AN investment is considered 'essential' to make rail competitive for a new, greener economy post Covid-19.

The Growth Track 360 (GT360), which is the brand name for the North Wales and Mersey Rail Task Force, was formed in 2016 to campaign for the electrification of the North Wales Coastline from Holyhead Port to Chester, and then onwards from Chester to Crewe (for connectivity to London and the Midlands) and to Warrington for connectivity to Manchester and its international airport which serves North Wales and Cheshire.

However, GT360 is re-launching its campaign for investment in rail infrastructure in the Mersey Dee and North Wales cross-border region to seek a boost to the economy and the decarbonisation of transport.

Cllr Louise Gittins, leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council and chair of Growth Track 360, said: "GT360 is relaunching its campaign for rail investment in the North Wales and Mersey Dee areas.

"Rail infrastructure is an essential part of fiscal stimulus to promote economic recovery from Covid-19, the proposed 'levelling up’ and 'strengthen the union' agendas of the UK Government and tackling the climate emergency.

"We must build a low-carbon transport system that offers an effective choice to the private motor car for the communities of North Wales, Cheshire and the Wirral."

The Welsh Government proposed North Wales Metro based on rail hubs served by integrated bus services and active travel corridors for employment centres offers a huge opportunity to move commuting for work from the car to rail and local public transport.

According to Cllr Gittens, the UK Government must match the Welsh Government’s ambition by supporting the investment priorities of GT360 which are endorsed by Transport for the North.

She added: "I have met MPs from the region and the UK rail minister, Chris Heaton Harris MP, to promote our new campaign.

"The rail minister agrees that our agenda matches the Government’s desire to invest in the North to 'level up'.

"He asked that GT360 work closely with MPs in the Mersey Dee and North Wales All Party Parliamentary Group, which we will."

The new campaign will build upon their recent achievements and will focus on improved access to Manchester and Manchester International Airport, improved access to Liverpool via the Halton Curve and the Wrexham/Bidston route, a HS2 Hub Station at Crewe with five to seven trains per hour to improve London connectivity, a North Wales and Chester accessible interchange at Warrington for HS2 Northbound and Northern Powerhouse Rail East-West Services, a long-term electrification, Holyhead to Crewe, to enable HS2 trains to run from Crewe to Holyhead and a new, low-carbon rolling stock.

Growth Track 360’s campaign to electrify the North Wales Coast railway line from Holyhead to Chester in 2016/2017 secured improved rail services from North Wales to Manchester, Liverpool and Cardiff via the Welsh Government’s Wales and Borderlands Franchise.

They also have commitments from the UK Government for investment in the North Wales Coast Line and Chester Station to enable more frequent services from North Wales to pass through to other locations.

GT360 will continue to work closely with the area’s members of Parliament, members of the Welsh Senedd, council leaders and the Welsh Government minister for North Wales to achieve their aims.