A second exodus of people moving from Bristol across the Severn Estuary is in the offing after the UK and Welsh governments announced a new study that could see five new train stations created on the main line that runs between Bristol and Cardiff.
The two governments are investing £2.7 million into the study, which will look at options for new stations and new services on the South Wales Main Line, with the aim to reduce the amount of congestion on the M4 between the bridge and the Welsh capital.
Since the tolls on both Severn bridges were scrapped in December 2018, and with property and rent prices soaring in Bristol, there’s been a migration of people moving out of Bristol to towns like Chepstow, Caldicot, Monmouth, Newport, Cwmbran and Magor but still commuting back to Bristol just 15 or 20 miles away.
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In a review of transport connectivity across the UK, Lord Peter Hendy recommended the need to relieve congestion on the M4, with the stretch from the M5 junction at Almondsbury, near Bristol, all the way to Cardiff very often seeing long queues, and long journey times. In that ‘Union Connectivity Review’ back in 2021, Lord Hendy highlighted how important travel across the border between Wales and England is, with ‘a large number of people travelling daily for work, services and leisure’.
Transport minister Richard Holden said the options in the new study will look at the development of five brand new stations between Cardiff and the Severn Tunnel.
“Delivering better transport links is a vital part of how we transform opportunities for people from across the United Kingdom,” he said. “That’s why I am so delighted that, working with the Welsh Government, we are getting the ball rolling on in-depth work to boost connectivity and drive growth.”
The Welsh Secretary David TC Davies said: “Good transport connections between South Wales and Western England are essential for the economy in Wales, enabling businesses to grow and flourish and making life easier for people to travel for work and leisure.
“This funding from the UK Government is vital in exploring how best to relieve congestion across South Wales. I’m pleased to work with the Welsh Government on plans that could have a huge impact on the many thousands of people who use the transport network in South Wales every day,” he added.
And Lee Waters, the Deputy Minister for Climate Change in the Senedd, said the congestion around Newport needed tackling. “This is a key step to tackle congestion around Newport and was one of the main recommendations of the Burns Commission, which was endorsed by Lord Peter Hendy’s Union Connectivity Review.
“The business case is compelling and we are keen to make progress so that we can get more people onto South Wales Mainline trains, complementing Welsh Government’s investments in improving access to rail,” he added.
The only stations between Bristol Parkway and Cardiff on the South Wales Mainline are at Patchway, Severn Tunnel Junction and Newport, with stations along the way - like at Magor - having closed in the mid-1960s Beeching Cuts.
The knock-on effect of creating new stations and new services between Cardiff and the Severn Tunnel would mean increased commuter and local services on this side of the estuary - at least that is the hope of the boss of GWR. Last week Mark Hopwood told BusinessLive that he hoped there would be much more Government investment in the rail network around the West of England, with the MetroWest plans for more stations and services around Bristol tying in with the services on the other side of the water.
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