North East Wales Transport Study

[LNW-GW Joint]

The Welsh Government has published studies into the options for transport improvement in north-east Wales (Flint/Deeside/Mold/Wexham/Chester).
http://wales.gov.uk/docs/det/publications/121108newabtsreport.pdf

To be honest, it is mostly about the road system and what to do about the troublesome A55/A494 interchange at Ewloe.
The previous scheme was abandoned in 2009, which is why there is a "ski-jump" dead-end on the A494 where it crosses the River Dee.

However, there is quite a lot of interest for the rail network.
Potential new stations are discussed at Queensferry (North Wales main line) at Deeside (near Dee Marsh Jn on the Wrexham-Bidston line), and at Rossett (Wrexham-Chester line).
Service frequency increases are discussed, including electrification of the Borderlands line, better connections at Shotton, plus extra shuttles Rhyl-Chester-Crewe connecting to/from Wrexham.
There is also a "fast service" proposed between Llandudno and Manchester (calling only at Warrington east of Chester), plus extension to the Airport.
Somewhere a new link between the Borderlands line and the main line is mentioned - south to east; can't see that happening.

These ideas are now going out to consultation locally.
I can't judge if any of them are likely to come to fruition, but at least they are trying.
To give you some idea where the local media are coming from, I passed a newspaper advert today which said Battle Against New Super-Highway Begins.

This is the BBC's take on the studies. You have to keep reading to find the rail element.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-20313103

 

[Holly]

...
Somewhere a new link between the Borderlands line and the main line is mentioned - south to east; can't see that happening. ... [/url]

Certainly the land could be protected from blocking development so as not to rule out this option at some future date.
Presumably it would use the old trackbed to Connah's Quay docks from Wrexham.

 

[northwichcat]

There is also a "fast service" proposed between Llandudno and Manchester (calling only at Warrington east of Chester), plus extension to the Airport.
Somewhere a new link between the Borderlands line and the main line is mentioned - south to east; can't see that happening.

That ties in with Northern Hub proposals for a Chester-Manchester Airport stopper allowing a fast Victoria-North Wales service.

 

[merlodlliw]

Read the report yesterday in the Daily Post.

The Rossett idea came from the Fiesabilty study to redouble the line about five years ago, it would be an interchange,plenty of space at Rossett, other ideas dropped were new stations at Chester Business Park & Johnstown.

We will never have a better time to put it all together now,with so many Ministers both MP & AM representing North East Wales & the line Wrexham to Saltney Junc to redouble with work commencing next year,plenty of paths then for extra shuttles to Rhyl & Crewe.

Its all positive with so many Politicians realising the travel mode of rail is with the North West of England & Midlands, in my opinion it is time for North East Wales to gain.

Bob

 

[cle]

Chester needs a fast Manchester service. It'll also be another option of connecting from North Wales and Chester for Glasgow services (London ones skip Crewe, and via Warrington must be a little quicker!)

I guess this would be the TPE one. Although I only ever heard that as going to Chester, not Llandudno. Maybe they would swap, so the local train would terminate at Chester. No direct through journeys from Runcorn East, Frodsham etc west of Chester but I can't imagine it's a big problem.

 

[Penmorfa]

The Welsh Government has published studies into the options for transport improvement in north-east Wales (Flint/Deeside/Mold/Wexham/Chester).
http://wales.gov.uk/docs/det/publications/121108newabtsreport.pdf

However, there is quite a lot of interest for the rail network.
Potential new stations are discussed at Queensferry (North Wales main line) at Deeside (near Dee Marsh Jn on the Wrexham-Bidston line), and at Rossett (Wrexham-Chester line).
Service frequency increases are discussed, including electrification of the Borderlands line, better connections at Shotton, plus extra shuttles Rhyl-Chester-Crewe connecting to/from Wrexham.

Should there be a new station at Queensferry and a Rhyl - Chester local service let's hope stations are also opened at Saltney, Rockcliffe Hall, Bagillt and Holywell Junction.

 

[Gareth Marston]

The original A494 Super Highway proposal met with a very strong and well organized local opposition backed by the Campaign for Better Transport - it was used as a successful case study in how to oppose and get rid of unwelcome road construction proposals. I think the then Minister baulked at the £ element as well when it was ditched. Trying to resurrect it comes as no surprise and of course its wrapped up as something else, however the something else does contain some sensible rail options which are easily achievable but subsumed by the scale and cost of the road element. The question is how do the sensible rail options progress?

As I've pointed out before over half the WG Capital Infrastructure budget is tied up for the next decade in completing the A465 Head of the Valleys Road dualling. The road (and the rail options) will end up gathering dust on the shelf unless their is a funding stream.

 

[merlodlliw]

As I've pointed out before over half the WG Capital Infrastructure budget is tied up for the next decade in completing the A465 Head of the Valleys Road dualling. The road (and the rail options) will end up gathering dust on the shelf unless their is a funding stream.

[/QUOTE]

You are of course correct, its dependant on funding streams & co operation
of the adjoining Counties, the only positive guarantee of anything is the dualing of the line from Rossett to Saltney junction.
As an aside, I met the wife off the 1702 Birmingham to Holyhead at Wrexham
yesterday, I counted over 80 waiting to board, as it was a two coach 158 it was a good job well over 50 got off.

 

[northwichcat]

I guess this would be the TPE one. Although I only ever heard that as going to Chester, not Llandudno. Maybe they would swap, so the local train would terminate at Chester. No direct through journeys from Runcorn East, Frodsham etc west of Chester but I can't imagine it's a big problem.

Someone on the Network Rail planning committee said that the idea for a TPE service to Chester was scrapped following the announcement of North TPE electrification and it's now expected that one of the Calder Vale services will continue to Llandudno, with the additional stopper between Chester and Manchester forming the Airport service.

I imagine it's that way round because there'll be a better case for stations in Cheshire to have a direct Airport service over stations in North Wales and that peak time Llandudno services will be all stops between Warrington and Chester to keep the current peak time frequency.