Latest news with #NetworkNorthWales
Business News Wales
3 days ago
- Business
- Business News Wales
New North Wales Transport Plan to Target Employment Access Issues
Plans to overhaul public transport in North Wales will better connect people with employment via a 21st century, metro-type service. Ken Skates MS, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, will be outlining details of the Network North Wales proposals at a breakfast meeting of Wrexham Business Professionals at the city's Maesgwyn Hall on Friday, June 27. According to Mr Skates, who is also the Senedd member for Clwyd South, far too many people are being 'cut out of the jobs market' because they can't access reliable transport to the workplace. He said the Welsh Government's vision for an integrated, high-frequency transport system will drive economic growth in the region and provide key bus services to centres of employment. The problem was flagged at a Wrexham Business Professionals meeting last July. Rachel Clacher, co-founder of Moneypenny, the UK's leading provider of telephone and web-based communications for businesses, told the meeting that she had come across numerous examples of public transport failing to meet the needs of employers and employees. She highlighted the plight of a young Gwersyllt woman who spent four hours travelling the eight miles to and from her work at Wrexham Industrial Estate each day because bus services were infrequent and were badly linked. Mr Skates said: 'Network North Wales is going to address that very concern. There are still a huge number of job offers that are being rejected by young people, by people of all ages in fact, because they can't get public transport to and from their workplace. 'There are far too many businesses that still tell me that bus services are few and far between. So, there are going to be a number of major interventions that form part of Network North Wales. We are going to be introducing new legislation to regulate the bus network, so we will be redesigning the bus network to help people in and out of work. We are going to be utilising the status of Flintshire and Wrexham as an Investment Zone to roll out a really ambitious new bus network which will better link communities with centres of employment like Wrexham Industrial Estate and Deeside Industrial Park. 'We've worked very closely with Transport for Wales, Flintshire Council and Wrexham Council to develop this bespoke bus network for the Investment Zone which will better connect people with centres of employment.' Mr Skates said he wanted to get to a point where public transport, or the lack of it, didn't prevent anybody from securing, and keeping, a job. He said: 'Public transport isn't just about moving people from A to B, it's about generating growth, it's about dealing with economic inactivity and economic inequality. Public transport, in my view, is the third public service and so it must meet the requirements of all people. So, through Network North Wales we will be better connecting people with employment – that's the primary purpose of creating a 21st century metro-type, transport service across this region. 'We're going to see pretty immediate movement on it as well. We're going to see a 50 per cent increase in rail services across North Wales from next May, we're going to see a doubling of rail services between Wrexham and Chester from next May. Work will be commencing on the Wrexham to Liverpool line to eventually make that a direct service into Liverpool with metro-type services providing four trains an hour – that's the ambition in the next 10 years. 'There's going to be a huge amount of movement over the coming months. People will see re-wrapped trains between Wrexham and Bidston, reflecting the communities those services serve. There will be an increased frequency on rail routes. We're going to be upgrading the stations, and of course, as I've said, we going to be rolling out that employment bus network which is going to be vital. 'From September we are going to be rolling out a young people's bus deal which means that 16 to 21-year-olds won't have to pay more than £1 for a bus journey in Wales.' Mr Skates commended the work of the Wrexham Business Professionals organisation, a group made up of successful businesses and skilled professionals working together to promote regional prosperity and shine a light on the enterprise and expertise that exists in the region. He said: 'There is something really magical happening in Wrexham at the moment, but the Wrexham Business Professionals have been solid supporters of the community for many years.' Ian Edwards, a leading member of the group, welcomed the news and said a redesign of the city's public transport set-up was badly needed to help employers and employees. He said: 'We've all heard the stories of people not being able to get to Wrexham Industrial Estate and things needs to change. For the public transport system to work and to serve the industrial estate properly, it can't just be one bus an hour – that won't work for anybody. The bus services need to be frequent, reliable and comfortable.' Louise Harper, from Wrexham Business Professionals, said: 'The meeting on June 27 will give a useful insight into the benefits the Network North Wales programme will deliver for businesses and their workers. We would encourage business leaders to come along to find out more about this exciting transport project.' Other guest speakers at the meeting at Wrexham's Maesgwyn Hall, starting at 8.30am on Friday, June 27, include Laura Hall, managing director of Holt-based Maverick Diagnostics, and Amanda Davies from Wrexham Council, who is leading Wrexham's bid to be named UK City of Culture 2029.
