Investment into Welsh railway expected to yield £6.3m in economic benefits

The UK government has confirmed its endorsement of Transport for Wales’ vision for the future of Welsh rail, which will oversee the support of 12,000 jobs across Wales.

Delivering 43 schemes, the estimated cost is expected to be up to £14 billion. It will build on the £1.1 billion that has been spent upgrading and electrifying the Core Valley Lines, as well as the £800 million investment on a new rail fleet.

Over 1,000 permanent new jobs will be created, with over 6,000 new jobs during construction. Thousands of other jobs will be supported by providing industries with an improved transport network.

Seven new stations will be built across Wales: Magor and Undy, Llanwern, Cardiff East, Newport West, Somerton, Cardiff Parkway and Deesid industrial park.

The long-term benefits of the delivery of the schemes are expected to include £6.3 billion in wider economic benefits, up to 13.3 million new rail journeys each year, 3.8 million fewer car journeys and 55,000 tonnes of CO2 avoided.

Logistics UK’s Senior Policy Manager Josh Fenton said: “Transport for Wales’ plans for new stations and investment in the rail network are a welcome step toward creating a more modern and resilient system.

“Although the announcement is primarily focused on passenger services, it highlights the scale of improvement needed across the network if the UK is to unlock rail freight growth.

“With the right long‑term investment and commitment, rail can play a much bigger role in supporting Welsh businesses, reducing congestion and cutting carbon. We look forward to working with partners across Wales to ensure future upgrades deliver benefits for freight as well as passengers.”