RAIL Minister Huw Merriman was this week carrying out a ‘full assessment’ of an application for Government funding to deliver Wellington’s planned new railway station.

It follows a meeting between the Minister and Wellington MP Rebecca Pow in Westminster on Wednesday.

The station is on schedule to be built and opened by May, 2025, with a decision on funding for the final business case due toward the end of the year.

The £15 million station will be built next to the Longforth Farm housing estate to the north east of the town centre.

Mr Merriman said: “Rebecca has kept me constantly updated on this ambitious project and in our meeting made her continued strong case for a Wellington rail station, leaving me in no doubt about the merits of this project for her local community.

“I am assessing the entire application and have promised to keep Rebecca informed on the progress of her application.”

Ms Pow has chaired a local Metro Rail Committee of stakeholders since 2015 when she was first elected to Parliament and kick-started the project, including raising a petition which was presented to the Government. 

The project has progressed through several funding rounds and was fast-tracked through the Government’s Restoring Your Railways Fund.

Ms Pow said: “Being able to meet the Rail Minister in person in Westminster was another important step.

“I have given him a full update on where we are with this vital project and reiterated the strength of the economic and business cases.

“Having the ear of Government makes a difference, and I am, frankly, disappointed at the recent attempt by local Liberal Democrats to lay claim to our progress so far, which is somewhat disingenuous and not true.

“This is very much a joint project with stakeholders Great Western Railway and Network Rail which I have championed both locally and nationally in Parliament.”