More than 1,500 cancellations on Wrexham train services since 2021

New figures have been released showing how more than 1,500 train services operating via Wrexham stations have been cancelled since the start of 2021.

The data highlights the large number of passengers on trains running through either Wrexham General or Wrexham Central who have faced disruption over the last three-and-a-half years.

It was released under the Freedom of Information Act following a request from Wrexham.com after reports of poor experiences on public transport locally.

The information from Transport for Wales (TfW) also reveals the main causes for cancellation, which include high winds, fallen leaves and severe flooding.

Technical faults, staff shortages and bridge strikes have also been cited as contributing factors, with the response noting occasions when TfW was responsible and when Network Rail was responsible.

Some of the main reasons for cancellations can be seen via the table below:

The Welsh Government-owned TfW took on the running of the Wales and Borders franchise in February 2021.

The decision was made in the face of a significant reduction in passenger numbers during Covid.

The Wrexham to Bidston route has been particularly hit by problems in the last few years which has seen trains replaced by buses on numerous occasions.

In early 2023, TfW’s existing Class 175 trains were taken out of action due to several fires, leading to services on the line being suspended.

It resulted in calls from a rail user group for the devolved government to carry out an independent review.

In April 2023, we reported how new class 230 trains introduced on the line encountered teething issues, resulting in the cancellation of services over the Easter weekend and the following week. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The new units entered passenger service on the Borderlands Line four years later than was initially planned. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This was partly caused by a battery-related “thermal incident” which we quizzed TfW on at the time.

Last June, then First Minister Mark Drakeford admitted that the experience of rail users in Wales was “of a standard that passengers are entitled to expect”.

More recently, we interviewed Transport Cabinet Secretary Ken Skates in the wake of extra funding being announced for rail services in the country.

We asked him how he was going to make sure TfW delivers on the budget increase.

He said: “Longer term aspirations for Transport for Wales are to grow out of the problem that we face with funding constraints by increasing the number of passengers and thereby increasing the fare box.

“We’ll start to see that take place with some gusto from this June when there are timetable changes, more frequent services and additional services coming into being that will drive up the fare box.

“We’re also seeing with the arrival of new trains, a return of passengers to services and also in those areas where there have been some pretty impressive service improvements, for example, on the Wrexham to Bidston line.

“I recognise that service standards were just not good enough on the Wrexham to Bidston line.”

Mr Skates said he also wanted to see two trains per hour traveling from Wrexham to Liverpool, but this would be subject to infrastructure improvements.

He also pointed to external reasons for issues experienced by TfW

He said: “Often it is outside of TfW’s hands because they’re not responsible for the tracks, or the signalling or the stations that trains operate to and operate on.

“Unfortunately, the reality is rail infrastructure is being invested in very poorly in these parts of the UK compared to other parts, particularly in the south east of England.”