LEADERS across the region are calling on the UK Rail Minister to safeguard at least one direct train per day in each direction between North Wales, Chester, and London.

Growth Track 360 is a cross-border rail campaign group made up of leaders across North Wales, the Wirral and Cheshire West and Chester which calls for substantial rail investment to enable growth in the cross-border economy of the North Wales and Mersey Dee region.

Currently, only one direct service per day each way will run between London and Chester (to Wrexham) whilst a shuttle service is linking Holyhead and Crewe. Direct trains are continuing to run at reduced frequencies between London, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh.  

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Avanti West Coast says the service reductions across its network are due to the current industrial relations climate which has resulted in severe staff shortages.

The Growth Track 360’s letter to Wendy Morton MP, Minister of State for Rail at the Department for Transport, calls for the Government to require Avanti to:

· Provide direct each-way services to Chester and North Wales (Wrexham and the North Wales Coast Main Line Stations to Holyhead) from London in the emergency timetable.

· Honour the pledge to restore and improve direct services to Chester and North Wales in the December 2022 timetable to equal or exceed the volume in place prior to the Covid-19 pandemic; and

· Resolve the driver shortage issue and staff up to deliver services that do not rely on overtime and rest day working.

Councillor Ian Roberts, leader of Flintshire Council and Vice Chair of Growth Track 360, said: “Civic leaders in North Wales and neighbouring communities in North West England will not meekly accept the erosion of our rail service to branch line status when we have been pressing for restoration of Avanti service frequencies to at least pre-pandemic levels.  

“The UK Department for Transport must get a grip of the crisis at Avanti West Coast to ensure the railways provide the high-quality tourist links on which our businesses depend.”

Ashley Rogers, Growth Track 360 Business Representative, chief executive of the North Wales Mersey Dee Business Council, said: “The cross-border North Wales Mersey Dee region is one of the UK’s most magnetic tourist destinations thanks to our outstanding coastline, countryside and world class attractions. 

“We ask the UK Government to stand up for our regional economy and our businesses and to truly help us to level up by restoring direct London – Chester – North Wales Services and enhancing our main line status.”