Green Light for Wrexham-Liverpool Rail Line Upgrade Marks Key Step in North Wales Connectivity Push
Green Light for Wrexham-Liverpool Rail Line Upgrade Marks Key Step in North Wales Connectivity Push
Subscribe to the Businessin Wales daily newsletter for FREE here.
Work is set to begin on a major upgrade to the Wrexham to Liverpool rail line, with Padeswood identified as the first site to benefit from infrastructure improvements that will pave the way for more frequent passenger and freight services between North Wales and Merseyside.
The project, backed by the UK Government’s recent £445 million commitment to Welsh rail improvements, is expected to deliver two trains per hour on the route within the next three years—part of the broader Network North Wales vision to create an integrated, high-frequency public transport system across the region.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales Ken Skates and Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens visited Padeswood today to see first-hand how the scheme will take shape. The site, which also serves the Heidelberg Materials cement works, is seen as a critical junction for both passenger connectivity and freight logistics.
“Delivering the upgrade at Padeswood will bring real economic benefits, helping the cement works and improving connectivity between Wrexham and Liverpool,” said Skates. “It was fantastic to hear the UK Government’s commitment to this project, which campaigners have pushed for over many decades.”
The improvements will not only enable increased passenger services but will also enhance freight capacity, helping large industrial operators like Heidelberg Materials improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
The Padeswood upgrade forms part of the UK Government’s wider commitment to redressing historical underinvestment in Welsh rail. Last month’s Comprehensive Spending Review earmarked at least £445 million for new stations, faster services, and modernised infrastructure across both North and South Wales.
“We promised we would deal with the historical under-investment in Wales’ rail network and announcing at least £445 million in the Spending Review delivered on that pledge,” said Jo Stevens, Secretary of State for Wales. “Working alongside Welsh Government, it will mean upgrades in places like Padeswood and more and faster trains across key lines.”
This investment aligns with broader economic development goals, aiming to improve access to jobs and reduce congestion on roads by shifting more travel and freight to rail.
Matt Barlow, Strategy Director at Heidelberg Materials UK, said the upgrades will allow the company to enhance its internal logistics network, enabling the delivery of more building materials by train.
“This will allow us to supply more high-quality building materials to major construction projects by rail, reducing vehicle movements on the wider road network and cutting associated CO2 emissions,” Barlow noted.
Design work on the scheme will now begin, with construction expected to follow once final plans are approved. The total cost of the project will be confirmed after the design phase is complete.
In addition to the Padeswood works, more immediate improvements are also underway, including a 50% increase in train frequency on the North Wales mainline, more frequent services between Chester and Wrexham, and the rollout of contactless Pay-as-You-Go systems across the region.
Ken Skates emphasised the bigger picture behind the project: “Network North Wales is about delivering an integrated, high-frequency public transport network, connecting people to jobs, opportunity, community and a better quality of life.”
With cross-government backing and growing support from industry partners, the Wrexham to Liverpool rail transformation is being positioned as a model for collaborative infrastructure planning and sustainable regional growth.
