HS2: Wales should get £5bn from rail scheme spending, says minister

Alstom's proposed design for a HS2 train

Wales should receive £5bn extra over 20 years as a result of the UK government high-speed rail scheme, the Welsh economy minister has estimated.

HS2 was approved on Tuesday but rail infrastructure is not devolved and the Welsh Government does not automatically receive a share of the spending.

One independent estimate puts HS2's cost as potentially as high as £106bn.

Economy Minister Ken Skates said Wales' extra funding - a "consequential" of the HS2 spend - should be around £5bn.

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First Minister Mark Drakeford wrote to Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday evening saying that as it stands HS2 would have a negative impact on the Welsh economy.

He called on Mr Johnson to "mitigate this" by extending the HS2 services into Wales and he wants extra funding.

Appearing before the assembly's Economy Committee on Wednesday, Mr Skates said: "Yesterday we saw the announcement of HS2.

"I believe we should be entitled to a consequential for that spend.

"I also believe that £500m should be made available to electrify the Crewe to Chester line, a further £500m for the electrification of the north Wales mainline.

"That, in addition to the consequential which would amount to more than £5bn and the promised GDP spend [the prime minister's pledge on infrastructure spending] over the next 20 years would amount to something in the region of £9bn.

"So I'll be expecting the £9bn to come to Wales over the next 20 years."

Ken Skates was questioned by assembly members in the economy committee

Mr Skates said the total additional funding would "guarantee the future viability" of fare reductions for older people, injured service veterans and people with disabilities.

It could also "assist in paying for a far wider, broader, fairer fare regime across Wales", he added.

The UK government said Wales was "set to benefit from a wide range of rail, road, cycle and rail investments that the UK government is spearheading, including HS2".

A spokesperson said: "Record amounts are being invested in railway infrastructure, with Network Rail spending more than £1.5bn between 2019 and 2024 in Wales.

"HS2 will provide much-needed benefits to passengers in north Wales via the Crewe hub, with shorter journey times to cities including London, Manchester and Leeds while the UK government has also delivered a £50m project to upgrade north Wales' rail infrastructure.

"In south Wales rail passengers are already experiencing improvements thanks to our new Intercity trains, providing an additional 15,000 weekday seats."