New trains planned for North Wales have been inspected by Ken Skates AM, minister for economy and transport.

He has visited rolling stock manufacturer Vivarail to see the new Transport for Wales trains which, it is claimed, will raise standards for North Wales passengers.

The trains are part of the £5 billion investment being made by Transport for Wales across Wales and the Borders and are expected to go into service first, in North Wales, during 2019.

With fully accessible toilets, power sockets, electronic passenger information, wifi, bike racks and air conditioning, the trains are a significant milestone in improving passenger service.

The additional trains will provide a more efficient and environmentally friendly service with modern diesel electric engines. The new hybrid units, using diesel and batteries, will be the first to be used in regular passenger service in the UK.

Each train will have three carriages containing 125 seats with a total capacity of 293. North Wales will be the first to benefit from the additions to the fleet along the Wrexham to Bidston, Crewe to Chester and Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog routes.

Mr Skates said: “It’s been great to visit our rolling stock manufacturer, Vivarail and to see the Transport for Wales trains which will be running on routes in North Wales later this year.

“We’ve had an opportunity to take a ride on the trains on Vivarail’s test track and gain a real understanding of the hybrid engine. Not only will these transform the experience for railway passengers, they will use 25 per cent less fuel and have a regenerative braking system that captures energy back into the batteries.

“We are absolutely committed to improving our railway services and through our investment I am confident over the coming years people across Wales will benefit from the best passenger rail service in the UK which will be a vital step change as we leave the European Union.”

James Price, Transport for Wales CEO added: “Customers are at the heart of everything we do at Transport for Wales. Our new trains with hybrid engines and modern facilities will significantly improve the customer experience.

“We are continuing our journey to transform the transport network in Wales and deliver our promises. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all our staff and partners, who are helping us achieve our vision.”