Four additional services unveiled by Transport for Wales on Wrexham Bidston line

The Wrexham to Bidston line is set to see an “enhanced Sunday service” from this weekend which will mean trains from from Shotton.

Transport for Wales (TfW) has announced its first timetable change since becoming ‘operational’ in October – with 15 new Sunday services introduced across Wales.

The company say that Wrexham to Bidston line will see enhanced Sunday services, with four additional services running in each direction. The line has taken a recent battering with this being the first positive communication we have had for it from Cardiff.

And in south Wales, a trial of additional Sunday services between Aberdare and Cardiff has been made permanent.

TfW Rail Services is also introducing two extra morning peak services from Merthyr and Aberdare into Cardiff Monday to Friday.

Colin Lea, customer experience director for Transport for Wales Rail Services, said: “We are delighted to introduce these new services. Sundays are increasingly part of people’s normal working week, or are important times for leisure, so we need our service to reflect the needs of our customers.

“These new services follow close working with our partners in in the communities and the Welsh Government.

“The fact we’ve introduced these extra services on the Wrexham to Bidston line made the Aberdare trial permanent reinforces our commitment to deliver a better service for everyone.

“This is one of the first steps in an exciting journey ahead as we transform transport in Wales and the borders over the next 15 years.”

Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport Ken Skates said:

“When we took over operation of the new Wales and Borders rail service in October this year the Welsh Government promised major investment and new services right across Wales to support our economy and our communities.

“I’m delighted that North Wales will be one of the first beneficiaries of that additional capacity and that from this Sunday Transport for Wales will begin to run a new timetable including four additional services each way between Wrexham and Bidston.  

“These timetable changes will pave the way for new rolling stock early next year, in the form of fully refurbished Viva Rail Class 230s which will enter service later in the Spring of 2019, part of our £800 million investment in new rolling stock right across the Wales and Borders network.”

The additional services are listed as:

09.44 Sunday – Wrexham General to Bidston
12.05 Sunday – Wrexham Central to Bidston
15.05 Sunday – Wrexham Central to Bidston
17.53 Sunday – Wrexham Central to Bidston

10.57 Sunday – Bidston to Wrexham Central
13.28 Sunday – Bidston to Wrexham Central
16.30 Sunday – Bidston to Wrexham Central
19.00 Sunday – Bidston to Wrexham General

There is a copy of the new timetable leaflet online via this PDF.