Prime minister Keir Starmer and first minister Eluned Morgan announced the investment yesterday to make up for years of underinvestment
The Welsh rail investment does not have a specific number attached, but Transport for Wales (TfW) estimates the total could reach £14bn.
On top of this, it is expected that the projects combined will create 12,000 jobs in Wales.
The investment will support TfW’s vision
Transport for Wales will set the framework for their pipeline of projects, with the UK government financially backing up their investment, and work to deliver the pipeline as quickly as possible.
The Welsh government has already invested £1.1bn into upgrading the Core Valley Lines, and £800m into a new rail fleet.
Seven new stations are set to be built in Wales, including:
- Magor and Undy
- Llanwern
- Cardiff East
- Newport West
- Somerton
- Cardiff Parkway
- Deeside industrial park
Prime minister Keir Starmer said: “For too long, Wales has been let down by a UK government unwilling to do the hard yards and build the future they deserve.
“This government is turning the page on historic dither and delay with seven new stations, thousands of jobs, and a generational commitment to build a rail network fit for Wales’ future.
“This isn’t tinkering nor sticking plasters. This is investment for the long term – and change communities will feel. This is putting Wales on the front foot and getting Britain building again.”
The Welsh construction sector has faced challenges since 2021
Writing for PBC Today earlier this month, the Chartered Institute of Building’s policy and public affairs lead for Wales, David Kirby, discussed what challenges are facing the Welsh building sector, including the skills gap, recruitment issues, and high costs for energy, material, and labour.
As such, he laid out the five priorities as listed in the CIOB’s Welsh manifesto:
Priority 1 – Retrofit and climate
- Develop and implement a retrofit plan for the private housing market, including owner-occupiers
- Develop an environmental remediation and mitigation plan to protect the wider built environment and the people who use it from extreme weather events.
Priority 2 – Financing of retrofit measures
- Create financial incentives for retrofit measures for all housing tenures and types, such as a zero-interest ‘Help to Fix’ loan.
Priority 3 – Procurement
- Improve procurement processes for public work, including tender processes and ensure they contain realistic time and cost aims
- Ensure processes are fair to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Priority 4 – Recruiting people into construction
- Adopt a more holistic view of construction skills, shifting the focus from just getting young people into the sector, to encouraging people of all ages and backgrounds into the sector
- Work with the construction sector to improve training and retention of construction professionals from a range of backgrounds, for example, ex-offenders and asylum-seekers.
Priority 5 – Construction skills survey
- Conduct a skills survey across Wales to identify what skills are needed and where to provide a clear picture and inform future decisions around training provision and funding.
The post PM announces new Welsh rail investment up to £14bn appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.
