Direct Wrexham-Liverpool Services To Begin In May 2019

[whole diary]

[Lee]

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-48056456

New rail services linking north Wales, Cheshire and Liverpool will begin next month following the upgrade of a 1.5 mile stretch of track.

Among 215 additional weekly services will be daily direct services from Wrexham General Station to Liverpool.

The services are being introduced thanks to Network Rail's upgrade of the Halton Curve in Cheshire.

It has been all but closed to passengers for decades, running an occasional summer only service.

Transport for Wales (TfW) boss James Price said: "It will be a major economic boost for the area.

"The fact Transport for Wales are delivering 215 brand new services a week really underpins our commitment to building a better transport network for all."

Passengers from Wrexham currently change at Bidston or Chester to get to Liverpool.

Direct services ceased in the 1970s with calls for their reintroduction going back many years.

The cost for a day return between Wrexham General and Liverpool Lime Street will be £11.50, said TfW.

[Robin Summerhill]

This was a route that I used on a few occasions back in the 60s, and I was hoping to have included it in my rail rover tour last year. Unfortunately that was not to be so I found this announcement interesting.

Having now looked into it on RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) I see that, whilst the article is technically accurate, the actual picture is more nuanced.

Arriva Wales are introducing an hourly service between Lime Street and Chester calling at Liverpool South Parkway, Runcorn, Frodsham and Helsby. Only one up train daily gets extended to Wrexham (the 1737 ex Lime Street) and only two down trains start at Wrexham (departing at 0635 and 1909)

[Lee]

Here's a Shropshire Star article that might be more to your liking, Robin 

(ducks as realised its dated March 13 2019...)

[Robin Summerhill]

Here's a Shropshire Star article that might be more to your liking, Robin 

(ducks as realised its dated March 13 2019...)

That article effectively says the same thing as RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) is showing - an hourly service Chester to Liverpool

But it starts with "A direct train service will begin from Wrexham straight to Liverpool later this year, in a boost to Shropshire passengers," perhaps giving the impression to the unwary that it is a full all day service.

But then it goes on to say  "In May there will be services from the North Wales town, direct to Liverpool Lime Street at peak times," which is actually the true position.

[Rhydgaled]

This was a route that I used on a few occasions back in the 60s, and I was hoping to have included it in my rail rover tour last year. Unfortunately that was not to be so I found this announcement interesting.

Having now looked into it on RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) I see that, whilst the article is technically accurate, the actual picture is more nuanced.

Arriva Wales are introducing an hourly service between Lime Street and Chester calling at Liverpool South Parkway, Runcorn, Frodsham and Helsby. Only one up train daily gets extended to Wrexham (the 1737 ex Lime Street) and only two down trains start at Wrexham (departing at 0635 and 1909)

It's not Arriva anymore, the franchise is now run by KeolisAmey (branded as 'Transport for Wales Rail Services', which is a confusingly-similar name to government-owned body 'Transport for Wales'). I believe they intend to extend more services to Wrexham (and on to Cardiff) in the more-distant future, with a portion for Llandudno too.

[grahame]

Report from Wrexham.com

The first direct train service between Wrexham and Liverpool in more than 40 years departed this morning.

The train left Wrexham General at 6.35am this morning, with a commemorative event held with Minister for Economy and Transport, Ken Skates, Wrexham’s MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) and senior representatives of Wrexham Council.

As part of the new route, the direct services will operate six days a week, with two services departing from Wrexham and one from Liverpool Lime Street.