Calls for an increased train service between Wrexham and London Euston have been given a boost this month.
The Department of Transport has confirmed that it remains ‘supportive in principle’ of an application by Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway (WSMR) to introduce a new service between Wrexham and the UK capital.
The service would be ‘open access’, which means it would operate on a commercial basis without government subsidy, and would include stops at Gobowen, Shrewsbury, Telford, Wolverhampton, Darlaston, Walsall, Coleshill Parkway, Nuneaton and Milton Keynes.
In its latest assessment of the proposals, the Department of Transport says it recognises the benefits the new service could provide to communities in North Wales, the West Midlands and London.
Although it also suggests more work needs to be done to weigh-up the operational challenges, including how the new service would work alongside existing train services into Euston.
Councillor David A Bithell, Deputy Leader of Wrexham Council and Lead Member with responsibility for strategic transport, said: “There’s still a long way to go, but things are definitely moving in the right direction.
“Both Sam Rowlands MS and I met with WSMR recently, and we’re very pleased with how the application is progressing.
“The introduction of a commercial service – running up to five trains a day from Wrexham to London – would bring huge benefits to North Wales.”
Sam Rowlands MS (North Wales Region) said: “I’m delighted to be backing Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway’s application to introduce direct rail services between Wrexham and London, and it’s great to see that the Department for Transport are supportive of the application in principle.
“Wrexham is North Wales’ largest conurbation, and improving rail services into Shropshire, the Midlands and London can only help to boost our local economy.”
