast Main Line between Chester and Llandudno / Holyhead
A489
Tywyn
3 Integrated Transport Hubs
Shrewsbury A458 4 Electrification of the Rail Line from A5
POWYS
A487
2 Integrated Transport Hubs and Improved Rail Access
Newtown
8 Holyhead Port - Rail Freight Facilities New Wales and Borders Franchise 9 (applies to all the rail lines in North Wales) Church Stretton Rail Services to Liverpool via Halton Chord 10 Direct
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Image Credits Page 3 North Wales Connecting Markets: © Crown copyright (2016) Page 4 Top Left: WG Transport, Bottom Left: © Crown copyright (2016) Visit Wales, Right: AECOM Page 6 North East Wales/Mersey Dee Area: © Crown copyright (2016) Page 7 North East Wales Integrated Transport Task Force: Report to Minister for Economy, Science and Transport June 2013 Page 9 Highway Schemes under Development: © Crown copyright (2016) Page 10 Top and Middle: © Crown copyright (2016) Visit Wales, Bottom: Sustrans Cymru Page 11 Rail and Integrated Transport Schemes under Development: © Crown copyright (2016) Page 12 All: © Crown copyright (2016) Visit Wales Queries? Contact
[email protected] Mae’r ddogfen yma hefyd ar gael yn Gymraeg. This document is also available in Welsh.
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© Crown copyright 2017 WG30596 Digital ISBN 978 1 4734 8859 5 Print ISBN 978 1 4734 8858 8
