SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has called for more to be done to back a vital Wrexham to London passenger service.
Commenting on the UK Government’s draft Railways Bill which is currently being considered by MPs in Westminster, with the potential end to franchise systems, Mr Rowlands, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Transport and Infrastructure said he was keen to see more open access services being considered.
Mr Rowlands is a long- time supporter of proposals by Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway who have resubmitted a new formal application to introduce four direct trains from Wrexham to Euston.
He said: “Clearly a significant part of the Railways Bill is a move away from the franchise model that’s been in existence for a long time here in the UK.
“But in moving away from that, I believe it’s vital that we do not lose the innovation, competition and passenger-focused improvements that have come from other parts of the rail network.
“That brings me to the open-access services, which have proven, in my view, to have a record of expanding choice, improving connectivity and driving economic growth, especially for regions at risk of being left behind.
“Open-access services are also essential for ensuring that passengers across Wales have a real say in the services they receive. They encourage competition, attract that new investment and provide flexible travel options that traditional franchises often cannot deliver.
“You’ll be aware of proposed services such as Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway’s Wrexham to London, which show how open access can directly benefit local communities, boost things like tourism and strengthen the region’s economic links to the rest of the UK.
“With the potential end of the franchise system in the Railways Bill, what steps will you be taking to go bigger and better with open access, such as the vital Wrexham to London passenger service, to boost the north-east of Wales’s links to the rest of the UK?”
Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales said the great challenge was with capacity constraints on the network ,but if these can be addressed, then more services, by whatever means, can operate on the West Coast main line.
Mr Rowlands added: “I was really disappointed when a decision was taken not to improve rail links between Wrexham and London but delighted last month to hear that Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway have resubmitted a new formal application.
“As the city of Wrexham continues to attract visitors from far and it is essential that this sort of public transport is available and hope this time, that the Office of Road and Rail, the independent economic and safety regulator for Britain’s railways, will give it the go ahead.
“It would be great to think that in only three hours travel you could be in the heart of London, the UK capital and of course it would mean the same for people coming to Wrexham.
“Good news not just for the city but for the surrounding areas and would be a huge boost to the North Wales economy.”
