September 28, 2026 - 171 views
The Welsh Government is calling for faster delivery of a £14 billion investment programme for Welsh rail, saying only around one per cent of Network Rail spending across England and Wales is currently going towards the Welsh network.
Finance Minister Elin Jones has written to the Chancellor ahead of the UK Government's Autumn Budget on October 28, calling for £1 billion of the existing rail commitment to be brought forward during the current spending period.
The £14 billion figure relates to a long-term pipeline of rail improvements identified by Transport for Wales and supported by the UK Government earlier this year. The programme includes projects across Wales and the borders, with further funding allocations expected through future spending reviews.
At present, £302 million of the £14 billion commitment is allocated for infrastructure upgrades during the current spending review period, running to 2029-30. The Welsh Government says this represents around one per cent of Network Rail spending during the period.
The Welsh Government wants an additional £1 billion brought forward before 2029-30 to speed up work on rail improvements.
The long-term programme includes plans to improve capacity and connectivity on rail routes across Wales, including the North Wales network. The UK Government has previously said the overall programme could support more than 12,000 jobs and improve connections to employment and other opportunities.
The Welsh Government is also asking the Chancellor for measures to help households with the cost of living, including changes to Local Housing Allowance and protection for Wales's Cynnal child payment from tax and benefit deductions.
It is also calling for real-terms increases in Wales's day-to-day and capital budgets, alongside UK Government backing for major projects including the proposed decarbonisation of Pembrokeshire Power Station.
Elin Jones said the Autumn Budget was an opportunity for the UK Government to demonstrate its commitment to communities in Wales.
She said the £14 billion rail commitment needed to be “turned into action”, starting with the forthcoming Budget.
The UK Government has said its £14 billion commitment represents a generational investment in Welsh rail based on Transport for Wales's long-term vision, although the final cost of individual schemes and the timing of future funding allocations will be determined through the rail investment process and future spending reviews.
The Welsh Government's latest call comes ahead of the Autumn Budget on October 28.