Leader Live
4 days ago
- Business
- Leader Live
MS update on bespoke bus network for Wrexham and Flintshire
Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales An ambitious vision to deliver an integrated transport network for North Wales – with frequent metro services at its heart – was unveiled by the Welsh Government in Wrexham recently. Network North Wales is a bold, passenger-focused programme of work to better connect communities – with more rail and bus services and greater integration. I outlined our plans at Wales' first ever Public Transport Summit, which was held at Wrexham University. They aim to maximise opportunity and unlock the economic potential of North Wales. Far too many people – particularly young people – are being cut out of the jobs market because they can't access reliable transport. Utilising the recent designation of Flintshire and Wrexham as an Investment Zone by the UK Government, we've worked very closely with Transport for Wales, Flintshire Council and Wrexham Council to develop a bespoke bus network which will link local people with centres of employment like Wrexham Industrial Estate and Deeside Industrial Park. The Welsh Government's vision will drive economic growth in the region. We are already introducing new legislation to regulate the bus network, which will be redesigned to help people into work. Network North Wales will also see metro-style train services on the North Wales mainline, the Marches line (Chester-Wrexham) and a new, direct rail link between Wrexham and Liverpool. Immediate changes are being delivered, with a raft of further improvements planned over the next 12 months, three years and through to 2035. Longer-term objectives include reopening closed stations, creating new stations and exploring the role of new transport modes such as tram trains. If you're a constituent of Clwyd South and need help or advice, email or call 01978 869058. I also have a surgery in Rhosllanerchrugog on July 18, so please get in touch with my office for details and to book an appointment.
Leader Live
5 days ago
- Business
- Leader Live
Lesley Griffiths MS says Wrexham is 'on the rise' in update
MS for Wrexham Wrexham hosted Wales' first Public Transport Summit at the end of last month. It was a pleasure to be part of the two-day event that was held at Wrexham University and brought together both Wales and England's influential transport and business leaders. A highlight of the summit was the launch of Network North Wales, a hugely ambitious and transformative programme of work that aims to better connect communities, with more rail and bus services, new stations, new transport routes, new trains, new buses and new technology. At its heart will be a world class, cross-border Metro service linking Wrexham and Liverpool. Collaboration is key and the programme outlines a series of short-term, medium-term and long-term targets. There was a further boost last week with the UK Government announcing an extra £445m for new rail projects across Wales as part of its spending review. Wrexham is on the rise and delivering a modern, integrated transport network in the years ahead will be a game-changer for our city and region. Details of the vision for the programme and the delivery plan for Network North Wales can be found online. In October 2024, Kellanova, or Kellogg's as its more commonly known, announced a £75m investment to transform the Wrexham plant into Europe's largest cereal factory. This investment was Kellanova's largest single investment in British cereal production in more than 30 years and will create 130 jobs. Andrew Ranger MP and I recently had the pleasure of visiting the site on the Wrexham Industrial Estate to see firsthand how the investment is directly leading to new jobs, including new apprenticeships. So far, Kellanova has received over 1,000 job applications for operational, maintenance, and functional support roles. It has also increased the number of engineering apprentices within the company this year as part of its longer-term organisation planning on the back of the investment. During our visit, we observed the cereal production line and had the opportunity to meet a number of the new engineering apprentices. Kellogg's has been a cornerstone of the local economy for decades and it is wonderful to see a major employer investing in Wrexham's future. I look forward to seeing further investment and growth at the site for generations to come. As always, if you're a constituent in Wrexham and there is an issue I could help you with, please contact me via email: or call 01978 355743.
North Wales Chronicle
12-06-2025
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Plans for improved rail services in North Wales
It will allow the Welsh Labour Government to put forward detailed plans for improvements to the Wrexham-Liverpool line and upgrades to the North Wales mainline. The announcement provides the funding for the first major component of Network North Wales to be delivered, and for development work to relieve capacity constraints at Chester station. Last month, Welsh Government Transport Secretary Ken Skates put forward plans for increased train services between Wrexham and Bidston to two trains per hour within the next three years, ahead of the introduction of four trains per hour that will run direct between Wrexham and Liverpool by 2035, after rail line works at Padeswood are completed. This funding will advance these plans. In addition to numerous improvements in North Wales, the funding will propel forward plans for five new stations in South East Wales. The infrastructure funding will be released over the next ten years. Wrexham MP Andrew Ranger and MS Lesley Griffiths said: 'Today's news is a win for Wales and a win for Wrexham. Improvements on the line between Wrexham and Liverpool will benefit the local economy and connect communities across both sides of the border. 'Wales was starved of rail funding under the previous Conservative governments and we welcome this long-overdue investment. This is a clear example of two Labour Governments working together for the benefit of the people of Wales.'
Rhyl Journal
12-06-2025
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
Plans for improved rail services in North Wales
It will allow the Welsh Labour Government to put forward detailed plans for improvements to the Wrexham-Liverpool line and upgrades to the North Wales mainline. The announcement provides the funding for the first major component of Network North Wales to be delivered, and for development work to relieve capacity constraints at Chester station. Last month, Welsh Government Transport Secretary Ken Skates put forward plans for increased train services between Wrexham and Bidston to two trains per hour within the next three years, ahead of the introduction of four trains per hour that will run direct between Wrexham and Liverpool by 2035, after rail line works at Padeswood are completed. This funding will advance these plans. In addition to numerous improvements in North Wales, the funding will propel forward plans for five new stations in South East Wales. The infrastructure funding will be released over the next ten years. Wrexham MP Andrew Ranger and MS Lesley Griffiths said: 'Today's news is a win for Wales and a win for Wrexham. Improvements on the line between Wrexham and Liverpool will benefit the local economy and connect communities across both sides of the border. 'Wales was starved of rail funding under the previous Conservative governments and we welcome this long-overdue investment. This is a clear example of two Labour Governments working together for the benefit of the people of Wales.'
