Electrification of the north Wales coast railway line is being urged by Welsh Transport Minister Edwina Hart, who has submitted an outline business case for the project.

She is calling on Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin to upgrade the route from Holyhead and Llandudno to Warrington and Crewe by 2024.

“Our business case makes clear how electrification and modernisation of the railways in north Wales will deliver significant economic and employment benefits across the region,” Edwina Hart said.

“The north Wales, Cheshire and Wirral areas have an economy with an output of £35Bn per annum which is unique in scale as a cross border economy in the UK,” she said. “The significant potential for further economic growth is being held back by the inadequate rail infrastructure in the region.”

Network Rail predicts an 80% increase in demand for rail services between north Wales and the North West of England by 2043. Edwina Hart says this demonstrates the strength of the economic links between these regions and their future interdependence.

Her business case points out that investment in rail infrastructure will support key employment and strategic developments that could bring forward new commercial space and deliver 70,000 new jobs by 2040.

It was developed by the Welsh Government alongside the North Wales Economic Ambition Board, the Mersey-Dee Alliance and the Cheshire & Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership.

“Our business case makes clear how electrification and modernisation of the railways in north Wales will deliver significant economic and employment benefits across the region,” the Minister added.

“Network Rail’s Welsh Route Study has already listed this as a priority project for Control Period 6, from 2019 to 2024, and I urge the Secretary of State to ensure it is delivered then.”

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “We’re determined that all areas of the UK will benefit from the record amounts we are investing in transport and it is right that north Wales should be a part of that.

“Planned improvements to signalling and infrastructure on the region’s routes will make journeys better for passengers across north Wales, while our plans to devolve the Wales and Borders franchise will also help ensure local needs are met.

“The Welsh Government has now submitted an outline business case for electrifying the north Wales line and we will respond in due course.”

(Photo: Network Rail)