New transport minister forces urgent Westminster talks to overhaul unfair rail funding for Wales

Plaid Cymru’s new transport minister has requested talks with the UK government over rail funding for Wales, which he described as unfair.

Rail funding for Wales and the HS2 classification

Mark Hooper said successive UK governments had failed to address HS2’s treatment as an England and Wales project. He described it as a “long-standing symbol of unfair rail funding”.

Hooper said the £445m announced for new stations and other projects last year “falls far short”. He also called for a more ambitious level of funding.

A Labour source said the UK government planned to address historic underinvestment in the Welsh rail network.

Plaid Cymru pledged during the May election campaign to seek greater funding and additional powers from Westminster. The Welsh government maintains a small number of railway lines in the south Wales valleys. However, the UK government remains responsible for most rail infrastructure in Wales.

Previous Welsh governments have repeatedly argued that the country’s rail network has suffered from historic rail underinvestment. Those complaints intensified as spending on HS2 increased.

The project could now cost up to £102.7bn and may not open until 2039⁠. England-only schemes normally generate consequential funding for the Welsh budget.

However, Wales has not received such funding from HS2. That is because it was classified as an England and Wales project, unlike in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The UK government has argued that it is addressing underinvestment in Welsh rail. A year ago, it announced £445m for new stations and other projects⁠.

£14bn rail plan and proposed rail devolution

Before the election, Sir Keir Starmer committed to a £14bn programme of work⁠ over 15 years. However, most funding for the proposed 43 stations has not been identified.

Only £445m has been formally committed. Funding has been confirmed for seven stations.

In a letter to Alexander, Hooper wrote:

“For Wales, HS2 is also a long-standing symbol of unfair rail funding that successive UK governments have failed to address.”

Hooper welcomed the endorsement of the £14bn Transport for Wales rail plan. Still, the deputy transport minister said the funding announced last year “falls far short of addressing the historic under-investment”.

He added:

“I am keen that our officials work together on a far more ambitious pipeline of investment ahead of the next spending review,”

The next spending review is expected in 2027.

Hooper said the Welsh government “wants to negotiate fairer rail funding for Wales”, along with a pathway to full devolution. Plaid Cymru wants the Welsh government to have full control over Wales’ railways.

A Labour source said:

“After avoiding the topic during the Senedd election, it is a positive step forward that Plaid have finally thrown their support behind the up to £14bn plan for rail agreed by the UK Labour government and the previous Welsh Labour government.”

“Worth far more than what Welsh government would have received had HS2, or any other rail project been devolved, this investment will bring new stations and better services to people across Wales and right the wrongs of historic underinvestment by successive Tory governments in Westminster.”

Plaid Cymru’s new transport minister has requested talks with the UK government over rail funding for Wales, which he described as unfair.

Rail funding for Wales and the HS2 classification

Mark Hooper said successive UK governments had failed to address HS2’s treatment as an England and Wales project. He described it as a “long-standing symbol of unfair rail funding”.

Hooper said the £445m announced for new stations and other projects last year “falls far short”. He also called for a more ambitious level of funding.

A Labour source said the UK government planned to address historic underinvestment in the Welsh rail network.

Plaid Cymru pledged during the May election campaign to seek greater funding and additional powers from Westminster. The Welsh government maintains a small number of railway lines in the south Wales valleys. However, the UK government remains responsible for most rail infrastructure in Wales.

Previous Welsh governments have repeatedly argued that the country’s rail network has suffered from historic rail underinvestment. Those complaints intensified as spending on HS2 increased.

The project could now cost up to £102.7bn and may not open until 2039⁠. England-only schemes normally generate consequential funding for the Welsh budget.

However, Wales has not received such funding from HS2. That is because it was classified as an England and Wales project, unlike in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The UK government has argued that it is addressing underinvestment in Welsh rail. A year ago, it announced £445m for new stations and other projects⁠.

£14bn rail plan and proposed rail devolution

Before the election, Sir Keir Starmer committed to a £14bn programme of work⁠ over 15 years. However, most funding for the proposed 43 stations has not been identified.

Only £445m has been formally committed. Funding has been confirmed for seven stations.

In a letter to Alexander, Hooper wrote:

“For Wales, HS2 is also a long-standing symbol of unfair rail funding that successive UK governments have failed to address.”

Hooper welcomed the endorsement of the £14bn Transport for Wales rail plan. Still, the deputy transport minister said the funding announced last year “falls far short of addressing the historic under-investment”.

He added:

“I am keen that our officials work together on a far more ambitious pipeline of investment ahead of the next spending review,”

The next spending review is expected in 2027.

Hooper said the Welsh government “wants to negotiate fairer rail funding for Wales”, along with a pathway to full devolution. Plaid Cymru wants the Welsh government to have full control over Wales’ railways.

A Labour source said:

“After avoiding the topic during the Senedd election, it is a positive step forward that Plaid have finally thrown their support behind the up to £14bn plan for rail agreed by the UK Labour government and the previous Welsh Labour government.”

“Worth far more than what Welsh government would have received had HS2, or any other rail project been devolved, this investment will bring new stations and better services to people across Wales and right the wrongs of historic underinvestment by successive Tory governments in Westminster.”