Merseytravel bosses pledge a further £600k to investigate electrification of rail line on Wrexham-Wirral-Liverpool route

Mar 6 2008 by Richard Down, Liverpool Daily Post

MERSEYTRAVEL bosses pledged to fully fund a further £75,000 investigation into the electrification of the Bidston to Wrexham rail line, a Welsh Assembly Minister revealed yesterday .

The second stage study would consider the infrastructure needed to upgrade the route to a fast borderlands rail link, halving journey times between the North Wales town, Wirral and Liverpool.

An initial feasibility study by Network Rail, which was jointly funded with the Welsh Assembly Government, is expected to report in the next few days.

Merseytravel chief executive Neil Scales yesterday met Welsh Assembly transport minister Ieuan Wyn Jones for talks over the progress on the project.

Wrexham AM Lesley Griffiths, who was at the meeting, said it was the first opportunity for the minister to meet Mr Scales and hear directly how committed Merseytravel are to this scheme going ahead.

She said last night: “The much-anticipated feasibility study by Network Rail is due to be handed over to the Welsh Assembly Government and Merseytravel in the next few days – and I along with everyone interested in this scheme look forward to its publication.

“This line has great potential for the region as a whole. The be- nefits would aid economic devel- opment and could provide a rail link from NE Wales to Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport.”

Electrifying the line could halve the journey times.

It currently takes a diesel train an hour to travel from North Wales to the Birkenhead station, at which point passengers have to change to a Merseyrail electric service heading into Liverpool. The operator has included the step in their 2011 transport plan.

If the project goes ahead, it would be funded jointly by the Welsh Assembly Government, the Department for Transport and Regional and Local Transport Authorities, including Merseytravel.

A Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson said: “The Assem- bly Government is waiting for a feasibility study of the project by Network Rail before it can under- take detailed consideration.”

richarddown