Oxford-Cambridge rail line classed as England and Wales undertaking

Getty Images A woman is on her phone while she waits on a train platform. There is a yellow and blue train on the tracks in front of her — The brand new line is about to price £6.6bn however no tracks will likely be laid in Wales

There’s anger {that a} multi-billion pound undertaking to construct a railway line between Oxford and Cambridge has been classed as an England and Wales undertaking.

The £6.6bn line will see no tracks laid in Wales, however due to the best way it has been labeled, it means the nation won’t profit from any additional money.

David Chadwick, Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, advised Radio Wales Breakfast it was “HS2 yet again”.

The UK authorities mentioned it was paid for by its “rail community enhancements pipeline, which funds tasks in each England and Wales”.

Chadwick mentioned Wales was “being denied lots of of tens of millions in funding that would rework our personal rail community”.

He added that Labour anticipated individuals in Wales “to imagine the ridiculous concept that this undertaking will profit them and they’re justified in not giving Wales the cash it wants to enhance our personal public transport techniques”.

Not like Northern Eire and Scotland, most of Wales’ railway is funded by the UK authorities, and never ministers in Cardiff.

Below the system used to fund the devolved nations, known as the Barnett Components, Scotland and Northern Eire get extra cash when more money is spent on rail in England and Wales.

It follows the long-standing row over HS2 – deemed to be an England and Wales undertaking – so Wales will get no additional money, which might have been the case if it was classed as England solely.

Nevertheless, not one of the observe deliberate for HS2 will attain Wales.

Differing figures have been given for the way a lot politicians assume Wales is owed from HS2, from £4bn advised by Plaid Cymru and the Welsh authorities previously to £350m in the latest figures from Welsh ministers.

David Chadwick mentioned the undertaking was like “HS2 yet again”

David Chadwick David Chadwick with Westminster in the background across the river. — David Chadwick mentioned the undertaking was like “HS2 yet again”

The UK authorities mentioned its rail community enhancements pipeline additionally paid for the redevelopment of Cardiff Central Station, improved stage crossings in north Wales and assist for the upgraded south Wales reduction traces.

Wales’ Transport Secretary Ken Skates mentioned the UK and Welsh governments had agreed “an bold pipeline of enhancements that can make up for underinvestment by earlier governments” and have been “looking for a justifiable share of funding”.