THERE will be a direct train from Wrexham to Liverpool later this year, with the announcement being met positively by many commuters.

In May Wrexham will gain a direct train service to Liverpool Lime Street at peak times.

This will be in addition to a new service running hourly from Chester. It will travel via Helsby, Frodsham and Runcorn.

The service will bring direct train to Liverpool Lime Street and access to Liverpool John Lennon Airport via Liverpool South Parkway station.

Cllr David A Bithell lead member environment and transport welcomed the introduction of these new services.

He said: "We have strong links to Liverpool and the North West and the opening of this new route is good news for this area.

"We very much hope that in the future more of the services that will be starting and terminating in Chester will run through to Wrexham and further south if possible, giving the communities along the Chester – Wrexham – Shrewsbury line a direct link to Liverpool and its airport by train."

The announcement has also been met with a generally positive reaction by commuters.

Hundreds of people took to the Leader's Facebook page to share their views with many celebrating the opportunity to get direct public transport to Liverpool.

Jean Edwards said: "Woohoo great stuff."

Jo Jo added: "Long overdue. This is superb news."

Peter Samuels said: "Brill. Big news."

Karen Murphy said: "Not before time."

But the announcement has also prompted people to call for improved transport links to other parts of Wales from Wrexham as well.

Charlotte French said: "We should have directs to Cardiff and the south. Parts of North Wales and Mid Wales. Directs to Manchester also. It’s do-able.

"Invest more in transport because you have to trade and arm and a leg to get anywhere from Wales."

Siôn Edwards said: "How about strengthening the links within Wales instead of the constant drain to the east. I'm on the second leg of my daily three plus hour commute between Denbigh and Wrexham.

"An English city doesn't need our investment, Wales as a whole does."