Network North Wales (), previously and encompassing the North Wales Metro (; originally the North East Wales Metro; ), is a multi-modal transport improvement programme in North Wales, to develop an interconnected multi-modal network of public transport, with a combination of bus, heavy rail, and "Metro" services.
First proposed as the "North East Wales Metro", it was initially focused on linking major settlements and employment areas of the north-east of Wales with north-west England, with its hubs located in Wrexham, Chester and Deeside. Although the programme has since expanded, with proposals extending to Anglesey in the north-west of Wales, and renamed "North Wales Metro". The existing Borderlands (Wrexham–Bidston) line forms a core rail component (a "spine") of the Metro network, where projects to increase connections, integrated access, and service frequency between Wrexham, Deeside and Liverpool are centred upon. The proposals were put forward in 2016 as is part of Welsh Labour's plan for north Wales. Labour had pledged to open the system by 2035. The proposals were included in the 2018 Wales & Borders franchise contest. It one of three regional strategies proposed by the Welsh Government, alongside the South Wales Metro, and Swansea Bay and West Wales Metro.
In May 2025, a larger programme called "Network North Wales" was launched, with the "Metro" being included as part of it. It rebranded the Borderlands line as the "Wrexham to Liverpool line", and began applying the network and "Metro" branding.
History
Labour manifesto proposal On 16 April 2016, ahead of the upcoming Welsh Assembly election on 5 May 2016, Welsh Labour unveiled plans for the North Wales Metro to be completed by 2035, should they be re-elected to the Welsh Government. It was quickly branded as an election gimmick by Plaid Cymru, and the Welsh Conservatives, with the project's westernmost reach stopping at Rhyl at the time, also criticised for excluding the western principal areas of North Wales.
Welsh First Minister, Carwyn Jones, envisioned his plans for a tram system with even "Boris-style bikes" as part of the new transport system for North Wales. The proposals were announced at the Welsh Labour Conference in Llandudno, after Labour party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, criticised the state of the existing rail system in North Wales. Jones denied that the proposal was being used to gain votes in the upcoming election, but admitted that the Welsh Government would be more focussed on improving the existing network.
The conference proposal included:
A Light-rail/Tram 'Metro' system across North Wales Upgrading railway stations Improved links with Northern England, including links to Manchester Airport, and Liverpool John Lennon Airport. Re-purposing, previously disused, railway tracks into dedicated cycle routes and improving the safety of cyclists on roads. Improved bus services to and from railways stations, with increased regular bus services on Sundays. A bicycle hire system, like London's "Boris-style bikes".
North East Wales Metro
2017 plan On 1 March 2017, "Moving North Wales Forward — Our Vision for North Wales and the North East Wales Metro" was published by the Welsh Government. Detailing, that alongside plans for infrastructure projects improving North Wales' roads, there are plans for improvements to the rail infrastructure and integrated transport schemes in North Wales.
These include (stated in March 2017):
Improving passenger capacity at Chester Development of transport hubs in Wrexham and Deeside, with additional improved rail access in the latter Electrification of the North Wales Coast line Improving rail capacity to facilitate more services between Wrexham and Chester Improved signalling and line speed on the North Wales Coast line (by Network Rail) Improved line speed on the Borderlands line Development of rail freight facilities at the Port of Holyhead with an emphasis on the transfer of freight from road to rail. New Wales & Borders franchise operator Direct rail services to Liverpool via the Halton Curve.
On 6 March 2017, Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, announced the Welsh Government's vision on transport improvements across North Wales. At the time of the announcement, he stated that he had already committed £600 million for transport infrastructure improvement across North Wales, with talks over procuring a further £41 million of EU funding for the scheme, ongoing at the time.
Developed proposals include; a new station (provisionally named as ) at Deeside Industrial Park, upgrades to railway stations, and new bus routes to improve connections. Improved connectivity between bus and rail transport at Wrexham General, and between rail services on the North Wales Coast Line and Borderlands Line at Shotton, in addition to further upgrades to existing rail routes are also proposed.
As part of the new Wales & Borders franchise, first awarded to KeolisAmey Wales in 2018, although succeeded by Welsh Government-owned Transport for Wales Rail from 2021, it has been announced that the modernisation of the Borderlands Line between Wrexham and Bidston will be the first phase of the North Wales Metro. Electro-diesel Class 230 Metro trains made by Vivarail, were planned to be deployed in 2019, but were delayed to 2022, due to slippage, staff training issues and COVID-19, with services to increase to 2 trains per hour in each direction initially expected from 2021, one as a stopping service and the other as an express with limited stops.
In April 2018, a cash boost of £1.2 million was award to the proposed scheme which included a new station at Deeside.
