Welsh Government told to look to 'Victorians' for rail network improvements

Wales Online

28-05-2025

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The Welsh Government has unveiled a bold strategy to revolutionise rail services across North Wales – plans that have been met with enthusiasm by some and labelled as "pie in the sky" by critics. Initiatives include "quick wins" that are expected within the next year, such as boosting Transport for Wales capacity on the North Wales line and establishing a direct Llandudno to Liverpool service. North Wales Live readers are mainly of the opinion that they will believe it when they see it.
Transforming the network into something truly game-changing will need more time and far more financial support, especially from the UK Government who oversee the rail infrastructure. Successive UK administrations have been criticised for not investing enough in Welsh railways, especially when compared to English regions.
Beyond electrification, several challenges must be addressed before any progress can be made. A notable example is Chester, located just over the border; despite serving as a major junction, it lacks the platform capacity of stations like Crewe, leading to severe bottlenecks that affect services in North Wales.
Congestion on existing rail lines, particularly at the Padeswood cement plant on the Wrexham - Bidston line, appears to be a bottleneck that might be resolved within the next three years. Unblocking this would enable more frequent services.
Achieving a direct service from Wrexham to Liverpool calls for a distinct approach as outlined by the Transport Secretary: "In order to achieve that ultimate ambition we would have to upgrade signalling along the line and also utilise the latest train technology, like electric trains that are battery operated. That's the sort of technology we want to utilise. You can't take diesel through the tunnel."
Clearing these bottlenecks will do wonders for services to and from North Wales, but only time will tell if there's the political will - and most importantly the money - to make this happen.
Commenter Alwyn67 says: 'It seems like we are held back by so much Victorian era infrastructure in the UK. Adding new platforms is incredibly expensive. The Chinese have it right - just blow it up and start again. Hopefully the tram-train as in Cardiff Bay might be a future for cities like Chester/Wrexham.'
DavidSmithmeister replies: 'If only it was a bit more Victorian - in the sense of the sheer comprehensive coverage of the network, practically every settlement from a few hundred people up was served, and far more resilience to faults due to far wider scope for service diversion. The system we have today is paltry and embarrassingly pared-back.'
Garrog remembers: 'About 15 years ago there were proposals to re-introduce the passing loops on the Conwy Valley Line to enable more trains on the line. However, the local NIMBYS objected as it was tied to slate being transported by rail as well. Instead we are left with a single train on a shuttle service back and forth from Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog that no one uses due to the poor service timings.'
Hamol adds: 'And also the line gets closed for weeks after every storm when the track is washed away.'
Toxteth O'Grady suggests: 'How about more carriages on busy weekends? I've seen trains absolutely rammed with people going to Chester on a Saturday and yet several empty carriages on weekdays when people are at work.'
Thewokearefastasleep retorts: 'So buy more carriages for the weekends that will lie empty during the week because the existing ones are under used as it is? It will mean more drivers for additional services, but who will only work weekends unless more people use the train throughout the week. These schemes are a recipe for financial failure, people don't use the trains because they are too expensive. It's alright wanting more tourists to travel from Liverpool to Llandudno - but how much will that cost a couple or a family of four compared to the cost of petrol to drive 60 miles each way?'
Steamnut points out: 'An easy starting point which could be implemented next week, and for little money, would be to put longer trains on the Chester-Holyhead route. The trains are always rammed and surely, a lot of people do not use the service because of this?'
Hollyhead explains: 'You can't just stick extra coaches on as this affects the stopping pattern and station access. The need to extend platforms is more important before you extend trains, and that's just not possible at some high usage smaller stations. What's needed is a higher frequency pick up service, feeding into hub points, but you can't do that at Llandudno junction which is the usual interchange station. TFW needs to put more loco hauled trains on stopping at just Bangor, junction, Rhyl and Chester as these have long platforms. Longer short journey stoppers could feed into those stations.'
AngelaJones thinks: 'You won't get people out of their cars, the trains are too expensive and unreliable. Wrexham Bidston for example, hardly any one uses it.'
Do you think the Welsh rail network needs updating? Will these new plans help? Have your say in our comments section.