Stephen Morgan MP, Shadow Minister for Rail, met with local political and industry leaders in Bristol to learn more about Western Gateway’s 2050 Rail Vision for South Wales and Western England.
The Shadow Minister toured Bristol Temple Meads Train Station as the UK’s first station Innovation Zone and met with a range of organisations to hear how the station fitted in with wider plans for the area’s rail network.
This visit follows on from a parliamentary launch which saw Stephen Morgan MP, alongside and Shadow Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh MP, attend to hear more about the plans.
The station is a key component of Bristol Temple Quarter, one of the UK’s largest regeneration projects and shows how rail investment can help unlock essential new homes and jobs for local communities.
The Western Gateway Rail Vision 2050 is supported by local authority leaders and businesses from across the area.
It aims to help channel public and private investment into the area and highlights the level of innovation across the area that can help the whole of the UK develop the next generation of trains in a cost-effective way.
Following the visit, Shadow Rail Minister Stephen Morgan MP, said:
“Western Gateway’s Rail Vision 2050 should lead to an ambitious programme to deliver transformational improvements to the region’s transport network, enabling innovation and connecting communities.
“Studying in Bristol I saw the economic potential not only for the city and its region but also the country.
“It was a pleasure to be back in Bristol to meet the team, see and hear about the political will and partnership working to unlock opportunities for the region and the plans to deliver a rail service fit for the future.”
Cllr Jane Mudd, Vice Chair of the Western Gateway and Leader of Newport City Council, said:
“We are delighted to be able to welcome the shadow minister to our area and have a chance to show him some of the exciting work going on to develop the next generation of train services. This vision is key to making sure our area gets the rail system our communities deserve.
An effective and fast rail network will be essential if we want to make sure we can decarbonise our transport system and reach our climate change goals.
“Through the Western Gateway vision we want to support schemes like this across our area and fill in the gaps to make sure we can deliver on our area’s potential to create sustainable economic growth for the UK.”
Councillor Tom Renhard, Cabinet Member for Housing Delivery and Homes at Bristol City Council, said:
“Last year, after years of work with partners, we secured £95 million to unlock 10,000 new homes and 22,000 new jobs in Temple Quarter alongside Network Rail’s refurbishment programme and major upgrades to Brunel’s station.
“Western Gateway’s vision can help further transform the area around Temple Meads into a world class gateway to the city-region, developing a £1.6 billion boost for our local economy.”
