Cross-border Transport Connections
Wednesday, 4 November 2026
Contributions
Dr Luke Evans (Hinckley and Bosworth) (Con)Conservative
7. What steps he is taking with the Secretary of State for Transport to improve cross-border transport connections between Wales and England.
The Secretary of State for Wales (Stephen Kinnock)Labour
Cross-border travel is crucial to unlocking economic growth and employment opportunities. We are investing at least £445 million in Welsh rail, including in the Burns stations in South Wales, to improve cross-border connectivity and to help tackle congestion on the M4, a vital economic link between Wales and England. It is therefore deeply disappointing that the Welsh Government have chosen not to proceed with the M4 relief road.
One of the biggest straitjackets on economic growth east to west is the “most-bashed bridge in Britain” on the A5 in my patch: the Watling Street bridge. There are plans to lower the road underneath it, but they seem to have stalled. Will the Minister speak with the Transport Secretary to see what can be done to get those plans unstuck, so that the road can be lowered and we can get Britain moving again?
The A5 is a hugely important cross-border artery, so it is vital to ensure that traffic can flow smoothly. If the hon. Gentleman would care to write to me on the subject, I would be happy to follow up with officials and the Secretary of State for Transport.
Catherine Fookes (Monmouthshire) (Lab)Labour
I was very surprised last week to hear the Plaid Cymru Transport Minister calling rail funding of £445 million from the UK Government an “insult”. Does the Minister agree that squabbling about cross-border transport gets us nowhere, and that the Welsh and UK Governments must work together to get spades in the ground for the Magor and Undy Walkway station?
The UK Government are making a very substantial contribution. It is vital that we invest in rail, and my hon. Friend is right that we now have to ensure that we get those spades in the ground. We are ready to roll up our sleeves and work closely with the Welsh Government, Transport for Wales, Network Rail and others to ensure that we get those projects up and running as rapidly as possible.
Source: UK Parliament Hansard API. Debate ID: 5432171.