Here’s how a huge £1 billion project will make train journeys faster between England and Wales

One might think that getting from Manchester to Wales, a distance of less than fifty miles, would be easy. One might assume, even, that doing the journey by train would be quicker than the hour-or-so it takes by car. One would be wrong on both counts. 

A train journey from Manchester to Wrexham, which sits just beyond the Welsh border, can take up to two hours – the same journey by car is just over an hour. All of this to say, English railway links to Wales are, quite frankly, rubbish. 

This problem has been recognised by Welshmen and trainspotters alike, and is hopefully going to be sorted in the coming year. A massive £1 billion worth of investment into the North Wales Main Line could slice journey times to Manchester in half, as well as make the stretch between Holyhead and Crewe faster and more reliable. 

The upgrades were described by local MP James Davis as ‘an unprecedented investment in this part of the world.’ He also said it’s currently too early to give start dates at the moment, but that he’s excited to get ‘​​people off the roads and onto trains.’

The money is coming from the old HS2 budget, after the Manchester-Birmingham leg of the plans were scrapped last year. Hopefully these plans will actually manage to come to fruition, rather than evaporate in a party-conference induced puff of smoke.

Trains in the news

We at Time Out like to keep up to date on the latest in the world of UK railway news. For instance, did you see that Eurostar is currently having a sale? Maybe you missed that this vital service in England is being axed, or that Edinburgh’s getting a brand new £2 billion tram service. We also keep up to date with latest information about ongoing strikes with our national industrial action hub.