The North Wales Metro (; originally the North East Wales Metro; ) is a rail and bus transport improvement programme in north Wales. Styled as a "Metro", it is conceptually a multi-modal system with a combination of bus, heavy rail, and light rail services. It was initially focused on linking major settlements and employment areas of the north-east of Wales with the North West of England, with its hubs located in Wrexham, Chester and Deeside, although the programme has since expanded, with proposals extending to Anglesey in the north-west of Wales. The existing Borderlands (Wrexham to Bidston, Birkenhead) line forms a core rail component (a "spine") of the network, where projects to increase connections, integrated access, and service frequency between Wrexham, Deeside and Liverpool are centred upon. The proposals were put forward in 2016 as is part of Welsh Labour's plan for north Wales. Labour has pledged to open the system by 2035. The proposals were included in the 2018 Wales & Borders franchise contest. It is the second of the three regional metros proposed by the Welsh Government to go ahead, after the South Wales Metro, and before the Swansea Bay and West Wales Metro. The project is described to be in its initial phases.
History
Labour manifesto proposal
On 16 April 2016, ahead of the upcoming Welsh Assembly election on 5 May 2016, Welsh Labour unveiled plans for the North Wales Metro to be completed by 2035, should they be re-elected to the Welsh Government. It was quickly branded as an election gimmick by Plaid Cymru, and the Welsh Conservatives, with the project's westernmost reach stopping at Rhyl at the time, also criticised for excluding the western principal areas of North Wales.
Welsh First Minister, Carwyn Jones, envisioned his plans for a tram system with even "Boris-style bikes" as part of the new transport system for North Wales. The proposals were announced at the Welsh Labour Conference in Llandudno, after Labour party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, criticised the state of the existing rail system in North Wales. Jones denied that the proposal was being used to gain votes in the upcoming election, but admitted that the Welsh Government would be more focussed on improving the existing network.
The conference proposal included:
A Light-rail/Tram 'Metro' system across North Wales
Upgrading railway stations
Improved links with Northern England, including links to Manchester Airport, and Liverpool John Lennon Airport. Re-purposing, previously disused, railway tracks into dedicated cycle routes and improving the safety of cyclists on roads. Improved bus services to and from railways stations, with increased regular bus services on Sundays. A bicycle hire system, like London's "Boris-style bikes".
Welsh Government
2017 plan
On 1 March 2017, "Moving North Wales Forward — Our Vision for North Wales and the North East Wales Metro" was published. Detailing, that alongside plans for infrastructure projects improving North Wales' roads, there are plans for improvements to the rail infrastructure and integrated transport schemes in North Wales.
These include (stated in March 2017):
Improving passenger capacity at Chester
Development of transport hubs in Wrexham and Deeside, with additional improved rail access in the latter Electrification of the North Wales Coast line Improving rail capacity to facilitate more services between Wrexham and Chester Improved signalling and line speed on the North Wales Coast line (by Network Rail) Improved line speed on the Borderlands line Development of rail freight facilities at the Port of Holyhead with an emphasis on the transfer of freight from road to rail. New Wales & Borders franchise operator Direct rail services to Liverpool via the Halton Curve.
On 6 March 2017, Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, announced the Welsh Government's vision on transport improvements across North Wales. At the time of the announcement, he stated that he had already committed £600 million for transport infrastructure improvement across North Wales, with talks over procuring a further £41 million of EU funding for the scheme, ongoing at the time.
Developed proposals include; a new station (provisionally named as ) at Deeside Industrial Park, upgrades to railway stations, and new bus routes to improve connections. Improved connectivity between bus and rail transport at Wrexham General, and between rail services on the North Wales Coast Line and Borderlands Line at Shotton, in addition to further upgrades to existing rail routes are also proposed.