The UK government has unveiled what it calls a generational investment to overhaul Wales’s railways, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledging up to £14 billion for infrastructure upgrades, new stations and expanded services across the country.
Starmer said the commitment would “transform” public transport and put Wales “on the front foot”, describing it as long-term investment designed to boost jobs, connectivity and economic growth.
The package centres on plans from Transport for Wales (TFW), which has outlined dozens of schemes aimed at modernising the rail network over the next decade and beyond.
Seven new stations form the backbone of the early works. These include Magor and Undy, Llanwern, Cardiff East, Newport West, Somerton, Cardiff Parkway and a stop serving the Deeside Industrial Park.
The UK government confirmed that £445 million, announced at last year’s spending review, will be used to deliver those stations. Initial preparatory work is expected to begin later this year, with construction on two sites starting in 2029.
Officials believe Magor and Undy could be the first completed. Meanwhile, Cardiff Parkway in east Cardiff, approved earlier this year after lengthy delays, is projected to handle 800,000 passengers annually and support around 6,000 jobs.
Major upgrades are also planned for Cardiff Central railway station, with work scheduled to begin this spring to improve capacity and passenger facilities.
Speaking during the announcement, Starmer criticised past governments for neglecting Welsh transport. “For too long, Wales has been let down by a UK government unwilling to do the hard yards and build the future they deserve,” he said.
He added that thousands of jobs and improved connections would create “a rail network fit for Wales’ future,” framing the spending as a turning point after years of underinvestment.
Wales’s First Minister Eluned Morgan welcomed the pledge, saying the country was now in an “unprecedented position” to deliver the next chapter of rail transformation.
Beyond the new stations, TFW’s broader vision includes a “Cardiff Crossrail” extension to Newport Road, direct services between Cardiff and Liverpool, improved links between west Wales and Bristol, and more trains to Pembroke Dock.
UK ministers stressed that the total value of projects under consideration could reach £14 billion. However, they acknowledged that exact funding allocations and timelines would be confirmed only in future spending reviews.
That uncertainty has fuelled criticism from opposition parties, who argue the announcement lacks clarity and repackages existing commitments.
Politicians across the Senedd Cymru have long demanded additional rail investment, particularly after Wales did not receive consequential funding linked to England’s high-speed rail project, High Speed Two.
Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Liberal Democrats described the pledge as “déjà vu”, saying many of the stations had already been promised last year. They warned that voters may see the move as electioneering with little new substance.
The Welsh Conservatives also criticised the plan, claiming rail investment had fallen compared to previous Tory governments. They highlighted the absence of firm commitments to electrify the north Wales main line, a long-standing demand from businesses.
Reform UK and the Greens went further, accusing successive UK governments of underfunding Welsh infrastructure and calling for rail powers to be fully devolved to Cardiff.
Despite the political row, Welsh officials said the announcement followed years of negotiation. One government source described it as “the biggest day in devolution,” arguing the scale of investment would reshape communities and unlock economic growth.
With less than three months until Senedd elections, the promise sets the stage for transport to become a central campaign issue. Whether the £14 billion plan delivers lasting change—or remains a headline figure—will likely define the debate.
