TRAIN services from Wrexham to Bidston will be improved following the announcement of ground-breaking plans to transform rail services in Wales.

The Welsh Government’s vision of a high quality, accessible, affordable rail service, with substantially improved capacity and increased service frequency, will be delivered by Transport for Wales and Keolis-Amey.

Under the plans £800m will be invested in new trains and £194m is set to modernise 247 stations across Wales.

There will be 285 extra services Monday to Friday and 294 additional Sunday services.

In North Wales, services on the Wrexham to Bidston line will double. New services via the Halton Curve near Runcorn will begin as soon as work is completed in December.

There is an intention to extend Wrexham to Bidston into Liverpool with newly-rebuilt bimodal trains and from 2022, a new two-hourly service from Liverpool to Cardiff will stop at Wrexham.

Flagship stations in Wrexham, Shotton and Chester will profit from the £194m funding outlined to modernised Wales’ railway stations.

Increased and new services will run between Liverpool and Holyhead and Holyhead and Cardiff, with £750m being spent on new trains and £50m on rebuilt loco and bimodal trains.

There will also be a reduction in fares for certain passengers, with half price travel for 16 to 18-year-olds and free travel for under 11s.

Wrexham Assembly Member Lesley Griffiths said: “This statement ushers in a new era for rail services in Wales.

"This substantial investment will vastly improve passengers’ experiences and will transform the nation’s transport system.”

“I am particularly pleased Wrexham and the surrounding areas are set to benefit.

"The Welsh Labour Government recently invested in our region by redoubling a section of the line between Wrexham and Chester but it is clear this latest announcement will see our local rail services and facilities improve furthermore over the coming years.”