The Welsh Government announced that £119 million (EUR 134.3 million) of EU funding has been secured to progress work on the South Wales Metro.
The investment will go towards improving infrastructure to accommodate the doubling of the number of trains to the heads of the valleys stations from two per hour to four. It will also be used to modernise stations to further improve rail users’ journeys.
“The confirmation of £119 million EU funding means we can proceed with investment in infrastructure work on the valleys lines to make faster and more efficient journeys a reality for the thousands of rail users who use these routes daily,” the First Minister, Carwyn Jones said.
Under this EU funding, £21.1 million will be used for track doubling between Merthyr Tydfil and Pentrebach (on Merthyr line), £27.4 million for Treherbert line to allow sufficient infrastructure works along the full length of the line, including track doubling from north of Ynyswen to the south of Treorchy and north of Llwynypia to south of Dinas.
£23.7 million will be allotted for Aberdare line for track doubling between Aberdare and Cwmbach, Fernhill and Penrhiwceiber, and north of Abercynon, £19.5 million for the Rhymney line to undertake track doubling south of Rhymney, north of Tir Phil and around Bargoed and £27.3 million will also be allocated to the Taff’s Well Depot scheme for land purchase, road build and rail access.
Work on South Wales Metro Phase 2 is expected to be completed by 2023.
The Welsh Government is also applying for a further £40 million (EUR 45 million) plus in EU funding to support Metro infrastructure enhancements, which it hopes will be secured by the end of 2018.
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