New direct train from London to Wrexham proposed
- Published
The service comes 13 years after train company Wrexham & Shropshire ceased trading
A train company has submitted plans for a new direct rail service between London and north Wales.
The new planned operation, led by train supplier Alstom, is said to offer passengers new direct links, quicker journeys and "more competitive fares".
Services are proposed to run between London Euston and Wrexham up to five times per day in each direction from next year.
The application will be submitted to the Office of Rail and Road later.
Where will the service connect Wrexham to?
The train service would stop at Milton Keynes, Nuneaton, Coleshill Parkway, Walsall, Darlaston, Wolverhampton, Telford Central, Shrewsbury and Gobowen.
Avanti West Coast is to withdraw its current daily return service between London Euston and Shrewsbury in June.
Alstom's proposed new operation is named Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway (WSMR), and is being developed in partnership with consultancy SLC Rail.
It comes 13 years after the train company Wrexham & Shropshire - which operated between London Marylebone and Wrexham via Shrewsbury - ceased trading due to losses.
The service would stop at Milton Keynes, Nuneaton, Coleshill Parkway, Walsall, Darlaston, Wolverhampton, Telford Central, Shrewsbury and Gobowen
WSMR would operate on an open access basis, meaning it would not receive any taxpayer-funded subsidies and will take on all revenue risk.
UK rail minister Hew Merriman said: "These exciting proposals could see better connections for communities across north Wales and the Midlands, including direct services to London from Shrewsbury, Telford and Wrexham.
"Competition delivers choice for passengers and drives up standards, which is why we continue to work with industry to help make the most of open access rail."
How often will the new Wrexham train run?
The proposed WSMR services could begin as early as 2025 and is expected to create around 50 new jobs, mainly based in North Wales and the Midlands.
The service will run five trains per day in each direction, Monday to Saturday, with four in each direction on a Sunday.
Alstom is the largest private rail operator in North America but if its WSMR plans get the go ahead, it will be the first time it has run services in the UK.
The company's managing director in the UK and Ireland, Nick Crossfield, said: "As the country's leading supplier of rolling stock and train services, it makes perfect sense that we now move into operating our own fleet to serve passengers directly.
"Having been part of the fabric of UK rail for two centuries, we're excited to enter this new era as an open access operator."
Avanti West Coast is to withdraw its current daily return service between London Euston and Shrewsbury in June
SLC Rail managing director Ian Walters said: "From the Welsh borders to the Midlands, our routes will forge new connections, linking overlooked regions of England and Wales with direct services to and from London.
"Delighting the customer will be at the forefront of what we do. We want WSMR passengers to experience a new excellence in customer service on board our intercity trains."
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