08/12/2025
The following information concerning trains and buses has been sent from the Transport Minister Ken Skates MS - some interesting news concerning our area.
I thought I’d share some top lines on a series of positive developments across North Wales concerning buses, roads and rail this winter.
• Doubling frequency of trains
• New trains – and a bold new look
• On track for huge mainline uplift
• Progress on a UK-first in rail
• Stations improved
• Re-regulation of bus services
• Plans for improving bus services, bus stops and stations
• Roads improved and enhanced
• TfW Best in Class
• Avanti and the ORR
• Brilliant UK Gov Rail Reform
Doubling frequency of trains
On Sunday, December 14, Transport for Wales will double frequency of train services between Wrexham and Chester.
This will increase the number of trains operating through the day by 100% - made possible through UK and Welsh Governments working in partnership to invest in the line and trains.
New trains – and a bold new look
Welsh Government is already investing in £800m of new trains, but to enable the doubling of Wrexham-Chester services, yet more trains were ordered by TfW. This means Wales will soon have more than 480 trains in operation, compared to just 270 that we inherited in 2018 from Arriva Trains Wales.
And there’s more. Our ‘Class 230’ trains only operate between Wrexham and Bidston, nowhere else on the railway network. This means we’ve been able to redesign them to reflect the communities they serve.
This coming week the new trains will be revealed, as we also rename the Borderlands Line the ‘Wrexham to Liverpool Line’.
Rapid progress is also being made on direct services between Wrexham and Liverpool, without the need to change at Bidston, as we seek to ultimately deliver four trains an hour between the two cities. Electrification has long been a dream for the line, but with discontinuous and battery technology now with us, the dream will become a reality.
On track for huge rail uplift
Thanks to UK Government and excellent council leadership in North Wales, we are on track to deliver a massive 50% increase in TfW train services on the North Wales Mainline from the May 2026 timetable change.
This is the biggest uplift in recent times and will see new trains operating through to Liverpool. Without UK Government funding this would not have ben possible and special thanks goes to the leadership of Denbighshire Council for assisting in the removal of level crossings.
This will not be the end of our work though. TfW and Network Rail are working with leading experts to plan the most cost-effective and deliverable form of electrification for the North Wales mainline, based on the innovations rolled out in the South Wales Metro. Battery technology and discontinuous overhead lines are likely to be part of the solution.
Sunak and the Tories cynically claimed they would electrify the line in the final days of their time in power. They had no plan, the money wasn’t there and the pledge was hollow. We can and will deliver smart electrification as Uk and Welsh Governments working in partnership.
Progress on a UK First for Rail
When we announced in May that TfW would look at the rapid delivery of a UK-first experimental station at Deeside Industrial Estate, many in the industry scoffed.
However, plans for the first of a kind ‘Experimental Modular (XM)’ station have advanced at pace and it is hoped we will not only deliver it against expectations, but that it will happen in 2026.
Such a bold new innovation could be used elsewhere in Network North Wales, where there are ambitions to reopen stations and build new ones. Places like Greenfield and Broughton have been identified as places fit for stations and XM stations could be delivered much quicker than conventional ones.
Stations Improved
As well as the multi-million investment at Flint Station, plans have accelerated for the modernisation of Wrexham General Station and Bangor.
These improvements come through the partnership working of UK and Welsh Government, with Network Rail and TfW having signed a memorandum of understanding to accelerate joint projects.
Access for All funding has been allocated by Welsh Government for improvements at Shotton and Ruabon stations, to strengthen the case for UK Government funding.
And stations along the entire Wrexham to Liverpool Line have been improved this autumn, with new shelters, signage, seating and comfort measures.
Crucial to improving train frequency further across North Wales is the need to address capacity constraints at Chester. We aim to work on the plans for this during the current spending period.
Re-regulation of bus services
On Tuesday, December 9 the Senedd will likely vote to approve the Bus (Wales) Bill, which will then likely receive Royal Ascent in January.
This will re-regulate bus services in Wales and enable us to plan routes and timetables that meet passenger needs between than under the Tories’ broken system.
Meanwhile, we are introducing more new Traws Cymru services to link communities in North Wales, including the T51, which runs from Rhyl to Denbigh, Ruthin and Wrexham.
Re-regulation will also enable us to plan better cross-border services, as commercial interests will be replaced by public interests.
Plans for improving bus services, bus stops and stations
Franchising won’t happen overnight, but TfW is already working with North Wales Councils in designing the future network and in developing a unique Investment Zone bus service to better link communities in Wrexham and Flintshire with centres of employment from 2026.
We are also now auditing the 27,000 bus stops and stations across Wales, as part of future plans to modernise and replace as many as possible, working with our councils.
And we are also developing plans to do to buses what we have done to trains – to take Britain’s oldest fleet and make it one of the newest. Wales has around 1,300 buses and we need to modernise them, not just for decarbonisation purposes, but for passenger safety, accessibility and comfort.
The £1 fare scheme for young people looks likely to be a huge success, with early data showing a big increase in the number of young people using bus services.
Roads improved and enhanced
150,000 pot holes on Welsh roads have now been fixed or prevented this financial year, with a vast amount of North Wales roads being resurfaced and repaired. Bridges, kerbs and pavements have also been repaired, as well as culverts that are crucial in ensuring rainwater drains away safely.
The same level of extra investment will continue through 2026, when in parallel, experts will complete a road resilience study of the A*5, A494 and A483, including bridges and the Conwy Tunnels. This work will help the next Welsh Government and our councils decide where new road schemes are required to futureproof the most important economic arteries across our region.
Work will also begin in 2026 on the replacement River Dee Crossing in Queensferry, likely to be the most expensive road project in Wales next year.
TfW Best in Class
TfW had a bumpy ride a few years ago, which damaged customer confidence. However, in the past year TfW have consistently been the best performing rail operator in and out of Wales, with the largest percentage increase in passenger numbers. This is largely due to the £800m of trains and significant improvements in performance on the Wrexham – Liverpool Line.
To drive further improvements, TfW now has a new chair, Vernon Everett, one of the best, most experienced, most knowledgeable people in transport. He has been at the heart of major successes in Manchester and London, and now brings his skills and expertise to Wales. I am particularly pleased that the UK Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, has agreed for Vernon to chair the vitally important Wales Rail Board, which will be central to developing and delivering future enhancements across the Wales and Borders network.
Avanti and the ORR
I have raised concerns formally with the Office for Rail and Road over their ruling on Avanti West Coast services. I do not accept their rationale and do not believe reduced frequency of services is in the passenger interest.
Brilliant UK Gov Rail Reform
It is difficult to overstate the importance and benefits of the UK Government’s rail reform agenda. Bringing services together and into public ownership will better serve passenger interests. The creation of Great British Railways will unify a broken network and integrate track and trains. GBR and TfW will work seamlessly together in the passenger interest and through the establishment of a Ministerial Memorandum of Understanding and a GBR Wales Business Unit, Wales will have a new and crucial role in shaping future improvements to the network and services.
Finally, TfW will soon launch a long-term prospectus, identifying a pipeline of rail enhancements across Wales and the Borders. Network North Wales will doubtless be a significant feature, so please keep a look out for it.
If you need any further information please don’t hesitate to ask.
Merry Christmas, Ken
