The Welsh Assembly Government have announced that the new express train service planned will include services to Wrexham, due to begin in May.
‘The extra Arriva Trains Wales service will complement the current Y Gerallt Gymro express train from Holyhead to Cardiff. It will run from Monday to Friday. The train will depart from Holyhead at 07:51 and arrive in Cardiff at 12:08. The return journey will leave Cardiff at 18:18 and arrive back in Holyhead at 22:34.
The train will be able to stop at Wrexham in both directions. The morning train will call at Holyhead, Bangor, Llandudno Junction, Colwyn Bay, Rhyl, Chester, Wrexham, Ruabon, Chirk, Gobowen, Shrewsbury, Newport and Cardiff.
The evening train from Cardiff will stop at Newport, Abergavenny, Hereford, Shrewsbury, Gobowen, Ruabon, Wrexham, Chester, Rhyl, Colwyn Bay, Llandudno Junction, Bangor and Holyhead.
Mr Jones said,
“In 2008 I announced funding for the Y Gerallt Gymro express Holyhead to Cardiff service. This flagship service is key to delivering our commitment to reduce journey times between North and South Wales. It has proven to be very popular and has strengthened economic links.
“I am pleased to announce that from May this year we will be introducing a second express train service that will run from Monday to Friday. It will complement the existing Y Gerallt Gymro service and the journey will take four hours and 17 minutes.
“We have also made a huge leap forward with the confirmation that that the train will be able to stop at Wrexham in both directions. In order for the second express service to be able to call at Wrexham General Station in the morning I have asked Arriva Trains Wales to reroute the 07:15 Holyhead – Birmingham International service via Crewe instead of Wrexham. It would otherwise not be possible for the second express service to call at Wrexham due to the infrastructure constraints of the single track between Wrexham and Chester.
“This means that the 07:15 Holyhead – Birmingham International service can no longer call at Ruabon, Chirk and Gobowen. The new express service will call at these stations in order to avoid what would otherwise be a two hour gap in the mornings. Passengers for Birmingham joining from these stations will be able to complete their journey by changing and connecting into the 07:15 Holyhead – Birmingham service at Shrewsbury.”
The Class 175 service will include a trolley service with hot food. From December 2011, the Class 175 train will be replaced by a Class 67 locomotive with carriages similar to those used on Y Gerallt Gymro, including a first class carriage and dining facilities. The Assembly Government is funding a substantial refurbishment before these carriages are brought into service.
The Assembly Government is investing £620,000 to run the service until December. There will be a new contract for the Class 67 locomotives from mid-December.
Mr Jones added,
“I remain committed to pathing the original Y Gerallt Gymro service via Wrexham rather than Crewe. Network Rail’s feasibility study will be completed by the end of April and I would then expect construction to start next year. We have taken firm steps to improve transport provision between North and South Wales. This is important for the economy of our country and improving journey times for passengers.”’
