Will the Minister provide an update on the north Wales metro and when it is expected that this system will be operational across the region?
We have put in place the foundations for transformative rail, bus and active travel provision in North Wales. This includes a £800m investment in new rolling stock which will operate across Wales, including throughout the North Wales Metro area, and over £50m has been allocated to the North Wales Metro programme in the last 3 financial years. Alongside reducing rural isolation and opening-up job, business and leisure opportunities across North Wales, these plans will also play a vital part in developing the region’s wider economy.
In North-West Wales, an enhanced multimodal public transport interchange at Holyhead station is in development, and work to improve sustainable connectivity Snowdonia National Park, including a Sherpa Trail bus network and new parking sensors at sites within the National Park. In the North-East, plans for development at Wrexham Gateway and Bangor Gateway are being progressed, and new stations being developed for Broughton and Greenfields.
The North Wales Metro will be delivered in stages, with some improvements in connectivity, capacity, service frequency and/or journey times expected to be realised within this Senedd term. However, delivery of our rail ambitions for the North Wales Metro will be critically dependent on securing funding from the UK Government. Until we have clarity of what money might be available it will not be possible to provide a date for completion of the full programme.