A National Rail Network

There is no comprehensive rail network connecting the different parts of Wales. North-south journeys must be made through England and the internal rail lines are not ‘joined up’.

A major reason is that while responsibility for railways is fully devolved to Scotland and Northern Ireland this is not the case for Wales. Since 2018 Wales has had responsibility for the main rail franchise for operating the rail services in Wales but not the railway tracks and other infrastructure. This means that decisions on railway infrastructure in Wales are made by Network Rail on an England-and-Wales basis and invariably Wales loses out as more populous areas in England take priority.

We would seek full devolution, with adequate funding, for all rail services in Wales.

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