Welsh Government £20m boost for North Wales Metro scheme

The North Wales Metro is set to benefit from a £20m funding boost, the Welsh Government has announced today.

The funding – part of the government’s draft budget announced earlier this week –  will allow for continued investment in all modes of transport including active travel such as cycle routes, bus services and investment in stations and train services.

Work to date on the metro includes active travel paths constructed in Deeside Industrial Park connecting people to businesses.

These recently constructed paths have proved very popular with around 10,000 cycle trips per month through the park, the Welsh Government says. 

New buses for the Deeside Shuttle services have also been funded and a new park and ride site is being constructed at Deeside Industrial Park.

The £20m announced today will go towards more active travel routes, transforming public transport and providing more park and ride services.

It improved and go towards building new stations increasing access to the rail network for residents and businesses.

Highway improvements to tackle congestion, improve air quality and improve opportunities for walking, cycling and bus routes as well as addressing safety on the roads are also in the plan.

Ken Skates said: “The North Wales Metro is a key part of this government’s programme to provide a more integrated and efficient transport system for the region.

By investing in all modes of transport we are working to reach our climate change and sustainability aims, and delivering economic growth by connecting people to businesses.

“Where work has already began on the Metro, for example the new active travel routes on the Deeside Industrial Park, we have seen the results with people using them not only to go to work but for leisure time with their families too.

By improving bus services and providing park and ride facilities people will have a viable alternative to travelling by car to their place of work.

Currently only a small percentage of people travel to Deeside by train and we want to change this.

Increasing frequency on the Wrexham to Bidston line, an integrated Shotton station and the Deeside Parkway station all serve to address this.

The £20m I’m announcing today is good news for North Wales, allowing us to continue with the drive to have an integrated and efficient transport system for the region.