Using the Heart of Wales Line to ‘level up’ the mid Wales economy
The Heart of Wales Line (HoWL) is much loved but its current sparse service means that it is not able to deliver on its full potential.
The Union Connectivity (UC) Review led by Sir Peter Hendy, (Chair, Network Rail) aims to identify gaps in cross-border connectivity between the UK nations where there is scope to enhance productivity and remedy social deprivation.
The Heart of Wales Line Travellers Association (HOWLTA), as the voice of the passenger, has delivered a submission to the UC review. It identifies ways in which the infrastructure of the route, if enhanced, will deliver a faster and more frequent service.
The submission was prepared by Professor Stuart Cole CBE, Emeritus Professor of Transport (Economics & Policy) University of South Wales with input from members and transport / tourism specialists. Professor Cole is also President of HOWLTA.
The findings of the submission are also being used to inform Senedd members, and Westminster MP’s who are currently working to plan the implementation of the new Transport Strategy for Wales.
Summary of the submission
There is a need to develop the current HOWL services both in terms of track capacity, rolling stock and service provision to enable this piece of infrastructure to help grow the economy and raise productivity. The line links mid-Wales with Birmingham / Crewe / Manchester as well as the South Wales Main Line to Cardiff / Swansea / South West Wales.
Those major conurbations (Birmingham / Manchester) with a total population of almost six million people are a key source of tourism visitors to mid Wales. Crewe is currently important in linking the HOWL to the West Coast Main Line (WCML) and will become a key connection when HS2 is complete. To maximise the use of the HOWL in achieving the connectivity objectives set out above, work needs to be done to improve the current track, level crossings and signaling.
The Mid Wales region (“Growing Mid Wales”) has been working with cross-border partners (Marches LEP, Chester and Warrington LEP and West Midlands Rail Executive), to assess the wider opportunities that the HS2 extension to Crewe could bring to the western rail corridor, including the rural Welsh railway lines.
The route provides an opportunity for day trips, weekend travel and for longer stays. Minimising interchanges and interchange time is important to be attractive to those used to direct travel by car. The increase in the number of direct services from England would provide such an advantage though some journeys could involve one (preferably no more) changes of train. The most popular times (morning and evening) should be designated through journeys.
Read the paper here.
Fig 1: The Heart of Wales Line and connecting primary market routes by rail
This article was originally published here.