I just want to draw attention to the statements in two of the paragraphs…
*The previous Conservative Government at Westminster announced its support for rail electrification in Wales, especially as part of its “levelling up” agenda. However,* ***no actual figures or cost assessments appear to have been commissioned or retained—suggesting, Mr Chadwick observed, “these promises were never seriously pursued”.***
and
*North Wales Main Line electrification was also announced by the Tories, with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson announcing in 2021 that the line from Crewe to Holyhead would be upgraded.* ***But no funding was ever allocated****, no timeline confirmed, and no business case advanced.*
It is a good thing that HS2 will serve Wales so much and even HS3 to Leeds will benefit Wales, otherwise we might have been left out…… /s
How is this a surprise? There are no ongoing plans for electrification, so the government aren’t going to waste time figuring out how much it would cost if they’re not going to be doing it any time soon.
Not do they care.
Well they dont. I mean every rail project in this country goes way over budget anyway so i doubt anyone knows the cost.
It’s what they call a known unknown.
Isn’t transport a devolved issue? Why is the UK government involved?
Not surprising, Labour are only announcing these new rail policies because there’s an election coming up and they are losing votes everywhere.
Hang on.. this has been going on since 2009.
The promise of electrification.
> *In 2009, the UK Government announced its intention to electrify the Great Western
mainline between London and Swansea within eight years.*
> *July 2012, Mr Hammond’s successor, Rt Hon Justine Greening MP, reversed this decision (to cancel electrification),
and announced that the Department for Transport and the Welsh Government had
agreed on a proposal to complete electrification of the line to Swansea.*
This has still never happened, apparently now there has never been allocated budget for it? In addition, the reduced funding to Wales to pay for HS2 (England only line) would mean..
> *BBC
Newsnight in 2013 suggested that both Cardiff and Swansea would suffer a reduction in
economic output as a result of HS2.*
So Westminster promisee something multiple times for Wales, never got past the drawing board for funding, then actively remove the funding it would normally get.
While people dislike, and actively dismiss the Senedd, and Labour on this sub, they really are fighting *for* Wales here.
8 comments
I just want to draw attention to the statements in two of the paragraphs…
*The previous Conservative Government at Westminster announced its support for rail electrification in Wales, especially as part of its “levelling up” agenda. However,* ***no actual figures or cost assessments appear to have been commissioned or retained—suggesting, Mr Chadwick observed, “these promises were never seriously pursued”.***
and
*North Wales Main Line electrification was also announced by the Tories, with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson announcing in 2021 that the line from Crewe to Holyhead would be upgraded.* ***But no funding was ever allocated****, no timeline confirmed, and no business case advanced.*
It is a good thing that HS2 will serve Wales so much and even HS3 to Leeds will benefit Wales, otherwise we might have been left out…… /s
How is this a surprise? There are no ongoing plans for electrification, so the government aren’t going to waste time figuring out how much it would cost if they’re not going to be doing it any time soon.
Not do they care.
Well they dont. I mean every rail project in this country goes way over budget anyway so i doubt anyone knows the cost.
It’s what they call a known unknown.
Isn’t transport a devolved issue? Why is the UK government involved?
Not surprising, Labour are only announcing these new rail policies because there’s an election coming up and they are losing votes everywhere.
Hang on.. this has been going on since 2009.
The promise of electrification.
> *In 2009, the UK Government announced its intention to electrify the Great Western
mainline between London and Swansea within eight years.*
> *July 2012, Mr Hammond’s successor, Rt Hon Justine Greening MP, reversed this decision (to cancel electrification),
and announced that the Department for Transport and the Welsh Government had
agreed on a proposal to complete electrification of the line to Swansea.*
This has still never happened, apparently now there has never been allocated budget for it? In addition, the reduced funding to Wales to pay for HS2 (England only line) would mean..
> *BBC
Newsnight in 2013 suggested that both Cardiff and Swansea would suffer a reduction in
economic output as a result of HS2.*
So Westminster promisee something multiple times for Wales, never got past the drawing board for funding, then actively remove the funding it would normally get.
While people dislike, and actively dismiss the Senedd, and Labour on this sub, they really are fighting *for* Wales here.
Specifically looking at Table 1.
Source: [https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmwelaf/403/403.pdf](https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmwelaf/403/403.pdf)
Comments are closed.