Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what effect the plans set out in the Integrated Rail Plan published on 18 November 2021 will have on transport connectivity within Wales.

The Integrated Rail Plan confirms that HS2 will be built from Crewe to Manchester, enabling improved onward connectivity to Wales. Crewe Northern Connection would improve connections from North Wales to the HS2 network, potentially bringing many passengers within 2 hours 15 minutes of London. Work to progress options on completing the Midlands Rail Hub could also give passengers from South Wales easy access to the HS2 network at Birmingham Curzon Street.