Electrification of Wirral-Wales rail link moves closer

Apr 14 2008 By Lorna Hughes

A STUDY into £60m plans for the electrification of the Wrexham to Bidston rail line is set to be completed within weeks.

Merseytravel says it is continuing to drive forward plans for the Borderlands scheme, which would see the electrification of some or all of the route.

A key "GRIP 3" (Guide to Rail Investment Projects) study, jointly by Merseytravel and the Welsh Assembly, is looking into the project.

All aspects of the proposals, including costs, benefits and funding, will be scrutinised in more detail.

A further study looking into the design of the scheme will follow later this year.

The project, a key part of Merseytravel’s rail improvement programme, would mean hundreds of thousands more passenger journeys on the cross-border rail line every year, improved connections between Wrexham and Liverpool and access to Deeside Industrial Park.

It could also serve areas including Beechwood, Woodchurch and inner Birkenhead.

The move is currently being scrutinised in conjunction with the TAITH consortium (a joint board of the six local authorities in North Wales), the Welsh Assembly and the Mersey Dee Alliance.

Neil Scales, Chief Executive and Director General of Merseytravel, said: "This is a key route, which has fantastic potential. Our plans mean we could see new stations at Deeside and Woodchurch.

"The Borderlands scheme would open up direct commuter links between Liverpool and areas of North Wales including Wrexham, Deeside and Flintshire, providing a huge boost to the regional economy."

The line currently suffers from a number of problems, including track speed restrictions, extremely tight turnaround times and a need to change at Bidston for cross border journeys.

Members of Merseytravel’s Passenger Transport Authority and Executive recently met Welsh Assembly Transport and Environment Ministers to discuss the plans and to garner more support for the scheme.