Plans to transform South West rail network revealed

Train journey times could be nearly halved under new plans to transform rail services in the South West and Wales.

The new vision for the future of the area’s train network was revealed by leaders from across South Wales and Western England in a major event on Thursday.

Under the plans, journeys to other cities could be nearly halved, capacity could be increased to allow up to four trains per hour between Bristol and Cardiff, and major crossings could be upgraded across the region.

The plans estimate that improvements would cost between £1 to 2bn in the short term, to deliver already committed and planned developments up to 2035.

Plans for development up to 2050 have been estimated to cost £7 to 8bn. The Northern Powerhouse Rail programme is currently estimated to cost £17.2bn, while the HS2 is likely to cost £72.3bn in total.

The new vision plans to reduce journey times between Cardiff and Bristol cities from 50 to 30 minutes – photo: Western Gateway

Secretary of state for Wales, Rt hon David TC Davies, said: “Connectivity within South Wales and South West England is vital to growing our regional economy. I am pleased to have recently announced significant funding to help develop a number of key priorities including tackling congestion on the South Wales corridor”

The ambitious vision has been spearheaded by the Western Gateway Partnership and Transport for Wales, and aims to transform the region’s mobility potential.

Currently the South West and Wales lags behind other parts of the UK, with slow train times in between major cities and rural communities. Cardiff was identified by the Department of Transport as having the “least well directly connected major city” in the UK.

The plans will allow leaders in the region to work together to ensure the South West is not left behind.

The 2050 vision involves increasing capacity to allow up to four trains per hour between Bristol and Cardiff, reducing journey times between the cities from 50 to 30 minutes.

It also estimates that journey times between Swansea and Bristol could be dramatically reduced from one and a half hours once an hour to 60 minutes with three trains an hour, through funding Transport for Wales proposed improvements to the South Wales Main Line and upgrading the Severn crossing.

Councillor Jane Mudd, leader of Newport Council and vice chair of the Western Gateway Partnership said: “This vision is key to making sure our area gets the rail system our communities deserve.

“An effective and fast rail network will be essential if we want to make sure we can decarbonise our transport system and reach our climate change goals.

Journey times between Swansea and Bristol could be reduced to 60 minutes – photo: Western Gateway

Western Gateway board member and Bristol mayor Marvin Rees, said the vision was “essential” to decarbonising and growing the local economy.

“Better public transport between major cities like Bristol and Cardiff, along with wider investment in intercity transport, is essential to decarbonise and grow our economy,” he said.

“With over 80,000 car journeys taking place over the M4 Prince Of Wales Bridge every day, and predictions that this will increase, we desperately need long term solutions.

“I am proud of the cross-party leadership we have been able to provide through our partnership of local leaders and businesses.

“Developments like the £95 million we secured for Bristol’s Temple Meads and Temple Quarter show how investment in our area’s transport can drive wider regeneration providing a gateway to Wales and South West England.

“I look forward to making the case for central government to back this vision to unlock the full potential of our Western Gateway area.”

Rees has recently come under fire for defending plans to build an underground railway in Bristol, despite a leaked report claiming it could cost as much as £18bn.

In February, WECA metro mayor Dan Norris told Points West that Bristol would never get an underground railway, however, Rees has vowed to steer ahead, despite facing questions about whether he should continue to push the hugely expensive project.

The Western Gateway vision comes in the wake of the recent announcement that Temple Meads station would be transformed into a station innovation zone.

Under the plans, the historic station would be used as a hotbed for start-ups to test improvements in everything from disability access and connectivity to personalised journey apps and crime reduction intelligence.

Main photo: Martin Booth

Read next:

• Passenger trials for Temple Meads station innovation zone to begin in April
• Tunnelling for Bristol underground ‘relatively easy’
• How would you improve transport in Bristol?

Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast: