TRANSPORT for Wales (TfW) has published a long-term rail strategy setting out investment projects which would deliver 13.3 million new rail journeys. This would result in 3.8 million fewer car journeys, a reduction in CO2 emissions of 55,000 tonnes, and direct and wider economic benefits worth £6.3bn to the Welsh economy. In a written statement to the Welsh parliament on February 23, first minister, Eluned Morgan, said that the plan is backed by both the Welsh and British governments. “This is a £14bn package of bold, generational schemes that will transform travel, connect communities and power our economy,” she said. In addition to longer-term projects potentially costing up to £10bn, the plan sets out a £4.4bn pipeline of well-developed projects that could be fully delivered across Wales in the next 15-20 years “with sufficient, regular and long-term funding.” The projects have been identified by the Wales Rail Board, comprising TfW, the Welsh government, the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Welsh Office at the British government, and infrastructure manager Network Rail. The plan lists 43 project that are ready to move forward, “making them ideal candidates for investment.” Several would help to deliver the Network North Wales programme to increase service frequencies and improve connections with Merseyside, Cheshire and other parts of northern England. At the heart of Network North Wales, according to TfW, is the North Wales Metro which would provide direct services from Wrexham to Liverpool city centre. Upgrades to track and signalling to enable two services an hour to be operated with BEMUs have an estimated cost of over £150m. TfW currently operates a DMU service between Wrexham and Bidston, where passengers change to electric Merseyrail services to reach Liverpool. A two-phase programme to electrify the North Wales Main Line from Crewe to Llandudno Junction and Holyhead is costed at over £150m. This would include investment by TfW in electric or bi-mode rolling stock. Infrastructure work to enable an additional hourly stopping service between Chester and Llandudno Junction is estimated to cost between £50m and £150m. On the South Wales Main Line, five new stations are planned between Cardiff Central and Severn Tunnel Junction, estimated to cost over £150m. Electrification between Cardiff and Swansea is also estimated to cost over £150m. Future phases of the South Wales Metro programme include improvements at Cardiff West Junction to enable the Cardiff City Line service to be increased from two to four trains an hour, estimated to cost under £50m. Track and signalling upgrades a new passing loop would enable four trains an hour to operate on the Coryton Line, while part-electrification of the line between Cardiff and Cogan would enable tram-train services to operate to Penarth. Both projects are costed at under £50m.