01.05.08
Buffers removed for Wrexham & Shropshire’s direct service to the capital
The third open access operator, Wrexham & Shropshire, opened for business on Monday 28 April running five direct trains a day between London Marylebone, Shropshire and Wrexham, without public subsidy.
The new service run by Wrexham & Shropshire, a joint venture between Renaissance Trains Limited and Deutsche Bahn Regio, restores direct rail links for passengers between London, stations in Shropshire and Wrexham. The company aims to provide passengers with a high quality service at a competitive price and removes the need to change to connecting services.
Andy Hamilton, Managing Director at Wrexham & Shropshire, said: “Being small sets us apart from our competitors. Our team of just over 50 staff are totally focused on running trains on time and meeting our passengers’ needs. The fact that our service is direct and is competitively priced means we are confident that we will generate a strong market for this service based on our experience of running profitable customer focused rail services elsewhere. We have received tremendous support from local people and are keen to become an integral part of the communities we serve.”
Wrexham lost its regular direct service to London in 1967. Shrewsbury last had a direct service in 2004; previous to that direct services have been provided intermittently, with no service at all between 1991 and 1998.
First class travellers will enjoy a free meal and complimentary newspaper on board. There will be 128 standard class and 30 first class seats on each refurbished train, all designed with maximum comfort in mind.
The service will start using hired trains before the company’s own specially commissioned fleet is brought into service this summer. The trains will run into London Marylebone, which was extended last year to accommodate additional trains.
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