Huge £11bn plan could see 30 new UK train stations with journey times slashed

The Western Gateway Partnership's Rail Deal, which would beryllium partially funded by cardinal government, would besides spot fractional a twelve stations upgraded crossed the southbound westbound of England and southbound Wales

Ambitious plans to physique 30 caller bid stations could alteration the railways - halving travel times for much than 5 cardinal Brits. The £11 cardinal project, which would beryllium partially funded by cardinal government, aims to amended connections betwixt a slew of major cities and the surrounding agrarian areas portion unlocking a staggering '£17 cardinal successful economical benefits'.

If fixed the greenish light, the Western Gateway* Partnership's Rail Deal volition besides spot an further 23 services per hr launched arsenic good arsenic fractional a twelve stations upgraded crossed the southbound westbound of England and southbound Wales. It would spot journeys from Bristol to London reduced to conscionable 1 hour, portion Bristol to Cardiff volition beryllium hammered down to 30 minutes.

In Western Gateway's Strategic Rail Vision document, published yesterday, plans to electrify up to 460km of lines were besides announced - redeeming 29kT CO2e annually arsenic portion of the obstruction network's net-zero targets. The improved infrastructure volition besides 'enable much radical and freight to usage the network, helping to thrust mode shift'.

"The Western Gateway country is poised to beryllium the fastest-growing portion extracurricular of London, yet it has not had the captious concern successful nationalist transport infrastructure that different areas of the state person seen, peculiarly successful rail," said Sarah Williams-Gardener, Chair of the Western Gateway Partnership. "This Rail Deal is deliverable and proportionate to the bonzer connection that our system presents to the UK.

"We recognise that we request to person wide strategical priorities to marque definite we are acceptable to present the alteration we request astatine pace. This woody shows we are superior and is simply a objection of corporate volition from crossed our section leaders, MPs, our transport bodies and the manufacture that is acceptable to present our area's ambitions."

Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, Dan Aldridge, MP for Weston-super-Mare - whose section presumption would acquisition large improvements - welcomed the bold plans. "Infrastructure is truthful important. I've utilized Weston and Worle stations for astir of my life, and it has needed urgent upgrades for 14 years," helium said. "Our obstruction networks link communities, boost our economy, and bring radical together. As we physique much homes truthful families tin unrecorded amended lives, we indispensable guarantee the infrastructure is there, too."

Dan Okey, Head of Regional and Welsh Development astatine Great Western Railway, championed obstruction connectivity's relation successful 'supporting our communities and the plans for sustainable economical growth'. "At GWR we judge successful looking to the aboriginal of our services, our trains and our web to marque the railway much inclusive, much accessible and a much charismatic proposition for customers," helium added. "That is the eventual ambition presented successful this Rail Deal and we look guardant to moving with our partners astatine Western Gateway, Network Rail and crossed the manufacture to marque it a reality."

*The Western Gateway is comprised of 2 governments and 28 section authorities.

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