From next Monday, 12 February, there will once again be hourly train services between Chester and Liverpool via Runcorn, Helsby, and Frodsham, with extra services set to be introduced by Transport for Wales (TfW).
From the same date, services will increase to 15 services in each direction, giving a total of 30 a day.
As well as the increased services, they will be operated by brand-new Class 197 trains that have better customer facilities than the existing ones. The increased services will also improve the region's connectivity.
The new trains have been assembled by Spanish firm Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) at their factory at Newport in South Wales.
Lee Waters, the Deputy Minister for Climate Change with responsibility for Transport, said: “This is great news. These new trains will provide a much-improved passenger experience with more regular services on modern comfortable trains, encouraging more people to leave the car at home and let the train take the strain.”
Jan Chaudhry van der Velde, Transport for Wales Chief Operating Officer said: “More deliveries of our brand-new trains mean we are now in a position to reinstate the hourly service between Chester and Liverpool via Frodsham and Runcorn.
“Services on this route were first launched in 2019, and provide good connectivity with Liverpool John Lennon Airport via the station call at Liverpool South Parkway.
“The investment in new trains, built at manufacturer CAF's factory in Newport South Wales, reflects part of an ongoing £800m transformation of the network.”
Transport for Wales (TfW) is the service provider for Wales & The Borders.
Why is this TFW when the route is in England?
TFW need to concentrate on improving key routes ie. Cardiff – Manchester.
Any improvement of the rail network is worthwhile..
At last, Wales some proper service needs, announced several years ago, at least five, I believe. Very well Liverpool being the local Airport Hub for North Wales and surrounding area but trying to get to/from has been a nightmare. Drakeford’s “Stop the Roads Campaign(he does’nt even drive)” especially stopping the Connah’sQuay to Halkyn ensure the Flintshire/Diana Bridge, whatever it’s called will still way under capacity ‘cos once in Flintshire(Wales) your become single carriageway bottlenecks. His 20 m.p.h. scheme cost millions that could have been spent on road improvements instead caused misery caused misery for both Welsh and other national road users alike.
So yes this new skeleton service will be useful for regular Liverpool John Lennon Airport users. When can we expect the also promised half hour service from Chester? Explaining this I speak of the promised hourly train from North .Wales Coast any being Llandudno tow or Junction or Holyhead or a re-instated Carnarfon and the alternating hourly train from Shrewsbury, Wrexham even Cardiff all via Chester creating a proper hub travel need. Don’t suppose Merseyside would build a loop line into John Lennon Airport soon to complete this ideal . But alas it will remain just a dream.