On 19 December 2019, it was announced as part of a draft budget from the Welsh Government, that the plans for the development of the North Wales Metro received a £20 million boost. The funding would be used to improve all modes of transport, such as cycle routes, bus services, station investments, and train services, with the scheme focussed on delivering these improvements to North East Wales.
On 22 May 2020, a grant of £3.5 million was announced to boost the development of the metro by the Welsh Government, as part of the £30 million allocated to nearly 40 local transport improvements across Wales. The £3.5 million will be used on 10 schemes in four council areas.
On 17 June 2020, an investment of £450,000 was made from the funding for the North Wales Metro, to provide new electric buses serving on routes to Buckley and Treuddyn, with additional electric charging infrastructure for the maintenance of the electric buses.
Work began in June 2020, for the construction of a new Park and Ride in Deeside Industrial Park. The scheme is aimed to ease congestion in the industrial park, with a regular shuttle bus service travelling between the Park and Ride to the three zones of the industrial park to encourage the use of public transport.
On 22 October 2020, £4 million had been allocated from the Welsh Government to Transport for Wales, for the work on the North Wales Metro. The work included improved rail services and stations, and Active Travel access developed in collaboration with local authorities, with a review of the bus network across the region to be completed with options for improvement. Other funding was also given to local transport projects operated by local authorities.
North Wales Metro
2021-29 plan In February 2021, Transport for Wales Rail was transferred to a subsidiary of Transport for Wales taking over from KeolisAmey Wales. The Welsh Government-owned public rail operator would operate the Metro alongside the Wales and Borders franchise.
2021 Metro Development Plan In March 2021, Transport for Wales published their 2021 Metro Development Plan on the three regional metros of Wales. It described the metro to be in its initial phases and current work is focused on setting the foundations of the project. The plan states that the metro aims to reduce rural isolation, help reduce carbon emissions, encourage transport-oriented development and regeneration, and open up new opportunities in employment, business, and leisure across the region and north-west England. Described by the plan to help the development of the region's economy and increase sustainability in the tourism sector of the region. Alongside the introduction of new trains to the Borderlands line from late 2021 (since delayed to 2022), the plan stated that TfW would be further improving the Wales and Borders network through the introduction of new trains, improving transport integration and connection at Shotton and Wrexham General, and general public transport improvements in and around the Deeside Enterprise Zone (containing Deeside Industrial Park).
The plan highlighted TfW's "emerging priority projects" focused on four sectors of transport; Rail, Bus and Integration, Local, and Other. These projects were described by TfW to be ones they are "keen to take forward and research in more detail through business cases and scheme proposals, in partnership with the region and local authorities". In the rail sector these proposals include;
The introduction of regional and express services on the North Wales Coast Line Potential new railway or railway-interchange (marked with an *) stations at: Deeside Industrial Park Bangor* Shotton* Greenfield Broughton Wrexham South (later described as a "Longer term project" i.e. post-2029), previously proposed separately and later cancelled in 2019, before being re-instated in the post-2029 plan Wrexham North (later described as a "Longer term project" i.e. post-2029), previously proposed separately and later cancelled in 2019, before being re-instated in the post-2029 plan Improvements in capacity, operation and enhanced links to England's rail network (HS2/NPR/Crewe) at Chester. Rail improvements in the Wrexham area, in terms of capacity and reliability. Upgrading the Borderlands line, leading to a potential integration of the line with Merseyrail services.
In the bus and integration sector, the plan stated that TfW proposes to improve integration at Holyhead to increase inter-connectivity between the town, the port, rail and bus services, and to improve the design of the bus route network and rail integration at key hubs across North Wales. Local projects in the plan include; participating in the Snowdonia Park Sustainable Access project, local bus and active travel project in places such as Flint, Prestatyn and Llandudno, and exploring new park and ride opportunities in the region. Under "other" the plan stated that TfW is looking into rail innovations which can lead to a potential re-opening or new lines to places such as Amlwch on the former Anglesey Central Railway in the north of Anglesey.
On 19 March 2021, £25 million was allocated for the Wrexham Gateway project, a sister project of the Metro, focusing on developing the area around Wrexham General station, and forming a local transport hub.
On 24 March 2021, it was announced that a further £9 million from the Welsh Government would be put into the metro project. Of the £9 million, £1 million would be allocated for improvements in the rail journey times between Wrexham and Liverpool, £1.5 million towards improvements and increased interconnectivity at the station in Shotton, £670,000 towards the development of the new Deeside Parkway station, and £900,000 into a study on improving journey times and services along the North Wales Coast mainline. Additional funding was also allocated for sustainable transport and active travel improvements in the centres of Rhyl and Wrexham, and for an improved transport connectivity project in Bangor.
Previous 2029 plan