North Wales politician calls for direct Wrexham-Liverpool train service

A local politician has called on UK ministers to approve plans for direct Wrexham-Liverpool train. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Former Wales Transport Minister Ken Skates, who represents Clwyd South, said the move would be ‘brilliant’ for his constituents and commuters across the region. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Mr Skates raised the matter in the Senedd recently and was told that Transport for Wales (TfW) is working with the Liverpool City Region and MerseyRail to put on more services and remove the need for passengers to change at Bidston. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The UK Government has responsibility for rail infrastructure, and Mr Skates has called on Conservative Ministers to commit to ‘long-overdue’ investment in the North Wales network. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“I’m really pleased to hear Transport for Wales are working with partners in Merseyside to try and deliver this,” said Mr Skates. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It would be brilliant and I’m pleased the Welsh Government has identified the Wrexham-Bidston Line as a key route for our region.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In a letter to Mr Skates, Minister Lee Waters said: “Thank you for raising the important topic of the work Transport for Wales (TfW) are undertaking with MerseyRail. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“I thought it would be useful to write to you, as TfW are engaging regularly with the Liverpool City Region (LCR) and on how they, and MerseyRail, can work together to deliver improvements for passengers on the Wrexham to Bidston Line. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“TfW have a Memorandum of Understanding in place with LCR to work collaboratively on projects that impact upon the cross-border economy. The Wrexham to Bidston Line is a key focus of this collaboration. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“TfW are working with LCR to develop the business case for increasing the frequency of services on the line. Linked closely to this is a joint bid from TfW and LCR to the Union Connectivity Fund which aims to enable the use of MerseyRail’s brand new Stadler 777 fleet on the Wrexham to Bidston Line. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The extension of these new trains would then ultimately enable direct services into Liverpool from this line rather than the current need to change trains at Bidston. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“TfW are hopeful that they will hear the outcome of this bid in the very near future and I would be happy to provide you with an update on this once the outcome is known.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Mr Skates said: “It’s fantastic to see TfW and the Liverpool City Region working so closely for people both sides of the border. Cross-border relationships are so crucial for our corner of Wales in promoting economic growth and shared solutions such as this. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“This project would be a real boost for Wrexham. Investment in rail infrastructure in North Wales is long overdue, and I urge UK Government Ministers to approve the bid.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​