Direct Llandudno to Liverpool train back on the table, but discounts have also been proposed

Direct trains between Llandudno and Liverpool are back on the table, but discounts on Gwynedd services are also being proposed. Transport for Wales said it had reviewed its long-term rail timetable commitments to ensure they “best meet customer requirements”.

They have now published a list of proposals (full list below) and there is good news and bad news for North Wales. The biggest potential upgrade is the extension of the direct service from Liverpool to Chester to Llandudno.

This was previously proposed but not implemented. But passengers shouldn’t get too excited just yet, as the new service isn’t scheduled to run until 2026 and is subject to an agreement with Network Rail and work being completed at level crossings.

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Aberconwy MS Janet Finch-Saunders welcomed the news but said it was a “significant” time to wait for the upgrade.

Negative for the region in the proposals was the removal of four services between Machynlleth and Pwllheli (two in each direction). Two other services will be rescheduled and will operate between March and December.

Overall, TfW said they would operate 87 more services on main routes than when they took over in 2018, and more carriages would be added to some of the busiest services to help meet rising demand.

MS Janet Finch-Saunders said: “Llandudno is one of the UK’s leading tourist destinations, with around 6.8 million visitors annually. People travel here from all over the world, but we owe a special thanks to the people of North West England.

“To ensure more people can travel by public transport to Llandudno, it makes good sense to increase the number of direct rail destinations, such as by adding Liverpool. Transport for Wales’ intention to start direct service in 2026 is welcome news, but it seems a significant time to wait. Indeed, clarity on the work to be completed at crossings and agreements with Network Rail would be helpful.

“The last time I successfully campaigned to secure my commitment to a Llandudno to Liverpool train, Transport for Wales tried to stop direct services from Manchester Airport to Llandudno. I urge the company to provide assurances that Wales’ main tourist destination will not lose its direct link to one of the UK’s leading international airports.”

Changes to Manchester Airport service are not included in the proposals listed in this specific consultation.

The new schedule includes:

• Additional calls to/from Milford Haven and Haverfordwest giving the towns 13 services a day in each direction

• The hourly service between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury will operate from May to September from May 2026

• Additional peak-hour services on the Vale of Glamorgan line until 2026, but increase to 2 tph throughout the day delayed

• Cardiff <> Cheltenham services will be upgraded by June 2024 to hourly services throughout the day.

• Additional services between Swansea and Tenby between May and September 2025 subject to agreement with Network Rail

• Liverpool to Chester service extended to Llandudno from 2026, subject to agreement with Network Rail and level crossing work completed

• Heart of Wales services planned to cross at Llandrindod Wells to give customers a much better experience in the event of a disruption (services currently cross at Llanwrtyd Wells).

But there are also these proposed service reductions

• Reducing Heart of Wales Line services from five through services to four a day from December 2024 and removing the two late evening services to Llandovery and Llandrindod. Bus options are currently being explored.

• Removal of four services between Machynlleth and Pwllheli (two each way). Two other services will be rescheduled and will operate between March and December.

• Four journeys are being amended to terminate at Carmarthen (instead of today’s Cardiff Central), although these will connect to GWR Carmarthen <> London Paddington services. (Login times can be found in our timetables).

• To delay the introduction of additional evening services between Cardiff and Cheltenham Spa.

• To delay the previous commitment to increase trains between Cardiff Central and Bridgend, via the Vale of Glamorgan line, to two trains per hour. However, we will introduce an additional peak service in each direction.

• To delay a previous commitment to introduce a new Cardiff Central <> Shrewsbury <> Liverpool Lime Street service due to the levels of Network Rail infrastructure improvements required.

• To delay the previous commitment to increase our services between Cardiff and Swansea to one train per hour during peak hours. However, this service remains once an hour during peak periods.

People can have their say on the proposals here.

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