Plans to “transform” Wales’ railways and support 12,000 jobs have been backed by government.

Prime minister Keir Starmer is set to formally endorse the Transport for Wales vision for the future of Welsh rail today (18 February) saying the commitment to rail infrastructure improvements are “investment for the long term” and would put “Wales on the front foot”.

This investment will see the further transformation of Wales’ rail network, building on the Welsh government’s £1.1bn in upgrading and electrifying the Core Valley Lines and £800m investment in a new rail fleet.

Together, both governments will provide better and more frequent services for passengers across the country, with the UK government committing significant funding to deliver the next generation of Welsh rail projects. 

Using the almost half a billion pounds promised this Spending Review, seven new stations are set to be built across Wales – providing a boost for the construction industry. These are: Magor and Undy; Llanwern; Cardiff East;  Newport West; Somerton; Cardiff Parkway and Deeside industrial park.

Transport for Wales (TfW) currently estimates the total cost of all the schemes under consideration to be up to £14bn. It says the pipeline is a “generational transformational commitment”, with exact, additional UK government funding allocations to be confirmed at future Spending Reviews.

Prime minister, Keir Starmer, said: “For too long, Wales has been let down by a UK government unwilling to do the hard yards and build the future they deserve. This government is turning the page on historic dither and delay with seven new stations, thousands of jobs, and a generational commitment to build a rail network fit for Wales’ future.

“This isn’t tinkering nor sticking plasters. This is investment for the long term - and change communities will feel. This is putting Wales on the front foot and getting Britain building again.”

New stations mean workers will find it easier to commute into Cardiff and Newport. These are: Magor and Undy; Llanwern; Cardiff East; Newport West; and Somerton. Work will start on these later this year, with Magor and Undy expected to be the first of these stations to be completed.

A new station will be built at Cardiff Parkway to help service an estimated 800,000 passengers every year. This will unlock around 6,000 jobs in the industrial district, which will get revamped thanks to additional UK government investment and an agreed approach to funding and delivering the station between UK government, Welsh government and private investors.

Another station is set to be built in North Wales – to service the Deeside industrial park. This is part of the plans to boost the Wrexham-Liverpool line to better connect the UK as a whole.

First minister, Eluned Morgan, said: “We are now in an unprecedented position to deliver the next chapter of transformation for rail services in Wales. We have secured long-term commitments to key projects and a renewed ambition for our rail network.

“Changes of this scale don’t happen overnight but they do happen when there is vision, determination, and cooperation. We’ve already proved that with the Core Valley Lines, and we are beginning to see the same momentum with Network North Wales. When you have the ambition, the commitment and the will, real progress follows - and we have all three.

“Today marks another important milestone for rail as Transport for Wales publishes an exciting and essential pipeline for future investment. This includes projects the length and breadth of our nation. We warmly welcome the UK government’s support for these plans and for their commitment to putting right the injustice of Welsh rail underfunding left by the previous government.

“In the near term, I’m pleased to see backing for the essential work at Padeswood and Buckley. This will transform journeys between Wrexham and Liverpool, unlock economic opportunities across north Wales, and allow plans for the new Deeside station to accelerate. I also welcome the UK Government’s support for Cardiff Parkway, and we remain committed to working closely with all partners to complete the full business case and development plans.”

The Wales Rail Board has developed its long-term vision for rail enhancement investment in Wales. TfW have published this vision as part of its document titled Today, Tomorrow, Together: A Vision for Wales across Wales and Borders.

The Wales Rail Board is an intergovernmental board that will oversee the delivery of this pipeline of projects, with membership including Welsh and UK governments, TfW and Network Rail.

The UK government endorses the TfW vision and agrees that it will form the basis of the Wales Rail Board’s pipeline of projects. UK government also commits to working in partnership with the Welsh government to deliver this pipeline as quickly as possible.

The programme will directly create more than 1,000 permanent new jobs. It will create over 6,000 new jobs during construction and it will support thousands of new jobs in industries across Wales dependent on an improved transport network.

• The long-term benefits of delivery of the 43 schemes with established development work (as identified in the vision) include:
• £6.3bn in wider economic benefits
• Up to 13.3 million new rail journeys each year
• 3.8 million fewer car journeys – a reduction of 115 million vehicle kilometres each year
• 55,000 tonnes of CO₂ avoided each year

The 2025 Spending Review allocated at least £445m to rail enhancements in Wales - £302m for infrastructure upgrades during this SR period, £95m for further development and £48m for the Welsh government for enhancements on the Core Valley Lines during this SR period. 

Vernon Everitt, chair of Transport for Wales, said: “Transport is an enabler of sustainable economic growth, higher productivity, access to homes, jobs and education as well as greater opportunity for all. Supporting the Welsh government’s vision for transport and working with the UK government, Today, Tomorrow, Together sets out an ambitious agenda to make further progress in these areas through investment in rail services as part of an integrated transport plan.

“In recent years we have delivered major improvements in transport for the people, businesses and communities we serve. This includes new trains and services, the wholesale transformation of the Core Valley lines and now significant enhancements to rail services as part of Network North Wales. We are also working hard to invest the funding allocated to Wales under the last spending review to bring further improvements to communities as quickly as possible.

“We now need to go further. Today we set out a potential pipeline of future projects which will bring further benefits across the whole of Wales, and I am thrilled that today the UK and Welsh governments have backed this vision wholeheartedly.”